CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS
CCBA
JUNE-JULY 2020 ISSUE 29
Central Coast's most sought-after business publication
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de DOWNSIZERS
FEAR UNCERTAINTY: 2
LAKES EXPERTS READY TO ADVISE: 4
LEAGUES CLUB FIELD TRANSFORMED: 5
NEW: ACCESS TRAVEL SECTION: 12
COVID-10 TESTING AT ERINA: 21
Motorway Complete THE final project in a suite of upgrades to deliver safer and more efficient journeys on the M1 Pacific Motorway is now complete, with the last section between Tuggerah and Doyalson opening to SEE PAGE 5. three lanes at 110 kilometres per hour.
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Downsizers fear market uncertainty ARKET uncertainty and selling costs are causing empty nesters to put off downsizing according to real estate expert Adam Rigby. It means the empty nesters are eating into their super and locking younger families out of the housing market. Mr Rigby is the Upside Realty CEO and founder and he said older Australians were living in their home years longer than was suitable for them, because they feared market uncertainty and the costs associated with selling. “This is typically one person living in an otherwise empty six-bedroom house and there are more than 100,000 underused houses in NSW and Victoria alone,” Mr Rigby said. “The increased expenses associated with running these homes is dangerously eating into retirement funds and locking families and first-home buyers out of the market.” Mr Rigby said the latest ABS data showed that 49% of Australians were living in under-utilised dwellings – in houses with two or more empty bedrooms. He said the number increased throughout the property downturn last year and had now spiked with the drop in sales volume led by the Covid 19 outbreak.
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“In the last month we have seen a 28.7% decrease in sales volume compared to 2019, a year which was already substantially down, compared to previous years.” “This stalemate has been going on for the last 18 months or more. “Seniors keep delaying a downsize because they are unsure about the market and they know they will be slugged with a huge tax.” Mr Rigby said Australia was unique in the world in terms of property transaction costs. “The high cost of sales transactions and stamp duty urgently needs to be addressed if the government is serious about improving affordability and assisting in the nation’s economic recovery.”
“In Victoria, homeowners who pay $680,000 for a home, have to come up with a further $35,870 in stamp duty. In NSW, homeowners buying for the same amount must pay $26,032 in stamp duty. In Queensland, the stamp duty on a home of the same price is $16,450. Upside is a ground breaker in the fixed-fee real estate field and is already disrupting the industry in seven markets across the country, including Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Using market-leading technology, vendors work with an experienced agent to sell their home for a fixed fee of $8900 for private treaty or $9700 for auction. Details: www.upside.com.au
Adam Rigby.
How to claim Coast’s unclaimed millions ENTRAL Coast residents are being urged to log in to the Revenue NSW and check if they are eligible for a share of unclaimed millions waiting to be claimed. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said $4,392,662 remains unclaimed in the Central Coast LGA. “This isn’t the Government’s money – it belongs to people in our community and I encourage everyone to check whether they can claim back any money,” Mr Crouch said. “Typically this includes share dividends, trust accounts, refunds, commis-
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sions, deceased estates and money from a range of other sources. “It only takes a few minutes to check and you could walk away with hundreds of thousands of dollars you didn’t know about. “I would encourage everyone to visit the Revenue NSW website and type your name into the search tool. If you do have a claim, notify Revenue NSW and collect your money.” Minister for Finance Damien Tudehope said a total of $442 million in forgotten money was sitting with Revenue NSW. “We know many people are doing it
tough, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and households are having to keep a close eye on their budget, which is why I encourage people to check their eligibility,” Mr Tudehope said. Revenue NSW holds unclaimed items from private companies, State Trustees, local councils and government agencies that can’t be returned to the owner because their contact details are out of date and they cannot be tracked down. Unclaimed money is held indefinitely until it is claimed. For more information, go to: www.revenue. nsw.gov.au/unclaimed-money.
CCBA engages digital distribution
COVER: Pictured are Taylor Martin, Lucy Wicks, Adam Crouch and Anna Zycki from Transport NSW marking the final project in a suite of upgrades to deliver safer and more efficient journeys on the M1 Pacific Motorway. Story page 3.
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CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS
JUNE - JULY 2020 Central Coast Business Access (CCBA) ACCESS NEWS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD ABN 39 600 436 799 Publisher/editor: Michael Walls M: 0407 783 413. E: michael@accessnews.com.au Journalists: Di Bartok, Elizabeth Frias. Associate editor: Dallas Sherringham Account Managers: Graham Maughan: 0431 557 791; Colin Links, 0490 481 234 Contributors: David Pring, Adam Crouch, Emma McBride, Paula Martin.
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IN these challenging times of Coronavirus Central Coast Business Access (CCBA) is taking steps to ensure our readers and clients continue to have easy access to the Coast’s leading business news service. We are mindful of following the Government’s social distancing guidelines, while maintaining our relationship with the regional business community and our loyal reader base. From the April-May edition and until further notice CCBA will adopt an online distribution platform and reduce the number of printed newspapers delivered. This means that CCBA will be created as usual and posted as a downloadable PDF at www.coastba.com.au for easy viewing 24/7, as we have always done. Further, we will be broadcasting the edition to more than 40,000 carefully targeted Coast residents and businesspeople via Facebook, LinkedIn and direct email links. We have engaged the services of respected Coast media agency Happy Hippo Media to work with us on this. We are confident that our new online distribution model will result in even more readers of CCBA. As the global pandemic eases, we will resume distribution of our newspaper. We wish all Coast residents the very best in these challenging times. Feel free to contact us at any time of you feel we can be off assistance. info@accessnews.
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M1 motorway upgrade complete HE final project in a suite of upgrades to deliver safer and more efficient journeys on the M1 Pacific Motorway is now complete, with the last section between Tuggerah and Doyalson opening to three lanes at 110 kilometres per hour. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the completion of the upgrade would mean safer and more efficient journeys for thousands of motorists. “We have crossed the finish line on the Australian and NSW Government’s $391.6M M1 upgrade, which will help people reach their destinations sooner and safer on one of Australia’s busiest roads,” Mr McCormack said. “The Kariong to Somersby section of the M1 opened to traffic three weeks ago and now we have cars travelling along all three lanes between Tuggerah and Doyalson at 110 kilometres per hour, which means motorists using one of Australia’s fastest-growing corridors have the safer, free-flowing motorway they deserve.
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“This important project forms part of the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s record 10-year infrastructure plan which will be critical in helping our nation recover from the effects of COVID-19.” NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the M1 Productivity Package had created about 2700 jobs in its delivery and was part of the NSW Government’s record $100B infrastructure pipeline. “We are building the vital infrastructure projects that connect communities and ensure people get home sooner and safer,” Mr Toole said. “The M1 upgrades have delivered on average nearly 400 direct and indirect jobs
every year since it started. About 75 per cent of the jobs on the upgrade between Tuggerah and Doyalson have gone to locals from the Central Coast and Hunter areas, which shows just how serious we are about investment in regional NSW.” Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said the upgrade would improve travel along the busy corridor for motorists commuting from key growth areas on the Central Coast. “This is the final step forward for the entire M1 upgrade project, which will benefit local communities, freight operators and all motorists,” Mrs Wicks said. “We thank our local community for the patience they have shown while we
have completed this project, which will benefit more than 70,000 motorists who use the M1 every day.” New South Wales Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and State Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the final piece of the M1 upgrade followed the Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive intersection at Beresfield opening to traffic in March 2019, as well as the eight-kilometre Kariong to Somersby stretch opening last month. “The third lane opening between Tuggerah and Doyalson means our community is reaping the full benefits of a smoother, safer and faster M1,” Mr Crouch said.
