Local businesses keen to start operating again have responded to Northern Beaches Council’s call for ideas on how Council can help in their recovery.

Within six days of launching the Back to Business program, more than 30 businesses submitted their ideas and Council is already working with many of them so they can be implemented.

Mayor Michael Regan said one of the themes coming through was requests to use the public footpaths so they can manage with limited capacities inside.

“It’s been great to see the requests flooding in,” Mayor Regan said.

“Our commitment to our local businesses is that we’ll bend over backwards to do everything in our power to support you as we emerge from lock down.

“Already we have applied more flexibility to outdoor cooking rules to allow some impacted business in Narrabeen to do BBQ and paella outside their premises.

“We are working with individual businesses like hairdressers to assess how our footpaths can be used as waiting areas so they can manage their reduced indoor capacity.

“Restaurants and cafes are asking to extend their outdoor dining footprint or implement outdoor dining areas to allow for more patrons. We are working with gyms on how they can utilise outdoor public spaces for health and wellbeing.

“And we are exploring grants for local events to support local businesses as soon as it is safe to do so.

“We’d love to support more businesses so please do get in touch with our Back to Business program so we can get any relevant approvals in place before restrictions ease and we start to open up.

“The sooner we hear from you, the sooner we can explore if there are ways we can help.”

Businesses can submit ideas to the Back to Business program here.

They can also continue to get ongoing advice and support by booking an appointment with Council’s dedicated Business Support Service