John Velos, former Councillor and Mayor of City of Prahran, resident of Stonnington for over 53 years and member of the Chapel Street Precinct Association, welcomed the decision made last night by Stonnington City Council not to pass its proposed 2% rate increase on residential and commercial rate payers, which he has been advocating to stop together with many others in the Municipality.

He said: “Whilst it was a move in the right direction in not increasing rates by 2% as had been proposed by Stonnington Council in its Budget, rate relief for residential and commercial rate payers is not enough rate relief”.

Further, he said: “Rates should have also been reduced as we are facing an unprecedented recession due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Residential and commercial rate payers should get reasonable and affordable rate relief and not be burdened by stagnant or increases in rates, but get a reduction of rates across the City of Stonnington”.

“For some time I have been advocating for the proposed rate increase not to go ahead, but also to reduce rates by 3 – 5% which would mean that rate payers will benefit from an effective reduction of 5 – 7% in their rates during this year of the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

He explained that “the proposed rate reduction is able to be achieved with some postponement of non-urgent works, efficiencies, removal of waste and a full budget review”.

John Velos stressed that “while it is important to keep high standards of service delivery, careful review should be undertaken to delay non-urgent works, increase efficiency in service delivery and removal of waste by careful and sound financial management during this difficult period where all levels of our community have had to tighten our belts in the new economic reality that we find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

John Velos reflected that “after speaking with many residents and rate payers and a wide section of people of Stonnington I suggest that a thorough review by the new Council be undertaken for a fresh start and back-to-basics initiatives and policies to get things done in an efficient, transparent and cost-effective manner while sustaining high standards of service delivery in a fair manner in all areas of our Stonnington Community”.

John Velos said: “I support the Chapel Street Precinct Association in its efforts not to have the rate increase of 2% passed by Stonnington Council and encourage its members to continue in their efforts for a rate reduction and more rate relief in these very difficult times”.

If elected in the October Elections, John Velos proposes to

• lower the rates with removal of waste and more efficiencies,
• pursue a policy of sound financial management,
• reduce Prahran Market rents, so traders can compete and provide better and cheaper food products,
• planning controls with no overdevelopment or damage to heritage,
• create a better liveable and sustainable environment,
• improve and maintain our parks and gardens,
• pursue sound management of Council Services and Community Assets,
• oppose any parking meters or super tram stops clogging our major roads,
• provide more and better bicycle facilities,
• strike a reasonable balance between residential and commercial interests while protecting our City’s environment and shopping strips for the welfare and benefit of residents and businesses,
• encourage fairness and diversity in our community with opportunities for all to enjoy what our City has to offer,
• provide transparency, consistency and honesty to reach accord with various interest groups in the City of Stonnington.

JOHN VELOS

NORTH WARD

STONNINGTON CITY COUNCIL

COMMUNITY OUTCRY SEES STONNINGTON COUNCIL SHELVE ITS PROPOSED 2% RATES INCREASE ON BUSINESSES SUFFERING THROUGH COVID-19 RECESSION

The City of Stonnington, which presides over Australia’s largest retail, lifestyle, entertainment and dining metropolis, Chapel Street Precinct, has shelved its plan to increase council rates by 2% on businesses already suffering from the COVID-19 downturn following widespread condemnation from The Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA), residents and business owners.

The CSPA and its 2,200+ businesses have been triumphant in their objection to the increase after successful weeks of collectively speaking up for their community.

By reaching out to its business owners, the CSPA’s unified voice showed the council the rate increase would be a heartless, unethical move. For many of the Chapel Street Precinct business owners spoken to, this would have been an unfair additional cost burden to bear instead of providing needed relief and support.

“Not a single business surveyed in Chapel Street Precinct agreed with the proposed rate increase. That’s over 2,200 of our businesses who felt puzzled and let down by their council during a time of immense economic strain for even making such an out of touch proposal. We are so pleased and relieved to hear the 2% will now be absorbed. We thank them (Stonnington) for their u-turn on this important matter,” said Ms. Chrissie Maus, General Manager of CSPA.

"Council has provided some helpful support packages and is making changes to work more collaboratively with the community. This new budget is a great win for our world-leading community and we are so thankful that they listened,” continued Ms. Maus.

“We understand businesses are doing everything they can to survive. We had to do what was morally right and we are so glad Stonnington has shown this empathy,” Ms. Maus added.

“I am relieved with this win today and look forward to sharing the news with our business owners who need all the support they can get right now,” said Justin O’Donnell, Chairperson of CSPA.

“This proposed rate increase was a major issue that so many of our businesses raised, which required us to speak up on their behalf and I’m glad we were heard loud and clear. We are in a recession; you just can’t justify an increase, in fact, it should be the opposite. It should have never been proposed in the first place. I’m glad common sense prevailed and we send a heartfelt thank you to Stonnington for listening,” said Mr. O'Donnell.

MEDIA INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE
Please call Drew Lambert on 0425 200 606 - The Chapel Street Precinct is Australia’s largest retail, lifestyle, entertainment and dining precinct. Each business is innovating in its own special way to ensure survival during the COVID-19 crisis.

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SUPPORT LOCAL

Dear Members,

We know this has been an incredibly challenging time for our businesses and this may be the first time you’ve considered seeking support for your mental health.

AS A CHAPEL STREET PRECINCT BUSINESS WE WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A FREE DEDICATED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT PROGRAM 

We encourage our business owners, managers and employees to access this program for:

Counseling
Wellbeing checks
Assessments and care
Support services
Information and more 

This City of Stonnington program is being delivered by Star Health who are a trusted, local organisation experienced at providing health and wellbeing support.

All advice provided will be kept strictly confidential.

CLICK BELOW TO REACH OUT TO STAR HEALTH

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