New partnership program cuts red tape for small businesses

The Small Business Friendly Approvals Program, led by the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC), aims to smooth the process of obtaining licences and permits from local government authorities.

The initiative is designed to accelerate regulatory reform to support economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. 

Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts said the City was proud to be one of the first three local governments chosen to participate in the program.

"Being one of the largest and fastest growing local government areas in Australia, with a forecast population of almost 350,000 residents by 2041, we recognise the importance of our local businesses and their contribution to the economy,” she said.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our community, with 13,000 local businesses providing more than 54,000 local jobs and many other significant benefits, such as opportunities for the City's residents to work closer to home.

"A 2020 City survey of local businesses identified reducing red tape as key to their post COVID-19 economic recovery. By participating in the SBDC Approvals Program, we are directly responding to the needs of our business community." 

Small Business Commissioner and SBDC CEO, David Eaton, congratulated the City on being selected for the program. 

“The City has already demonstrated their strong commitment to supporting their local small business sector,” he said. 

“Since joining the SBDC’s Small Business Friendly Local Governments initiative in 2019, they have delivered on a range of commitments including improving on-time payments to small businesses; engaging regularly with the sector to offer support and advice, as well as responding to the evolving needs of local businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Through the Approvals Program, the City will work closely with the SBDC to streamline the local government’s approvals process — saving small business owners time and money and ultimately making it easier to start, operate and grow a business in Wanneroo. 

“I applaud the City for their commitment to the success of their local businesses and look forward to seeing the impact of this regulatory reform on the success and growth of the Wanneroo small business sector.”

Wanneroo Business Association General Manager and member of the City's COVID- 19 Economic Recovery Taskforce, Lauren Bell, said participating in the SBDC Approvals Program demonstrated Wanneroo's commitment to being accessible to local businesses.

"During the pandemic, I saw firsthand how quickly the City acted to find ways to help local businesses combat challenges and rapid changes to their operating environments," she said.

“By participating in the SBDC Approvals Program, the City is once again showing it is invested in improving systems, communications and processes to benefit the business community.

"I look forward to reviewing the outcomes of the Program, and continuing to work with the City, and our local businesses, to build a strong and sustainable community.” 

The SBDC will work with 20 local government authorities to the end of 2022 to identify reform initiatives to help small businesses start and thrive in their local areas. 

Wanneroo joins the Cities of Melville and Rockingham as the first group of local government authorities selected through an expression of interest assessment process, following a pilot of the program undertaken with the Cities of Canning and Stirling in 2020.