“Gutted and passed in a limp manner”: Randwick’s motion to support small businesses

by LALYNE PAISI HICKIE

Like many other town centres across Sydney, small businesses in Randwick were heavily impacted by COVID-19. Several have only continued to struggle, especially with increasing rental costs and costs of living.

With a large and ever-increasing number of shops left empty, the community has voiced their safety concerns.

Greens Councillor Raphaela Pandolfini brought forward a motion in Randwick City Council’s most recent meeting, calling on the Council to support small businesses and ensure the community has a “thriving and safe” town centre.

The motion asked that Council note “there are many under-used and empty shop spaces in our Town Centres”, and that “small businesses should be supported to ensure that we have thriving, vibrant and safe Town Centres.”

In October 2023, the NSW Government cut red tape for business, specifically to those working to foster a 24 hour economy in our communities.

“Local Councils can support small businesses to get their ideas off the ground with targeted grant and educational support programs so that we can see an increase in small businesses in our Town Centres,” wrote Cr Pandolfini in the motion.

However, amendments put forward by Councillors Christie Hamilton and Daniel Rosenfeld, including instead promoting small business support via social media channels, and promoting other government grants and websites, were carried and became the motion instead.

Speaking to City Hub, Cr Pandolfini said “the motion was gutted and passed in a limp manner.”

“It was very disappointing for the Labor and Liberal parties too,” she continued.

“There is now a concern for a lack of safety around the town centre because of the empty shops.”

City Hub is currently awaiting comment from Cr Hamilton.