More than 600 Brisbane clubs and organisations facing the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic will benefit from Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s business relief package waiving $7.9 million in fees, rents and charges.

“Our sports and recreation clubs have always been the fabric of Brisbane’s suburbs and we wanted to act quickly to support them through these tough times and into recovery,” Cr Schrinner said.“I understand it’s hard, patrons are staying away, but many of the bills keep coming. I am hopeful Council’s business relief package will at least take some of the cost pressure off clubs and community groups during the economic hardship caused by coronavirus.

Community lease and license rent charges for the period of 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 will be waived, which will put about $638,000 back into the pocket of these groups, which in total have more than 1.4 million memberships. I have also made a commitment to review these fees again in the next financial year.

“This relief package will benefit groups such as Meals on Wheels, Lions Clubs, sporting clubs including bowls and croquet, rugby league and AFL and Guides Queensland and Scouts.

“This is about protecting and supporting your community organisation to ensure you can continue to provide very important services to the people of Brisbane into the future,” Cr Schrinner said.

Cr Schrinner said the relief package also waived fees for footpath and outdoor dining, river pontoon moorings, advertising, filming, bookings at venues including music venues, community halls and city hall, food licenses and stalls.

“Stopping the collection of these rents, levies and permit fees is effective immediately and will be backdated to March 1 since the coronavirus pandemic started to really bite into customer numbers,” he said.

“I want to reassure business and community clubs and organisations that they do not need to do anything to access this relief as Council is reaching out to discuss the business relief for each community organisation.

“These are challenging times with restrictions around non-essential gatherings, and people need to head the advice from the Federal Government and Queensland Health, which is evolving rapidly.

“Brisbane City Council’s website has information on the business relief package and a link to the Queensland Health website.

“I want to encourage people to try and stay positive, we will help you through these hard times and keep you informed in relations to essential services and council’s response to the coronavirus.

“After the coronavirus pandemic passes, community organisations will be more important than ever to bring people back together and I encourage residents to support their local groups now and into the future.

“We will help you through these hard times and keep you informed in relation to essential services and council’s response to the coronavirus.

“After the coronavirus pandemic passes, community organisations will be more important than ever to bring people back together and I encourage residents to support their local groups now and into the future.”