Council seeks input on lagoon trail
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ENTRAL Coast Council are inviting the community to help design a new walking trail around Terrigal Lagoon. The trail will be located within parts of Terrigal Wetland Reserve and Rotary Park (next to Parklife Café and the Marine Discovery Centre) and will pro-
vide multiple social, health and wellbeing benefits, as well as educational, nature-based tourism and job opportunities. Council is looking to the community for feedback on the different features that could potentially be a part of this walking trail.
The feedback will then be utilised to put together the design of the walking trail. When developing the design, Council will look at ways to minimise the environmental impacts on this sensitive environment. Our community can have their say on
the early stage of this project by completing our online survey by 5pm Tuesday 7 July: yourvoiceourcoast.com/terrigal-lagoon-trail This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Central Coast Council.
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Lakes experts ready to advise DALLAS SHERRINGHAM NE of Australis’s leading authorities on coastal management is heading up the Expert Panel tasked with finding the best ways to improve water quality in Tuggerah Lakes Associate Professor William Glamore from the University of NSW is chairing the highly qualified lineup which was announced by Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch. The Panel comprises industry-recognized experts in the fields of catchment management, water quality, coast and estuary dynamics, aquatic ecology, stormwater management, water sensitive urban design and community engagement. It includes• Dr Angus Ferguson of Southern Cross University Coastal waters Unit. • Dr Katherine Daffhorn of Macquarie University Marine Research Centre. • Dr Damian Maher of University of Technology. • Dr David Wainwright, the Conjoint Lecturer at Newcastle University’s School of Environmental and Life Sciences. Other panel members include Sian Fawcett, Nicole Ramilo and Stuart Waters. Associate Professor Glamore is Principal Research Fellow at the Water Research Laboratory (WRL), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of NSW Sydney. During the past 20 years, he has undertaken independent studies on estuarine and coastal systems globally.
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Dr Katherine Daffhorn.
Associate Professor William Glamore
Mr Crouch said the Expert Panel would be different to previous approaches to Tuggerah Lakes. “The Expert Panel will do more than just produce another report. Its purpose is to pull together all previous reports to identify water quality solutions,” Mr Crouch said.
Tuggerah Lakes flooding.
“The Panel will also investigate what has been done in the past, what issues the community wants addressed, and what science says should be done in the future. “This will help to guide Central Coast Council in formulating their future strategies and actions.” A working group has been established
to guide operation of the Expert Panel comprising staff from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Central Coast Council. The Panel will undertake consultation with the community and other relevant stakeholders, and further details will be available shortly.
Council hits business with rate rise ENTRAL Coast businesses suffering from the worst economic year in history because of Covid 19 have now been slugged with a 2.6% rate rise for 2020-21. Following a determination from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, Council has resolved to accept a rate rise of 2.6% for the 2020-21 financial year. The increase will take effect from July and will be incorporated into the ordinary and special rates. At the same meeting, the council yet again voted against the Aviation Hub at Warnervale which would provide up to 5000 jobs and a major boost to local business.
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In accordance with the Local Government Act, IPART approved a rate peg increase of 2.6% for 2020-21. This means that Council may increase total rate revenue in 2020-21 by 2.6% without any additional approval and will apply to all rateable land. Mayor Lisa Matthews said that while the rate rise came at a time of uncertainty, Council had put in place processes to assist residents in meeting their obligations. “It was an extremely difficult and emotive discussion as raising rates at this time was not an easy decision. As a Council, we’re well aware of the challenging economic conditions Central Coast
residents are currently experiencing,” Mayor Matthews said. “I would certainly encourage all residents to contact our customer service team and investigate the hardship options we have put in place to assist the community. “Council remains committed to delivering on key community projects and the revenue raised from ratepayers will help us serve the community by providing great customer experience, value for money and delivering on quality services.” Council is forecasting revenue of $335.5M from ratepayers over the next 12 months.
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Artist impressions of the completed project in use.
Leagues Club field transformed HE transformation of Leagues Club Field into a regional play space and park is underway, with local tradies playing a significant role in construction work. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the $10M project is providing jobs for locals and supporting the local economy. “Leagues Club Field is injecting $10M into the economy and providing jobs for 80 workers,” Mr Crouch said. “The principal contractor, Landscape Solutions, is made up of an entirely local team and where possible local sub-contractors are also being used.” Alongside concreters from East Gosford, earthworks from Mangrove Mountain and electrical services from Tuggerah and Wyong, local artists from the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council are continuing to play a key role in the unique design features of the park. “The Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council is working to create sandstone animal ‘islands’ that will sit in the tidal pool, which is one of the interactive aspects of the Leagues Club Field project,” Mr Crouch said.
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Artist impression of the completed project.
“Once construction is completed at the end of the year our community will benefit from a fantastic new two-hectare park to exercise, relax and play.” Hunter Central Coast Development Corporation Acting Chief Executive Valentina Misevska said good progress on
the park was happening every day, with recent works including the laying of new pedestrian walkways, planting palm trees and installing sandstone seating around the community amphitheatre. “The community will soon be able to see bigger changes, with the installation
of the totem poles and tidal pool islands in June and more trees, play equipment, barbecues and seating installed soon after,” Ms Misevska said. For more information, go to: www.hccdc.nsw. gov.au/leagues-club-field
Construction works taking place at Leagues Club Field at Gosford.
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
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My Coast
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Small business deserves a fair go EMMA MCBRIDE T’S been a tough year across Australia and a particularly tough year on the Coast. We’ve faced the threat of bushfires, floods and now the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our local economy. When non-essential services were shut down, the Coast felt it. In late May, the Grattan Institute released its ‘Job losses caused by COVID-19, electorate by electorate’ report and Dobell saw a sharp drop of 5.7 per cent. This is devastating for a region already facing above-average unemployment—in particular, youth unemployment before this crisis hit. The Central Coast is a proud and hardworking community. When people are doing it tough, we pull together and I’m proud of the way we’ve worked together, but there comes a time when proud people need help. Our local economy is built on the shoulders of industries typical of coastal regions across Australia, like tourism, hospitality, retail, food manufacturing and construction. There are 9,803 small and family businesses in our region, employing 35,000 local people. There are 11,000 tradies and 2,500 small and family businesses in the construction industry on the north of the Coast alone. Labor has been calling on the government to develop a comprehensive housing stimulus plan. We need proper
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stimulus to kickstart the local economy and get these businesses and families back on their feet. We recommended five things the government could do: construct more social housing; repair and maintain existing social housing; construct more affordable rental accommodation for frontline workers; and provide an expansion of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme for new builds and grants to first home buyers who build their first home.
