We are pleased the Australian and NSW Governments are pulling together support measures for our businesses and their employees.
Blacktown City Council will continue to play its part by maintaining essential services. Our waste cleaning, and maintenance staff are all working uninterrupted.
We urge our residents and businesses, as a community, to work through this current crisis together.
Our Council website and business newsletters are keeping local businesses regularly informed and updated on the range of financial assistance and organisational support which is available to you.
This information includes important opportunities for our residents to support local business, whether it be in buying a takeaway from your local outlet or buying locally made products.
Many businesses may continue to operate by appointment or online.
Please help your family and loved ones to stay safe and healthy in these difficult times.”
The Big Picture
The NSW and Australian Governments have implemented a range of initiatives to support the Australian people and Australian businesses.
To keep updated on this dynamic situation, please go to our website https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Business/Assistance-to-business-during-the-pandemic where we set out the latest government information, help and support.
You can also subscribe to our regular Pandemic edition Business e-newsletter. Contact david.somerville@blacktown.nsw.gov.au to be added to our subscription service.
The Local Scene
Blacktown City Council is working with AusIndustry, Service NSW, the NSW Trade and Investment division, TAFE, the ACU, our business training provider and the business chambers to assist and support our local businesses at this time.
Council is also working with business groups to look at new ideas and opportunities for businesses to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of the initiatives we’re developing:
Takeaway services open for business
Council is setting up a directory of local cafes and restaurants in Blacktown that are offering takeaway services. This information will be added to our website soon.
The Riverstone and Schofields business scene
Council is working with the Riverstone and Schofields Chamber of Commerce and setting up a local directory of businesses which are still open and trading. This information will be added to our website soon.
Local manufacturing
Council is also identifying local manufacturers who could benefit from the growing need to secure production and supply of goods from Australia. Council will be in contact with this industry sector soon to make this happen.
A Case Study
Here is an example of how a small business is managing to survive:
A local restaurant realized that it could not operate normally with the strict conditions of trading created by the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, it decided to radically change how it would operate during this current crisis.
It decided to offer one type of meal and create a takeaway operation. It worked out that if it sold 50 meals per day it could cover its operational and fixed costs.
Importantly, it decided to restrict its sales to 50 so that when it reached its target it could encourage its customers to go to nearby restaurants/takeaways to order from them and so keep their businesses ticking over as well.
Think about how your business could change its operations and not only survive but also allow other businesses like yours to survive as well. We’re all in it together.
- Blacktown City Mayor, Councillor Tony Bleasdale
