St George Business Chamber has defended comments by its members that council rangers had reduced one shopkeeper to tears after inspecting his Mortdale premises to see if he was complying with new council rules governing the display of goods on footpaths.
Last week, chamber members claimed that local small businesses were finding it tougher to deal with Georges River Council requirements since the introduction of the council’s new Local Approvals Policy Use of Public Land.
One chamber member who did not want to be named, said he witnessed council rangers with tape measures in the hand measuring the space taken up by displays of goods outside shops to check that shopkeepers had not exceeded the permitted allowable space.
He said one shopkeeper had been left in tears following a visit by council rangers.
Chairman of the Georges River Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC), Councillor Con Hindi said, that at no time were rangers present or using a tape measure to determine if goods were located outside approved boundary limits.
“For the record, Council officers did not bring anyone to tears and I feel the St George Business Chamber should refrain from impeding Council’s legislative obligations,” he said.
St George Business Chamber president Allan Zreik defended the comments made by chamber members.
“Comments made by the St George Business Chamber should come as no surprise to Councillor Hindi,” Mr Zreik said.
“The St George Business Chamber strongly urges Councillor Hindi to go on a fact-finding mission, as this is not only happening in Mortdale but in the entire Georges River Local Government Area.
“It just so happened on that particular day two members of my executive committee had a meeting with MP Mark Coure at his Mortdale office,” Mr Zreik said.
“One of the committee members took photographs of the incident in Mortdale and consoled the distressed man.
“Once the rangers left, the business-owner did not want to be named in fear of ‘more trouble from Council’.
“Councillor Hindi should get his facts right and not make off-the-cuff comments until checking the facts.
“Some of our members have first-hand accounts that rangers are using measuring tapes” Mr Zreik said.
“In no way, shape or form is the St George Business Chamber blaming or pointing fingers at the Georges River Council rangers or any of their staff for doing their jobs as they are only enforcing what is set out in the policies made by the council.
“This is something we remind our members of. It’s a job that’s hard enough considering the ambiguous and inconsistent policies they have to work under,” Mr Zreik said.
“The chamber is an advocate for business interests and we stand up to all levels of government and decision-makers.
“When business interests are neglected, our mission is simple - we are here to help businesses maximise their potential in the St George area and to be the voice of business as a whole, reducing red tape, keeping pressure and accountability.
“I believe it’s important for the business community to succeed, because prosperity creates jobs, social wealth, and better communities in which to live. Governments should assist small business growth. In this particular instance we feel in relation to this it falls unfortunately short,” Mr Zreik said.
“We will be working together with Councillor Con Hindi as chairperson of the committee to ensure that both red tape and its fees regarding the use of public space is fair, easy, affordable and safe.”
Chamber vice president, Tony Baddour said the application process should be simple, straightforward and should not be an added burden on business owners.
“At the next General Council meeting there will be a motion regarding the policy use of public lands from the correspondence with Councillor Hindi and we look forward to working with Council in due course to ensure it is done and executed correctly,” Mr Baddour said.