Does not cut it The government’s recently announced HomeBuilder package barely ticks one of those boxes. The government expects Australians to spend $150,000 on renovations without providing any certainty of whether they’ll qualify for the grant. The tradies on the Central Coast deserve better. It’ll be a long and bumpy road to recovery in communities like the Central Coast, and the government needs to do much more.
The tradies and small businesses on the Central Coast deserve better than a housing package that’s expected to be taken up by just 7,000 people. Housing construction is due to fall, and the government has produced a scheme that’s difficult to understand and even harder to access. The government must do more, so the tradies and local small construction businesses aren’t lost to our community. On 11 June, I spoke in parliament on the Government’s Payment Times Reporting Bill. During the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve heard some shocking examples of large companies telling smaller suppliers that their payment terms are being blown out to 120 days from the date of invoicing. Prompt payments are far more important to the cash flow of small businesses than for larger businesses. Small businesses rely far more on payments and bank finance. Without on time payments, small businesses suffer. Small businesses should not have to wait 120 days or more to be paid for their work. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Australian economy. They are run by mums and dads, sisters, brothers and friends—the people who make up our community. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted small businesses across Australia. They have felt it hard. They deserve a fair go. For the full excerpt of this speech, go to my website at www.emmamcbride. com.au and click on the Parliament tab at the top of the page. Emma McBride is Federal Member for Dobell.
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
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Pearl of a good news story brings a glow in tough times DALLAS SHERRINGHAM
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We have lost over 90% of our revenue in the last few months due to this pandemic. By continuing this breeding program, we are demonstrating confidence in the longevity of our industry, as the results of these pearls won’t really show commercial value for another for five to 10 years.” - James Brown. CENTRAL Coast business has come shining through with a pearl of a story in this time of economic doom and gloom and in doing so, has created an Australian first. During COVID-19, Pearls of Australia has successfully re-deployed the tourism and retail arm of its business to the project of spawning pearl oyster shells. And in doing so, it has boosted the longevity of the Australian pearl industry during these uncertain times. As an Australian first, this initiative has successfully resulted in the spawning of two species at the same time. It has opened a good news story all round for the long-established pearl farming operation, Pearls of Australia. With innovation as the key to survival and ultimate success in the crisis, the business pivoted its retail and tourism arm to a hands-on farming initiative, to ensure the long-term livelihood of Australian-grown pearls. Pearls of Australia, a third-generation family business, has successfully spawned two species of pearl oysters across its hatcheries at the same time. The new spawnings are a significant achievement, particularly during COVID-19 with its impacts being felt both domestically and around the world. The company’s tourism and retail employees were given a hands-on role by managing director and marine biologist James Brown, who lives and breathes pearl farming. He decided to concentrate efforts during the down-time on spawning pearl oysters, in an initiative to boost the cultivation of authentic Australian pearls and ensure the industry’s livelihood in the years to come. The spawnings occurred between Pearls of Australia’s two pearl farm operations which produce two different pearl oyster species: the Broken Bay Pearl
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Pearls of Australia has successfully re-deployed the tour-ism and retail arm of its business to the project of spawning pearl oyster shells.
ABOUT PEARLS OF AUSTRALIA Farm on the Central Coast producing the Pinctada fucata ‘Akoya’ pearl and the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm in Broome, producing the famous giant Pinctada maxima ‘Australian South Sea’ pearl. Mr Brown said the ability to continue with a pearl shell breeding program was vital to the long-term success of the business. It also represents a first for Australian pearling, as the joint venture between the two pearl farms cultivated the two species of native pearl shell at the same time. Representing more than 70 years of pearling, Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm in WA is the oldest Australian-owned pearl farm and its hatchery operation is essential in recovering the industry from a disease that devastated it in 2007 and led to ongoing productivity issues. The Broken Bay Pearl Farm is NSW’s only cultured pearl farm and represents the development of an entirely new industry for the region, opening in 2003.
Many Challenges But despite all the challenges of pearl farming, nothing could have prepared the company for the current crisis. “We have lost over 90% of our revenue in the last few months due to this pandemic,” Mr Brown, said. “By continuing this breeding program, we are demonstrating confidence in the longevity of our industry, as the results of these pearls won’t really show commercial value for another for five to 10 years. “Timing is everything when it comes to spawning oysters; similar to coral - the moon and the seasons must align and February and March full moons were the optimum times of the year,” he said
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
“The fact that the two different pearl oyster species on either side of the country managed to spawn at the same time is a truly exciting and magical event.” He said it took up to six years from spawning tiny little oyster larvae in specialised hatcheries to finally harvesting a pearl. The oysters are two to three years of age before they can be ‘seeded’ to start the pearl culturing process and it is another two years before the pearls are fully grown and ready for harvesting. From there, it can be another year for the pearls to be sorted, graded, and set into jewelry designs ready for sale. “it highlights how huge the risk is for our industry,” Mr Brown said. “If we had not undertaken the spawnings because of COVID-19, no matter what the outcome, we wouldn’t have a pool of shell to seed in 2023 and no pearls to harvest in 2025.” “Hatcheries cost thousands of dollars to run and facing no income for 2020, we had to make the decision if we were going to cease operation or continue to produce millions of babies,” Mr Brown said. “The COVID-19 crisis certainly threatens the pearling industry, but Pearls of Australia chose to persevere with the important spawning process partly because of the previous crisis that crippled the Australian pearling industry. It was a biosecurity crisis just like this, only affecting our pearl oysters not people, and one our industry has never really recovered from.” He said in three years they hope to have a few thousand shells ready to seed for pearls. “After two more years of hard work we hopefully will have a handful of the world’s highest quality gems in our hands,” Mr Brown said.
• Pearls of Australia originated at Cygnet Bay, north of Broome, cultivating Australian South Sea pearls. • It is committed to investment in authenticity research, to facilitate the industry about pearl quality based on source of origin, species and purity. • Pearls of Australia guarantees seven pearl virtues with its pearls: the traditional five - size, shape, color, surface, lustre - with two new additional virtues - provenance and purity. • In 2009, Mr Brown ‘opened the gates’ to the family’s remote pearl farm at Cygnet Bay, two hours north of Broome on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula. For the first time in Australian history, the general public was able to take part in an authentic pearling experience, gaining access to pearls direct from the waters where they were cultivated. • Due to the success of this venture, in December 2017, he bought into the Broken Bay Pearl farm on the Central Coast, to bring their innovative approach to Australia’s ‘newest’ pearling region. • By working directly with the pearl farmers, Pearls of Australia is able to offer visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in a working pearl farm, to personally handle the pearls and to see, firsthand, how pearl quality is judged, as well as being able to purchase certified premium pearls from the farm. For more on Pearls of Australia: www.pearlsofaustralia.com.au
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Home Life
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Power of the DYI
Research reveals Aussie’s preferences DALLAS SHERRINGHAM
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Two T wo in five people (41%) under 55 would also rather tackle a DIY project than go on a date with their partner, although baby boomers still prefer a more classic romantic experience with only four per cent saying they would ditch a date for DIY.” ORGET about being king of the bedroom, women want a man who does his best work in the garage. Now, before all the militant business ladies out there start protesting that Access has descended into the depths of depravity having been in lockdown too long, bear with me. New research by equipment hire company, Kennards Hire, has ‘revealed’ that 64% of Aussies would prefer their partner to be better at DIY than in the bedroom.
