Council looks after local business

As the recovery from last week’s damaging storms and rain continues for businesses in Pomona and Cooroy, Sunshine Coast Council is working with local businesses to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

Economic Development and Entrepreneurship Portfolio Councillor Lew Brennan announced today that the Local Disaster Management Group has established a local economic recovery committee, which he will chair.

"This new committee will focus on identifying actions that are needed to enable local businesses affected by natural disaster events to get back up and running and to minimise the impacts of natural disasters on local communities and local economies," he said.

Cr Brennan said the key focus of the committee would be to:

• Support the recovery of local affected businesses;
• Enable local business and industry to return to normal operations as quickly as possible
• Minimise any loss of local employment opportunities and;
• Support and promote the economic and social viability of affected communities.

"Along with facilitating immediate assistance in the wake of natural disasters, this economic recovery plan will assess operating conditions of affected businesses and industry and ensure they’re connected with appropriate advice and assistance," he said.

"As the initial clean up and recovery progresses, we will also start to get a clearer picture of what further assistance and support may be needed to fill any gaps that aren’t covered by means such as insurance or existing government and non-government assistance programs.

"Another critical element will be determining longer term measures that need to be identified and addressed to reduce the reoccurrence of the events of last week."

Cr Brennan said council was continuing to offer support for businesses affected by Friday night’s storms.

"Today, officers from Council's Economic Development Branch visited 15 businesses in Pomona, as well as others in Cooroy, Noosaville, Tewantin and Noosa Junction to identify any damage they had sustained and whether they require any immediate assistance from Council," he said.

"The good news is many of the businesses that were affected have resumed trading in some form but there are still some that are not in a position to do so".

"All affected businesses have been offered access to council’s business support program and a number have taken up this offer.

"Council officers will continue to be on the ground throughout this week in Pomona and Cooroy offering assistance."