The Chief Executive of the Manly Business Chamber will be attending the September meeting. We look forward to a discussion on a number of topics that are of interest to both the community and the local businesses.

Discussions will include;

The controversial Manly CBD Special Levy The Chamber has been collaborating closely with Council to ensure that this Levy is spent investing in the infrastructure for Manly.

Outdoor dining fees In 2019 Outdoor Dining Fees contributed $520k in revenue to Council from 42 businesses trading in a strong economy. These fees were waived over the past two years and now the Chamber is concerned that the $1275 per sqm in the Manly CBD and Corso, which is significantly higher than what is paid in the CBD of Sydney, will be a huge challenge for Manly businesses as they get back on their feet and recover. Outdoor dining adds to the atmosphere of the Manly village but it is a challenge for a business to pay $44k pa to make use of the space in front of their premises, particularly during winter and now a wet spring.

Council and non Council events The Chamber is working closely with Council and other stakeholders to ensure events in Manly attract both locals and visitors into the local businesses

And other topics including

• Vacant business and retail premises in the CBD.
• Garbage storage, placement and collection in Market Lane.
• The future of Manly Town Hall.
• Maintenance of the Corso and other public spaces

And we all want to know about the sink hole in the Corso which seems to get larger and larger by the day! But there are no updates!