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Tasmania, the land of bushy beards where men are men and trees are nervous, topped the list of those most DIY-infatuated. A whopping 70% of Australians on the map of Tasmania cited their preference for a DIY savvy partner over one that is good in bed. The survey, which quizzed more than 1000 Australian woman from all walks of life, also revealed that one in ten said that a partner being good at DIY played a key role in them wanting to marry them. The research, which looked into what jobs are high up our to-do list, was undertaken by Kennards Hire encouraging Aussies to stick to their planned projects, because it seems when it comes to DIY skills, handy men are 10 out of 10s. Kennards Hire is an Australian family-owned and operated company that has been in the hire industry for 70 years, with 180 sites and branches across Australia and New Zealand. While a lack of ambition towards
DIY is a clear turn off, it is not enough of a reason for most people to completely end a relationship. However, one in 10 Queenslanders said they have considered it in the past.
Not Surprising It is not surprising people value handyman skills in their partner, given one in four people admitted to walking away from multiple DIY projects in the past. For millennials, it was one in three. The top jobs which have caused Aussies to throw in the towel include, painting indoor walls (24%) and landscaping the yard (24%), as well as larger projects such as bathroom overhauls (15%) and kitchen renovations (10%). It is an eye-opening fact that the research found DIY skills were particularly important to millennials, with almost half (45%) agreeing good DIY skills make men more sexually appealing. Two in five people (41%) under 55
would also rather tackle a DIY project than go on a date with their partner, although baby boomers still prefer a more classic romantic experience with only four per cent saying they would ditch a date for DIY. General Manager Marketing & Customer Experience at Kennards Hire Manelle Merhi said with people at home more than usual they had seen an increase of people looking to get stuck in and complete DIY projects around the home. “Rather than gifts, perhaps the way to really wow your partner is to give your backyard a makeover or freshen up your walls with a coat of paint.” “We’ve been known to provide scissor lifts for weddings and metal detectors to find lost engagement rings, so if a floor sander or demo saw will help you win over hearts, we’re here to help.” For tips and tricks on DIY projects around the house visit: www.kennards.com.au/get-inspired/
DIY amateurs falling from roofs HERE has been a major outbreak of medical emergencies during Covid 19 lockdown, but it has nothing to do with the pandemic. In just one week, four DIY homeowners plunged from their roof while attempting to do projects above their property Following the spate of emergency call-outs due to serious injuries from people doing their own DIY, tradie experts are imploring residents to contact the professionals instead. According to CareFlight rescue helicopter service, the worrying number of ‘amateurs’ have fallen from their roof carrying out repairs since May 1 – and another 10 were flown to hospital in April. Matt Jones from Tradiematepro, a support and coaching platform for tradebased businesses, said for every ‘wannabe’ tradie that has been flown to hospital, there are countless others who have injured themselves carrying out home repairs. His word of advice for those considering risky DIY is: “Don’t!” “There have been some terrible injuries in the past few weeks from people tackling repairs and home improvements, so it’s always better to call in the professionals,” Mr Jones said. “It’s understandable, especially with the forced isolation, that people have
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Matt Jones.
carried out home maintenance to save money and for health reasons, but in many cases it’s a disaster. “As well as the obvious risk of injury, some projects could be fatal, especially when it comes to electrical or even working on uneven surfaces at a great height. “Plus, nine times out of ten the repairs become even more expensive as the professionals are then called in to fix botched jobs – we’ve had a huge surge in residen-
tial repairs and maintenance, in particular plumbing and electrical work, over the last few weeks,” Mr Jones said.. “And with rentals, landlords, property managers, strata building, and facility managers all have obligations to ensure repairs and maintenance are carried out on tenanted properties”. He said no home improvement was worth risking maiming yourself, “or worse.”
Tradiematepro launched in 2018 to help tradespeople set up their own businesses. Since then, it has helped to educate hundreds of tradies to collectively increase their profits, attract new clients and operate professional businesses with successful futures. It helps with financials, cash flow and profitability, time and team management, marketing and lead generation, sales strategy and helps tradies choose the best apps and software for their business.
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
My Coast
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From “response” to “recovery” ADAM CROUCH ur community can be so proud of our progress in beating COVID-19. Thank you to everyone for your hard work – it is slowly paying off! However we can’t let our guard down. Complacency is the new killer. People need to come forward for testing even with the mildest of symptoms, practice good hand hygiene and follow the social distancing rules. We must all remain vigilant and “do our bit” to avoid a second COVID-19 outbreak. The NSW Government is also pivoting from “response” to “recovery” – this is all about keeping people in jobs and keeping businesses in business at this difficult time. Unfortunately, the months ahead will be the biggest economic challenge in a generation. The NSW Government has committed $13.6 billion into the health and economic COVID-19 response, the largest of any state or territory in Australia. Together with support from the Federal Government this has mitigated some economic impacts. Despite this, the NSW economy is still forecast to contract by as much as 10 per cent in the second half of the 2019-20 financial year, with unemployment forecast to rise to around 7.75 per cent. The flow-on effect to revenue streams for the NSW Government is expected to result in approximately $20 billion of lost revenue over the next five years. We are working at both a macro and micro level to ensure individuals, families
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“Thousands of local businesses on the Central Coast are eligible for $3,000 and $10,000 one-off grants from the NSW Government”
and businesses are supported as much as possible. Around 1,500 small businesses on the Central Coast have applied for $10,000 one-off grants in the past two months. This can be used to cover bills like utilities, council rates, telecommunications bills, insurance payments, wages and more. The criteria for funding has recently been extended to include microbreweries, cellar doors and events and commercial vessel businesses. Recently a new $10,000 Export Assistance Grant has been made available to small and medium-sized exporters on the Central Coast. This funding is targeted at helping local businesses access new markets or re-enter old ones where
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
opportunities are no longer available. Exports accounted for around 14 per cent of the NSW economy before COVID-19, and I know it is crucial that our State defends its international trading position and maintain contact with key markets. Also announced recently by the NSW Government is a one-off $3,000 Small Business Recovery Grant. This funding aims to help with reopening costs. Applications are open from 1 July onwards through Service NSW and I would encourage the thousands of local businesses on the Central Coast to apply for this funding. Another initiative from the NSW Government is an online tool for local businesses to check, test and promote
their COVID-safe credentials. While it’s important that businesses reopen their doors and welcome back customers, it’s also essential to keep our community safe while we are living with COVID-19. Through this initiative all industry information is available under the one roof, including downloadable badges for businesses with COVID-safe plans to display in their premises. I want to thank everyone in our community – individuals, families and businesses – for working hard together to flatten the curve and stop the spread of COVID-19 on the Central Coast. Adam Crouch is State Member for Terrigal and Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast
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Feature
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10 best practice tips for leading VIRTUAL teams ITH organisations fast-tracking work from home for many employees as a result of COVID-19, there are 10 steps leaders can adopt to significantly improve their leadership skills in managing virtual teams The impact of COVID-19 is being felt across organisations in significant and multiple ways. Apart from the obvious economic impact, many businesses have implemented work-from-home policies and practices in order to minimise potential exposure to workers and help keep their workforce safe. However, working from home requires a different kind of leadership for managers charged with leading virtual teams. Without this kind of leadership, engagement and collaboration can suffer – with subsequent falls in performance and productivity. The good news is that leading effective virtual teams does not require a huge investment in technology. Effective virtual teaming requires connecting on a human level, for example, sharing a virtual meal or coffee together, and applying a structured, ‘fit for purpose’ approach to teaming.
