Scarborough businesses eligible for disruption payment

• New relief package for Scarborough small businesses impacted by Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority (MRA) works

Businesses affected by redevelopment works along the Scarborough foreshore will now be eligible to apply for a disruption payment.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has given the matter urgent attention, including visiting Scarborough to understand the issues facing local businesses.

The McGowan Labor Government's disruption payment will be made available to small business owners within the foreshore area who have experienced difficulties since redevelopment began.

A one-off disruption payment will be considered for businesses who can demonstrate financial loss during the Scarborough foreshore works period.

The payment will be capped at 50 per cent of the land tax payable for the year.  Specific criteria will be discussed further with the small businesses affected.

To further assist the area, the MRA is working with the City of Stirling and the Scarborough Beach Association to co-ordinate a marketing and events program for next summer to help drive visitors to the area.

It is the Minister for Planning's intention to investigate a formal system that assists businesses that are disrupted while future MRA projects take place.

Comments attributed to Planning Minister Rita Saffioti:

"While I accept there is some disruption that comes with construction, and that many efforts have been made to mitigate the impacts of those works, we do not want to be a Government that ignores the situation. 

"We inherited a process that had no mechanism in place to support local businesses and we had to develop this process from scratch - the previous minister failed to address this issue. 

"We have acted as quickly as possible to introduce an equitable form of support for traders at the Scarborough foreshore and look forward to seeing them prosper in the revitalised precinct."

Minister's office - 6552 5500