Business as un-usual

Pic of Badr Khabbaz and Omar Khabbaz from Notorious Burgers, ; Caroline Springs; and mayor Cr Lara Carli; with A-frame from the council for businesses to promote they're still open. Photo by Damjan Janevski. 207394_04

Tate Papworth

Melton is still very much open for business.

The COVID-19 crisis has hit businesses hard, prompting the Melton council to adopt a number of relief measures.

One measure is the recently launched ’Open for Business’ campaign, which aims to provide businesses with as much opportunity as possible to promote the trades and services they can still offer.

Melton City Council manager engagement and advocacy Sean McManus said a number of measures are in place to support the survival of local businesses.

“We’ve entered a council partnership with the Star Weekly newspaper, whereby local traders can place an advertisement in the paper at no cost to them. Council will coordinate this and fund full page displays that include promotion of local businesses,“ he said.

The campaign is also utilising technology.

“The Melton City Much More Facebook page has become a conduit of information for both community and local traders about the goods and services that local businesses can still offer.

“We want the community to know that we are still open so we are asking our business community to post their goods and services on this page and are encouraging the community to post about their favourite traders, asking for local recommendations and reviews.

“We are also promoting local businesses through the Melton City Much More app, which has more than 8500 downloads.“

Hospitality businesses are also being supplied with free A-Frames to help promote things like takeaway options and that they remain open for business.