Sunshine Coast Council will inject a further $355,000 into the local economy to support construction industry jobs during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This is in addition to the more than $2 million in direct financial support that council has provided to the community through two business support packages and up to $3 million brought forward in capital works projects announced earlier this month.
Council will now call for submissions from suitably qualified contractors to upgrade holiday parks across the region through its Supplier and Procurement database. Council has been accelerating programmed maintenance and capital works at a number of its facilities while they are closed due to public health directions.
Council has six Holiday Parks, located at Dicky Beach, Mooloolaba Beach, Maroochydore Beach, Cotton Tree, Mudjimba Beach and Coolum Beach.
Sunshine Coast Council Economy Portfolio Councillor Jason O’Pray said the accelerated program would allow upgrades to be completed efficiently due to reduced visitors. Disruption caused by construction impacts would also be minimised.
“Council is focussed on supporting the community during this unprecedented global pandemic,” Cr O’Pray said.
“This project is part of a range of measures we’ve announced over the past month to ease some of the impacts our local businesses are experiencing.
“We’ve made good progress on keeping the community safe during the pandemic.
“Projects like this and the local jobs they sustain, will help our region recover.
“The work will includes upgrades to bathrooms, hot water systems, roofs, power supplies and other amenities and will ensure the holiday parks are ready to support visitors to our region when national public health directions allow travel.
“Under ordinary circumstances, projects would require stop-start programming if the parks were open.
“Our holiday parks will be crucial to the economic recovery of our region,” he said.
“This is just another part of the ongoing business support being provided to the community from council.”
The first business support package focused on waiving fees and easing regulations where safe to do so, while the second included community and commercial lease relief, a professional advice support program, provision of signage to help businesses adjust and the earlier capital works projects.
In addition to these support programs, council has provided further support to local businesses and suppliers by processing our payments to these businesses within seven days rather than the usual 30 days. This has placed an average of $1.8 million earlier into the local economy each week.
The local stimulus program has benefited more than 3,000 business and community groups directly and more than 10,000 indirectly via business advice, support, assistance and referrals.
Council also meets with Chambers of Commerce and Industry Groups every fortnight to discuss assistance, support and what the business community needs to get through the current crisis and recover as quickly as possible.
To further support the community, council continues to review its Capital Works Program to identify opportunities to bring forward approved and budgeted projects, as a further measure to support the local economy and businesses.
Local contractors can go to www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Council/Tenders and register for tender alerts as well as head to www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Business/Business-Programs/Business-Gateway and ensure they have an up-to-date profile on our ICN Gateway or create your ICN Business profile on the ICN webpage.
As announced on 26 March, Sunshine Coast Council’s six holidays parks have been closed to holiday makers due to national public health directions.
Businesses are encouraged to visit council’s business webpage for information on council, Federal and State government assistance available during COVID-19.
