As an immediate step to support Hamilton’s hospitality sector, Hamilton City Council is waiving outdoor dining permit fees until the end of June and making it easier for new applications.
Meaning, cafes and restaurants will be able to increase the number of tables they have outside their venue, without charge.
Geoff Taylor, Chair of the Council’s Central City Advisory Group says we want to assure people their Council is doing everything possible to address the short-term needs of its people during this uncertain time.
“This initiative is just a small piece of the puzzle in making sure our city can get back on track as fast as possible and come out of this situation even better.”
Businesses can register to have outdoor tables without charge by simply filling in a form which can be found here or by calling the Council on 07 838 6829 and supplying some basic details.
The Council’s General Manager of Growth Jen Baird says while the Council pursues a range of medium and long-term options to support the city’s economic recovery, this is something which we can do immediately.
“Typically, restaurants and cafes have permit fees for tables on Council property, however given the governments Alert Level 2 restrictions around having greater distance between tables at restaurants and cafes we will enable the free-of-charge use of their outside areas.”
“Small business makes up by far the majority of New Zealand’s economic activity and those businesses are essential to keeping Hamilton going.
“We are all in this together and by adjusting some of the process we have in place and cutting the red tape we hope this will relieve some of the pressures on our local businesses.”
Food establishments which have already paid for their outdoor dining permits will be reimbursed the portion of the fee since the first day of lockdown (23 March 2020) through to the end of this financial year (June 2020).