Bellarine Times
Tuesday 7 September 2010
VOL 3. No 36
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
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Drysdale assistant coach Luke Matthews earned best on ground honours in the weekend’s preliminary final victory over Queenscliff to lead his team into Saturday’s Bellarine Football League grand final. In what will be a re-match of last year’s BFL decider where Drysdale proved successful, the Hawks will take on Geelong Amateur in Torquay. See more on the BFL grand final on Page 95. Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS
Local industry struggling to survive due to hefty rate increases
BY ALISON MARTIN THE FUTURE of the Bellarine’s bed and breakfast industry is under threat unless changes are made to council rating criteria, according to tourism operators and authorities. Small B&B operators who have joined tourism groups and promoted themselves on websites – drawing attention to their businesses – have had their properties reclassified from residential to multi-use this year by City of Greater Geelong and face a rate increase of more than a third. Bellarine Tourism chair, Hugo Armstrong, said many B&B owners who made only minimal income from a cottage or room they rented had decided their business was no longer viable after council changed
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their rating classification. He said a significant number of operators had indicated they would not be renewing their Bellarine Tourism membership and were no longer interested in providing accommodation for the growing number of visitors to the region. “Bellarine Tourism and Geelong Otway Tourism are aware of the situation and we have huge concerns,” Armstrong said. “I’ve spoken with a lot of operators and a number have already ceased business. “However, while it’s unfortunate that it has affected a lot of smaller businesses across the whole Bellarine, there have also been some large operators make high revenue off their property and paying residential rates.”
Armstrong said previously, some operators were running successful businesses and not paying a rate proportionate to their business, but the pendulum had swung too far the other way and small businesses were now being expected to pay corporate rates. He called on CoGG to reassess the rating classification for all B&B owners. “It should be on a sliding scale. I can’t see why there can’t be an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ rate,” Armstrong said. “As a tourism body we look at the size of the business and their membership is charged accordingly. Operators could sign a Statutory Declaration or an accountant’s letter to show the size of the business. “Or it could be easily based on the number of beds. If an operator has one or two beds they should
not have to pay the same rates on their property as someone with a number of cottages. “People need to write to their local councillors and MPs with their concerns.” CoGG financial services manager, Mike Kelly, said people also had the opportunity to appeal rating classification or property valuation by contacting the city. He said the Mixed Use rating classification had been in place for many years. “Properties are classified as Mixed Use if its occupants conduct a business from home, such as a Bed and Breakfast,” Kelly said. Contact CoGG on 5272 5272 for more information on your rates. Send your views to Letters to the Editor at editor@bellarinetimes.com.au
WED 2-3ft+ clean, N 17° THU 2-3ft+ building, N/NW 19° FRI 2-4ft+ building W 13° SAT 3-4ft+ quality W/NW 15°
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