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Virtual team considerations UNSW’s Associate Professor Will Felps and Virginia Kane, director of Nous Group and AGSM MBA, conducted research on best practices in leading virtual teams. They found that the rules that apply to face-to-face teams do not necessarily apply to virtual teams and suggest managers must be more disciplined in their approach to managing virtual teams. Drawing on best-practice insights from an in-depth review of the academic literature and interviews with nine experts, whose experience in leading virtual teams spanned telecommunications, technology, education, consumer packaged goods, banking and insurance, mining, transportation and professional service industries, these participants had faced challenges with virtual teaming and had great (and oft-surprising) solutions for leading effective teams.
The 10 tips A/Prof. Felps and Kane identified ten best practice insights for leaders of virtual teams, spanning from how to structure and plan effectively to the strategic value of team connection and over-communication.
Tip #1: Provide more structure, not less Leaders need to be more structured and proactive than they would when managing face-to-face teams. Ways to form effective performance habits include: • Initiating discussion of what an excellent outcome would look like. • Scheduling who will do what by when. • Integrating diverse efforts by being a ‘hub’ of activity.
Tip #2: Slow down to speed up When communicating virtually, it is easier to misunderstand each other. This is especially true if you’re using communication technology that doesn’t allow people to see each other’s’ faces, like email. So, more effort needs to go into making sure everybody is on the same page. For example, on a conference call, the use of paraphrasing can help listeners check their understanding of what is being said (or not said).
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Tip #3: Develop a role charter Lack of accountability can be an issue for virtual teams, particularly when working cross-functionally. Leaders need to be vigilant about defining and communicating roles in virtual teams to prevent diffusion of responsibility. In addition, both team leaders and team members (particularly new members) are recommended to get to know the strengths and capabilities of their virtual team-mates. ‘Capability invisibility’ can lead to situations where individuals are given tasks that they are ill-equipped for or individuals’ useful skills are not fully utilised.
Tip #4: Relationships take extra time, effort, and money to build Virtual teams often spend too little time engaging in the types of social conversations that happen naturally when teams are face-to-face. This can hinder the development of strong team relationships. Simple acts like sending a birthday card, personalising conversations, and recognising contributions can help increase visibility of individuals and build team cohesion. Regular video calls, particularly when done over meals, can also facilitate relationships. This can take the form of a virtual “coffee catch-up” or virtual team meal (such as ‘pizza days’, for example) at regular intervals.
Tip #5: Provide extra support to newbies New people typically learn a lot about how to do their jobs and interact with others through “water cooler conversations”. But these conversations will not happen spontaneously in a virtual environment. To recreate the water cooler dynamic, organisations can create virtual hangout spots (using software like Sococo or Yammer). And leaders can create a “connection passport” for newbies, providing them with introductions and guidance about how to build relationships with various people they should know.
Tip #6: Unmute the distractions The research also found that, for small team conference calls, encouraging team members not to mute calls fostered a more
natural flow of conversation. Unmuting calls also allows for jokes and shared laughter which fosters team morale and cohesion. Some background noise (such as a barking dog) can be a reminder that people, not machines, are on the line. Of course, in big meetings (10 people or more), muting becomes necessary.
cohesion and trust is maintained. Larger groups can also add to problems with accountability, again necessitating the need to regulate team size.
Tip #7: Use video technology whenever possible
Leaders going online need to take the time to learn about the different communication technologies that are fit for different purposes. For brainstorming different options, the research suggests that it is best to use some sort of asynchronous software (such as Stormboard, Moxtra or Twoodo) that allows team members to come up with ideas independently. This is especially useful to draw out ideas from introverts, rather than relying on the loudest people in the room. For quickly getting a sense of how people feel about options, use anonymous polling software (Yammer or ADoodle, for example). And communicate major decisions through technologies that convey emotional tone and that allow for questions and answers (such as videoconferencing).
Related to the above, was the concern of many interviewees that members who dial in on conference calls are not paying attention or do not feel comfortable to share their views. Video technology allows leaders and teammates to pick up on non-verbal cues such as when a member is trying to have input or agreeing/disagreeing with what is being said. Several interviewed experts recommend having a rule that everybody should share their videos.
Tip #8: Preserve and curate digital information One of the virtues of doing things virtually is that the conversations and decisions are recordable and searchable. This can be accomplished through tools like Slack, which integrates different kinds of files (such as Google docs, gmail, github, dropbox, video recordings and others) into one easily searchable repository. And when someone makes a virtual presentation that contains useful information, be sure to record it, label/tag it, and post it in an easily accessible place. Effective virtual teams use this to their advantage. Whenever they confront a problem they’ve seen before, or perhaps if something fails and they need a plan B, they do a quick search. As one interviewee said, “One of the great things about virtual teams is that you don’t get that feeling that you’re starting from scratch as much.”
Tip #9: Limit boundary permeability and buffer your team While team members can be added more easily to virtual teams, than to conventional teams, a leader needs to strictly regulate this. New members must be socialised into a team to ensure that team
Tip #10: Use different technologies for generating options, taking the pulse, and communicating decisions
Other benefits of virtual teams Apart from dealing with the potential organisational fallout of coronavirus COVID-19, virtual teaming affords an opportunity to increase and leverage cultural and geographic diversity yet comes with a unique set of challenges. The challenges of virtual teaming can be overcome by any leader through concerted effort and discipline. Organisations that optimise the use of virtual teams may be well placed to reap the rewards of a diverse workplace including enhanced innovation and performance post-coronavirus and well into the future. This article was first published at www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au – the journal of UNSW Business School. Will Felps is an Associate Professor in the School of Management at UNSW Business School. He teaches and conducts research on a wide range of organisational behaviour and management topics. Virginia Kane is a director at Nous Group, an AGSM MBA and also served as a strategy consultant – Entrepreneurship@UNSW.
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
News
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Horizon will be gateway to Gosford DALLAS SHERRINGHAM F ever uptown Mann St needed a lift it is now and the new Horizon development will turn the northern entry to Gosford into an impressive showpiece. The $133m development has been approved by the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel. The mixed used project comprises two 20-storey buildings set on a podium at 321-331 Mann St was approved recently by the Panel. Raine & Horne Principal Brett Hunter said the project was a significant opportunity for buyers and investors. “It has great views and is affordable and a short walk from shops, the transport hub, the hospital, and the Gosford Golf Club.” Mr Hunter said the vIews from the penthouses in Horizon would take in the whole of Brisbane Water and all the way to Pittwater and Palm Beach. He said Gosford needed a development in this dilapidated section of the CBD which had been neglected for too long. “It will engage interest in the top end of the town and hopefully draw more entrepreneurial investment in that area.” Mr Hunter said Gosford had begun to realise its potential and he was excited about the future of the CBD. Key features include two levels of basement car parking, ground level commercial parking and loading dock, three levels of above ground car parking for commercial and residential integrated with commercial space and 184 one, two and three-bedroom residential apartments.
