Council receives major boost for outdoor activations in Frankston City

Published on 04 November 2021

Frankston City has received a major boost to its outdoor activation program thanks to $575,000 funding from the State Government.

North East Ward Cr Suzette Tayler welcomed the funding provided by the State Government as part of the COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Fund, which builds on previous rounds of the Local Councils Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package.

“We know residents are itching to get outdoors and enjoy all that Frankston City has to offer – in a COVID-safe environment – as lockdown restrictions begin to ease,” Cr Tayler said.

Cr Tayler said the latest funding will go towards outdoor activations to support both hospitality and non-hospitality businesses, including retail, to move outdoors.

“The funding will be also used to establish performance spaces and for artists and musicians to perform outdoors,” Cr Tayler said.

Cr Tayler said it is anticipated that the funding will be used for further outdoor activations at locations including the foreshore near Frankston Yacht Club.

The State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP, said: “I’m thrilled to announce that businesses in our community will benefit from a third round of outdoor activities funding via the State Government to establish even more outdoor business opportunities.

“The partnership with Frankston Council has been popular with local businesses opening up post COVID-19 and the quality of Council’s projects is unparalleled,” Mr Edbrooke said.

The new activations will complement new parklet installations and extended outdoor dining recently completed on Nepean Highway, Frankston, adding to the smorgasbord of outdoor dining options in the City.

The parklets, which use existing car parking spaces along with seated dining areas on the pavement, are complete with stylish timber planter boxes and colourful shade sails.

Part of Frankston City Council and Invest Frankston’s Outdoor Dining Program 2.0, the parklets will add to existing ones on Wells Street, Beach Street and at Station Street in Seaford.

Cr Tayler said the Outdoor Dining and Activation Program is a critical initiative designed to support local hospitality businesses recover from economic impacts suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Hospitality is vital to our local economy with 655 businesses employing about 2862 people contributing an annual turnover of more than $345 million,” Cr Tayler said.

Cr Tayler noted that Council offers an extensive range of business supports including a free Business Concierge service to guide and assist new and existing business operators through the process of starting or expanding in Frankston City.

Cr Tayler added that the business community has done it hard due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and that’s why Council is offering a range of initiatives and supports including $200,000 to establish a new Frankston Business and Industry Chamber, $120,000 for the Invest Frankston After Dark Activation Grants to boost the Frankston City night economy, a streamlined online process for Council planning applications and activation grants.