BID Information

A group of Gosford City Centre property owners and business operators, in collaboration with Gosford City Council, is setting up a Business Improvement District (BID) based on successful models in North America, Europe and New Zealand.

What is a BID?

A Business Improvement District is a commercial area designated by a Council within which property and business owners plan a variety of activities to increase the area's profile and vitality.

It provides services over and above the basic cleaning and security work done by Council.

A non-profit BID association of property owners and business operators is the vehicle by which activities are set up and carried out.

What is the Gosford BID?

It is the central business area of the Central Coast's Regional City Centre, which stretches from Brisbane Water in the south to Etna Street in the north and the commercial district to the east of the railway line.

A non-profit Association is being formed to run the Gosford BID.

Why are we forming this BID?

Despite its location, vitality and advantage of being at the heart of the Central Coast, the Gosford CBD area has suffered commercially over the past decade, and, in some quarters, is the subject of perceptions that limit its potential.

The opportunities for improvement and for changing perceptions are enormous, but we need a community-wide effort to grasp them. We know of our unique natural environment that combines water and forest, we know we have an attractive, relaxed lifestyle, but self-evidently we need to offer more than this to revitalise the commercial heart of Gosford.

Some good work has been done by the Gosford Chamber of Commerce and by its associated Promotions Committee. Our two shopping centres run their own events and Council organises events in public spaces such as Kibble Park.

A start is being made in other areas of vital importance to the future of our City. Our new Local Environment Plan that sets land use guidelines for the City Centre has recently come into force. It offers property investors significant scope for development and investors are beginning to explore opportunities. Gosford City Council has seconded a Director to focus exclusively on the redevelopment of the City and Waterfront. New development will bring commercial opportunities.

We now have the Central Coast Mariners, who have added such vitality to our community and shown us what is possible. One of the best football teams in the land is from Gosford!

The Gosford BID will consolidate some of the activity underway and will generate more. It will improve conditions for business, attract more people to the City Centre and improve the quality of life for those who work, shop and live here.

Most importantly, the BID enables commercial property and business owners to decide which services to provide to meet Gosford's needs.

How will the BID be managed?

The Gosford Business Improvement District Association Inc will manage the BID program. All commercial property owners who pay the levy and business operators within the CBD are eligible to be members, and can become so by applying.

The members will elect a volunteer Executive Committee at Annual General Meetings. This committee will consist of six property owners, four business owners, a representative of a community organisation in the City and one Gosford City Councillor, who will be nominated by Council. The committee will oversee the planning of BID activities and the association will employ a dedicated manager, who will work from a CBD shopfront location.

What will the Gosford BID deliver?

The BID aims to make Gosford a safer, cleaner, commercially vibrant attractive city, thereby creating a better trading environment for businesses and bringing more customers into the area.

It will help Gosford live up to its name as the Capital of the Central Coast.

It will trial innovative approaches to issues and problems, put business centre-stage in overseeing its operations that will benefit businesses, workers and visitors.

Firstly, Gosford City Council will continue to provide base line services to the City Centre. These will be similar to the services provided throughout the local government area and that are funded through general rates. The BID will provide 'extra' services; those over above the base level.

It will organise and finance improvements that otherwise wouldn't be done. It will plan and implement programs to improve safety and security, enhance streetscapes, co-ordinate and run festivals and promotions, and general business development.

Its priorities and activities will be set by the members themselves and acted upon by the executive committee and dedicated manager.

It will also act as a focal point in revitalising the City. It will liaise with The Gosford Chamber of Commerce, with Council, lobby politicians and government, assist in general economic development and be relentlessly upbeat and positive about our City. The BID is about creating a step change in people's perception of Gosford.

Some of the things done by other BIDs around the world include: police liaison, graffiti removal, managing late night cab ranks, visitor assistance, public safety officers, special events, promotional materials, planting trees/flowers, frontage improvements, public art and montages, street themes, fundraising, charitable events, holiday decorations, business mix improvement, monitoring and acting on hotspots and small business assistance.

How will the BID be funded?

Gosford City Council collects the Gosford City Centre Improvement Special Rate Levy, which is paid by all commercial property owners in Gosford and which will generate about $400,000 in 2008/09. In the past, this levy ha funded capital works, promotions and some additional security. From the start of the next financial year, Council will allocate the funds raised by the levy to the Gosford BID Association. This will provide the security of ongoing core funding.

Once it is up and running, it will also seek funds from other sources. There are a variety of funding sources for economic development programs available through the NSW and Federal Governments.

In addition, the Association will seek sponsorships for festivals, special events or ongoing promotions and activities.

How will we measure performance?

We believe it will be self-evident when the BID is making a difference. It will be important to ensure there are short and long term goals, so that the community can see early signs of progress and be encouraged to spend time in the City Centre. But it will be up to the Members of the Association and the Executive Committee to decide what targets are set.

At this stage we have set as a key indicator of overall performance in the medium term the reduction in the commercial vacancy rate along the street fronts of the City.

When does it start operating?

The target date for the formal establishment of the BID is 1st July, 2008 to coincide with the new financial year. Thereafter, it will be the incoming Executive Committee that sets the pace.

The Executive Committee will be elected by members at the Inaugural General Meeting of the Gosford Business Improvement Association Inc on 18th June.