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Artist impressions of the project.
Open Space The project will include landscaping of the building and its surrounds including podium communal open space and a pool. Developer JMGM believes the project will be “a milestone for development in Gosford”. The development will be built in two stages, with Stage One comprising the first tower and retail premises to begin in July/August next year. Located just two blocks from John
Singleton’s Bonython tower, early stage registrations for apartments and retail are available now and the display suite is scheduled for opening in July. For sale via Mr Hunter from Raine and Horne, prices for one and two bedroom apartments range from $500,000$700,000 and six three-bedroom penthouses are priced at around $3m a pop. With 360-degree views across the city and the Brisbane Water National Park, the penthouses feature floor-to-ceiling
windows, open-plan living and dining spaces and sweeping, wraparound frameless glass balconies. John Singleton’s development company Bonython was the first cab off the rank to kickstart the rebirth of the CBD back in 2017. His 13-storey Bonython building on Mann St was completed in 2018 and the team are now building their second luxury apartment block in Point Frederick, Ravello.
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Travel ACCESS
Edited by DALLAS SHERRINGHAM
We’re in the Business of Travel i
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THE EVER STUNNING ROTTENEST ISLAND: 14
BLUE MOUNTAINS MAJESTIC PALETTE: 16
MURRAY RIVER: RICH, FAMOUS, BOUNTIFUL AND BEAUTIFUL: 18
Great travel escape postponed process for our passengers, from the moment they make a booking to the moment they get home, to try understand how each element of that passenger journey is impacted by the current situation and how they can address the risks associated with those elements.”
DALLAS SHERRINGHAM ENTRAL COAST travelers will not be able to head overseas for another three months after the government extended its travel bans to September 17. The restrictions on international trips were set to expire on June 17, however, the Health Department has confirmed it had been stretched. The Federal Government had no choice but to ban travelling overseas on March 18 after the world descended into a Covid-19 pandemic rapidly with millions of deaths overseas. The pandemic was particularly severe in the most popular overseas destinations for Australians including Italy, Spain, Britain, the USA and Asia. It also struck cruising which normally draws 1.8M Aussie passengers overseas every year and the unfortunate Ruby Princess became the centre of a media storm after a NSW Health Department stuff up. Adding to the angst of NSW travelers looking to get away on and alternative holiday, the Queensland, Western Australian and South Australian governments all kept their borders shut. This has meant that the expected boom for Australian tourism in what has been described as “the Great Escape” after lockdown has simply not taken place so far. It now seems likely that New Zealand will reap the benefits of “the Great Escape” with a travel bubble being planned for Australian visitors. Travel bubbles could be given the go-ahead if deemed safe including the expected proposal with New Zealand.
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Under consideration Health minister Greg Hunt said plans were also being considered to potentially allow international business travelers and foreign students to return to Australia safely. “There are two pathways on international travel reopening - one is to use our quarantine system with international students and appropriately with people who are delivering national benefit whether it is in business or other areas,” he told the ABC. There are reports that the quarantine restrictions could be halved for business travelers from countries with low levels of coronavirus.
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Early Interest
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There are two pathways on international travel reopening - one is to use our quarantine system with international students and appropriately with people who are delivering national benefit whether it is in business or other areas.” - Minister Greg Hunt. Mr Hunt said the government continued to work on plans for a travel bubble with Covid-free countries such as New Zealand where no quarantine would be required. “Secondly, where we can have a safe relationship with another country such as
New Zealand, having a non-quarantine approach which will open up borders.” “There is more work to be done, but both of those pathways to bring back people safely and where there is a Covid Safe country such as New Zealand, the capacity to open up those borders once our domestic borders are opened up.” Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said a lot of contingency work was being done to resolve logistical issues with international travel. He said while there was no firm date for a trans-Tasman travel bubble, he hoped that as state premiers relaxed borders - South Australia and Queensland will open their borders in July – it would give New Zealand confidence. Meanwhile, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon for cruise passengers with companies setting and selling itineraries from October. Cruise ships will return to Australian waters en masse in late 2020, but the traditional style of cruising we have enjoyed for so many years is now dead in the water. A whole raft of changes will be put in place to protect passengers from a Covid-19 outbreak on board, but the test of whether the industry has done enough will come in the following weeks when passengers start returning home. “There’s a requirement that we do a lot of work to regain confidence amongst our travelers,” Joel Katz, Australasia managing director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said. “Our cruise lines are really doing a thorough analysis of the door to door
That early interest has been driven largely by a big sale on cruise tickets for upcoming seasons. Discounts of anywhere between 30 to 70% on deals and generous terms on refunds have seen passengers re-engage with cruise companies such as P&O, Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Most passionate 40+cruise fans in Australia say the pandemic has not destroyed their hopes of future holidays on the seas, but they want to see concrete changes in cruise health and medical protocols before they will sail again. The very existence and success of cruise ships is based on social gatherings from bingo and the buffet to cocktail parties, live shows, workouts, sunbaking on a deckchair and even going for a swim. All those activities will have to change, but Joel Katz from CLIA is confident the sector can meet those demands. “We’ve always been a resilient industry. We have a vast number of people who are avid cruisers and passionate cruisers and we have no doubt those passengers on the whole will be ready to resail with us when the time is right,” he said However cruising cannot control the fact that its strength is the senior market , especially at the luxury end of the spectrum and many seniors I have spoken to about this issue have placed their own ban on cruising until an effective vaccine is available. The other problem facing seniors is travel insurance. Unless insurance companies cover Covid-19, most seniors won’t take the risk of racking up a huge medical bill overseas. The answer for cruise companies may be to put their own Covid-19 cover in their insurance policies on board, but this would need to be extended to the full journey including flights where necessary. There a still a lot of questions to be answered in the coming months. Dallas Sherringham is editor of Mature Traveler Magazine, the Australian Cruise Magazine and Facebook’s The Cruise Expert.
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Travel ACCESS
Tourism industry to REBOOT Couple enjoying a picnic at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley region.
