Rates, rents and fees are set to be slashed as part of an $8.5 million City of Launceston council response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Cash strapped businesses, community groups and residential ratepayers should be offered the financial relief if a draft community care and recovery package is approved by councillors on Thursday.
The centrepiece of the package is a six-month waiving of council rates for eligible commercial property owners in Launceston's central business district.
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Mayor Albert van Zetten said landlords would be expected to pass the the rate relief on in the form of rent reductions for tenants.
"It's our clear and unambiguous intent to ease the pressure on small business and assist in their recovery, whether they lease or own the buildings they operate from," he said.
As part of the package, groups who use council-owned buildings and facilities would get free rent for six months. Event organisers could also access support if they were forced to cancel or delay their gatherings.
Food licencing, on-street dining, venue hire and other fees would be reduced and residential rates would not increase in the new financial year. People in financial distress could apply for extra assistance from the council as part of a new rates hardship policy.
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Cr van Zetten said the council would also seek state and federal government support to speed up a $40 million capital works program during the next 12 months.
"It's not going to solve all the problems ... but it means we're doing our bit on top of what the state and federal governments are doing," he said.
To help businesses attract customers online, council will offer grants worth up to a total of $8000.
Launceston Chamber of Commerce chief executive Neil Grose said council's response to the pandemic would save businesses.
"We would encourage all the other regional councils around Launceston to come to the party as well," Mr Grose said.
Northern Tasmania Development Corporation chief executive Mark Baker also welcomed the package.
"[It gives] business, community groups, sporting clubs the opportunity to make it through this crisis and come out the other side," Mr Baker said.