Hotels, motels, and caravan parks in Goondiwindi region set to save $105,000

Hotels, motels, and caravan parks in the Goondiwindi region will save a combined total of more than $105,000 in Council fees for the next financial year.

Goondiwindi Regional Council announced today that it would waive its non-residential extra pedestal sewerage charge for local accommodation businesses in the 2020-21 financial year – a move that will save eligible businesses $210 per WC pedestal toilet on the property.

For some businesses in the region, this will be a saving of up to $12,600 in fees. There will be 28 businesses across the Goondiwindi region who are set to benefit, and no application is necessary as the fee will be waived automatically for eligible operators.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Lawrence Springborg AM, said the measure had been specifically tailored to support the region’s accommodation businesses that were at the forefront of the drop in visitors to the region due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we know, the tourism sector in particular came to an abrupt and grinding halt due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and border closures,” the Mayor said.

“I’m sure a lot of our residents will be really feeling for our local hotels, motels and caravan parks who have taken the brunt of that hit. Especially on the back of six years of drought.”

The owners of the Southern Border Accommodation Park in Texas, Jason and Sandra White, are thankful for the support from Goondiwindi Regional Council, stating: “This time has been really tough for local accommodation providers.  We’ve had bills to pay even though we haven’t been able to accept visitors, and this relief allows us to focus on getting back to normal operations.”

The Mayor said “this decision is a way for Council to really focus its support onto the impacted businesses and to ensure that the relief goes to where it’s needed most. Waiving the pedestal sewerage fee really hones that support to the industry where it can make the intended difference.”

The fee waiver is just one of several measures in Council’s COVID-19 community and economic relief package for the Goondiwindi region. Details of the package will be announced in full over the coming weeks.

“With restrictions easing, I am confident that the new financial year will be the year of domestic tourism for Australia,” Cr Springborg said.