SW regions and tourism businesses are set to receive a major boost with the easing of travel restrictions, as the Government revealed NSW residents took almost two million international leisure trips worth $16.7B last year. To coincide with the June 1 restriction changes, the NSW Government’s tourism and events agency Destination NSW kicks off a major tourism marketing campaign, targeting NSW, Victorian and ACT residents with world-class experiences to be enjoyed right here in regional NSW and Sydney. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the Now’s The Time To Love NSW campaign would deliver ‘heads on beds’ and visitor spend for tourism operators statewide. “NSW is ready to reboot 2020 – our state has so much to offer holidaymakers, there really is nowhere better to take a break right now,” Minister Ayres said. “NSW residents took almost 2 million international leisure trips last year worth $16.7B so there is a huge opportunity to entice our overseas holidaymakers to become NSW's next top travellers. “Forget that overseas escape – we’re showing travellers there is incredible food and wine, amazing outdoor adventures and one-of-a-kind hikes right here in NSW.” The next phase of NSW’s tourism recovery campaign – Now’s The Time To Love NSW – will run throughout June and July and includes: • A new television commercial and social media video series highlighting top NSW arts, hiking, wine, family and outdoor adventure experiences
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• Local Stories video series starring tourism operators inviting travellers to visit • A dedicated webpage showing the top 213 ways to reboot 2020 in NSW, so travellers can make the most of the 213 days that remain this year, and; • international digital advertising to keep overseas visitors dreaming of NSW. “Interest in NSW road trips has jumped with a 125% increase in page
views on VisitNSW.com in the past week – the demand is there, now’s the time to show our love for regional NSW,” Mr Ayres said. “The cumulative effect of drought, bushfires and COVID-19 has been devastating for tourism operators, so we’re asking everyone who can take a holiday to hit the road or get planning as soon as possible.” Tourism businesses can get involved in the campaign by signing up to Get Connected with Destination NSW so
they are featured on VisitNSW.com, which is the call to action for all marketing activity that will roll out in the coming months. All travellers are encouraged to phone ahead to ensure operators are open and help with capacity planning, and businesses and visitors must follow health advice regarding physical distancing and personal hygiene. Visit: https://www.visitnsw.com/love-nsw
MARGARET RIVER: Rich, famous, bountiful and beautiful: 19 CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
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Travel The ever-stunning Rottnest Island ACCESS
JOHN NEWTON t is more than 40 years since features since I first stepped ashore on Rottnest Island when there was little more to do than have a swim and finish the day with an ale or two at the local pub. How things have changed - not only on the island but the way you get there on a high-speed ferry - the first non-stop service from Perth. Sealink’s 200-passenger catamaran Quokka Two - takes just 90 minutes from Perth’s Barrack Street jetty to Rottnest - combining a scenic 60 minutes on the picturesque Swan River with 30 minutes on the Indian Ocean between the port of Fremantle and the island, a mere 18 kilometres away. And, according to Leycester Cory, Sealink’s Commercial Partnerships and Sales manager - Western Australia, the direct run has been a “fantastic addition” to not only the company’s selection of products but also to the Perth market. “The advantage of a direct service makes the unique opportunity to travel from the CBD to enchanting Rottnest even more special. It has performed above all our expectations and visitors and locals alike have left humbling reviews of the experience. Fewer crowds, more river and lots of outside viewing areas have certainly been met with a positive response,” he said. One of Sealink’s prized assets is jack-of-all-trades Jess Featherstone, a fully-fledged captain and the company’s first female engineer. And these are not the only boots she fills - she is also quite happy to lend a hand at the food/bar, toss out the mooring ropes - and even give the odd commentary about the boat’s capabilities. Jess obviously took to water like an Olympic swimmer after giving up her primary school teaching role.
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Island tours If you are not up to cycling or walking around the Rottnest sights, Sealink has a number of island tours that include same day ferry transfers. These include: * A four-hour Grand Island Tour, which explores the island’s iconic spots by coach and finishes with a historic train ride. * A Segway Fortress Adventure Tour, starting with an in-depth training session before heading to spectacular beaches and gaining an insight into Rottnest’s military history and its role in WW11. * A Bayseeker Island Tour over one-and-a-half hours during which you’ll see the island’s flora and wildlife, as well as its colonial and maritime history.
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Free pick-up
Ferries direct daily Sealink offers daily direct ferries from both Perth and Fremantle. For bookings, fares and times, go to SealinkRottnest. com.au (Perth or Fremantle office) or Tel: +61 (8) 93259352.
To save the hassle of getting to the ferry terminal in Perth, Sealink provides a free hotel pick-up and drop off shuttle bus, leaving in plenty of time to catch the 8.30am city-Rottnest service and meet the 4.15pm return ferry from the island.
Today, Rottnest is burgeoning - thanks to cute marsupials called quokkas that have become the island’s tourist selfie superstars - along with rising visitor numbers, proposed new developments and much-needed modern accommodation replacing that from a bygone era. This includes a revamped Hotel Rottnest - the major island project for 2020 with an opening date of around September. And there are plans to improve the visitor experience on the jetty and possibly some new products next season for day trippers and extended day tourists.
Key initiatives The Rottnest Island Management Plan (RIMP) focuses on areas supported by 18 proposed key initiatives designed to promote new developments and business opportunities on the island, while retaining the island’s character and accessibility. Tennis ace, Roger Federer, probably can’t believe what he’s done for tiny Rottnest on the other side of his homeland. Just a day in the sun and Federer – along with a cute marsupial – have put the island well and truly in the limelight on the world map. But while tourists flock to Rottnest and scramble off the ferries in a mad rush to get to the best selfie quokka spots, there’s much, more to this historical and ever-growing tourist haven. Just for starters, the island has 20 bays and more than 60 breathtaking beaches, diving, snorkelling, swimming coves, can’t-wait-to-throw-the-line-in fishing spots and renting a bike to pedal up to must-see locations, such as Cathedral Rocks, Wadjemup Lighthouse, Geordie Bay, The Basin and Little Salmon bay. And what better way to get to Rottnest than along the majestic Swan River
from the West Australian capital to the port of Fremantle before heading to the island across the Indian Ocean. At Chidley Point in Mosman Park (just before you get to East Fremantle), look out for Perth’s smallest yacht club which has just two members. The stand-out blue shed on the foreshore is owned by the people living in the house above. After they’d built the shed, the local council informed them
that only yacht clubs could build on the river. This led the owners to open Perth’s most exclusive yacht club. Back on Rottnest don’t forget to grab a bite of the island’s second favourite attraction - the mouth-watering pies from the island’s renowned bakery. According to Jess, the steak, bacon and cheese pie is worth the cost of getting over to the island.
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
Travel ACCESS
Outback Australia full of surprises WORDS AND IMAGES BY DALLAS SHERRINGHAM OURING Outback Australia is one of the great adventures of the world with surprises to be had in virtually every town and city along the way. It is simply a matter of taking the time to find those surprises and to seek the advice of locals who are only too willing to give you advice on what to see and how to get there. Outback Australia can be daunting to the inexperienced, but it is also a friendly place if you want it to be. Having spent many years travelling the length and breadth of our great nation, I never cease to be amazed by what I discover along the way.
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WELLINGTON NSW Wellington’s great claim to fame is the fact that it is the second oldest inland centre in Australia. John Oxley discovered the beautiful setting at the junction of the Macquarie and Bell Rivers in 1817 and next year “Wello”, as it is known to the locals, will celebrate its bicentenary. The town is an outstanding place to explore because of its great old buildings which are strung out along Namina Crescent adjacent to the equally stunning Cameron Park. However just out of Wellington along the Mitchell Hwy is another amazing surprise: Wellington Caves. The caves have been drawing visitors for over a century with the enchanting Cathedral Cave always the jewel in the crown. Recent explorations have found more than 20 caves in the area, some of them offering excellent cave diving opportunities.
BROOME WA Sitting at Cable Beach watching the sun go down over the Indian Ocean is one of the great attractions of visiting Broome. Camels parade by carrying happy travellers and out to sea traditional sailing ships full of tourists pass across the setting sun. However it is after dark that Broome’s greatest surprise comes to life. The outdoor Sun Pictures cinema is the oldest “picture gardens” in the world, having opened in 1916. When it opened locals would catch a horse tram from the town jetty along Carnarvon Street to get there for a night out. It is believed to be the only cinema in the world subject to tidal fluctuations with patrons having to lift their feet above the water to avoid getting wet. While outdoor cinemas disappeared
quickly around the world, Broome survived mainly because it was ideal for the tropical climate.
DARWIN NT The northern capital of Darwin holds many surprises for the visitor. However two major events are almost inescapable when visiting. The first is Cyclone Tracy which ripped the city apart in 1974 and the bombing of the city by Japanese aircraft in 1942. Few cities in the world have faced the devastation which befell the city in those two events. Darwin Museum, situated in the Gardens just out of town, has a moving display featuring Cyclone Tracy. The highlight is a chilling sight and sound experience featuring a tape capturing the full fury of the storm. Inside the display, you are totally blocked off from the world in darkness
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
and the sound of the cyclone attacks all your senses. Museum staff told me that some locals who lived through Tracy still cannot enter the display; it is too haunting for them.
Darwin Aviation Museum The collection includes a B52 Bomber, an F111, a Mirage Fighter and a Sabre Jet. The aircraft are in pristine condition and if you are visiting the Top End, do yourself a favour and spend half a day at the museum.
BIGGE ISLAND WA The great attractions of the Kimberley region of WA include Mitchell Falls, Montgomery Reef and the Horizontal Waterfalls. However a little known place well worth a visit by boat is Bigge Island situated in the Bonaparte Archipelago. Bigge Island has colourful rock formations that take your breath away. Set
against the sparkling Timor Sea under a blue sky, Bigge Island is a photographer’s delight. We beached out explorer boat on an unspoilt beach and explored nearby caves which contained haunting Wandjina Man staring back at you from the walls. They were painted by indigenous locals centuries ago and are freshened up occasionally by present day custodians. What makes Bigge Island really unique is the fact that you can also find the mysterious Bradshaw rock paintings there. These paintings date from up to 40,000 years ago nobody knows who painted them. Lying on my back looking up at those ancient drawings, painted by someone before the dawn of time, made me realise just how full of surprises Australia really is and how much there is to see and do. So surprise yourself and go see Australia.
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Travel Majestic global dining palette ACCESS
Ellen Hill and Roderick Eime visit the Grand Lady of the Blue Mountains NSW aucy tales, exotic opulence and the odd celebrity demise. The Hydro Majestic Hotel in the Blue Mountains sits alongside the Hotel Ritz Paris, Raffles Singapore and Claridge’s London as legendary havens of mischief and luxury With staff from around the world welcoming waves of international tourists in a distinctly Australian location, the Hydro Majestic also represents the modern face and cuisine of Australia – as it has for more than a century. The status of the original Blue Mountains party palace as the grandest of the grand hotel in the region was restored when current owner Escarpment Group unveiled its $35 million refurbishment in October 2014. The spectacular Casino Lobby was stripped back to show off that stupendous dome prefabricated in Chicago and imported by original Hydro Majestic owner, department store doyenne Mark Foy. The Wintergarden Restaurant where one takes high tea (traditional or Eastern) is bedecked in understated gold and white elegance with enormous windows giving a breathtaking view over the Megalong Valley. There’s the Majestic Ballroom with its beautiful vaulted ceiling, the revamped Boiler House Café in the old
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The Casino Dome (Supplied)
NYE 1936 (Supplied)
pump house and the sophistication of black and chrome in the Belgravia accommodation lounge. But the best way to appreciate the full magnificence of the Hydro Majestic, the building, the history and the gob-smackingly gorgeous location on the edge of the escarpment, is to stroll along the (in)famous Cat’s Alley hallway, cocktail
in hand, and watch the sunset over the Megalong Valley. The golden tendrils seep down the blood red walls, lighting up the peacock feathers and richly furbished lounges, and bring the original artworks of blood sports to life. Foy, was a visionary, an ambitious and remarkable one, creating the hotel on a mountain top against all odds. Soon
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the fortunate, the famous, the fabulous, even the infamous, flocked to the Hydro Majestic from around the globe. With regular festivals and events including the Roaring 20s Festival in February, Escarpment Group has returned the flounce to the old girl’s skirt Continued on page 17
$60 per person
Winter bonus includes: • FREE WiFi • FREE 30 minute post event drinks in rebellion bar • FREE delicious delight on arrival To book your next event, email: functions_rydgesnorwest@evt.com or call 02 9634 9634 Rydges Norwest Sydney 1 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 T: 02 9634 9634 F: 02 9634 9660 rydges.com/norwest Terms and Conditions Apply
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Wintergarden Restaurant (Supplied)
Continued on page 17
so the Hydro Majestic is once again the most flamboyant showgirl of Australia’s first tourist destination. The latest event was a seven-course degustation featuring traditional dishes from global locations infused with local flavours served by staff from around the world, heralds a modern era of theatrical dining for Mark Foy’s “Palace in the wilderness’’ Dishes such as Creole-style braised short rib, southern grits, collard greens and corn tamarillo salsa obviously originated from distant shores. However, the ingredients were sourced from a 100-mile radius around the hotel. Rounding off the gastronomic event with lamingtons was the shared food link to Australia. It could be said that the Hydro Majestic represents the modern face and
Views to the Megalong Valley (Supplied)
cuisine of Australia – as it has for more than a century. Escarpment Group general manager Ralf Bruegger said: “The Hydro Majestic has always embraced cultural diversity, not because its first owner Mark Foy was politically correct but because he genuinely loved people of all races, their culture, art and food – just as we do today. “In fact, what is seen as progressive, even outrageous today, has always been normal at the Hydro Majestic. I mean, what was normal for a man who liked to dress in his wife’s clothing and held cross-dressing parties for his friends?’’ With the means to satisfy his every whim, the well-travelled Foy had the famous hotel dome pre-fabricated in Chicago and shipped to Australia. Dr George Baur of the Shoeneck health spa in Switzerland was hired to devise and supervise a program of diets and weird and wonderful treatments. Turkish coffee at
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the Hydro Majestic was served by Turkish waiters, Chinese tea by Chinese waiters. Louie (“Charlie’’) Goh Mong was just one of many Chinese migrants who reverted to their traditional skills post-Bathurst gold rush era around the turn of the 20th century and worked as butlers, cooks, nannies, maids and produce suppliers to inns, guesthouses and manor houses across the Blue Mountains during that time. Charlie worked as a cook at Foy’s Sydney home and managed the mayhem at the Hydro Majestic for 35 years. Today, staff from 16 language groups work at the Hydro Majestic including English, French, Canadian, Russian, Chinese (all dialects), Portuguese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Italian, Indonesian, Thai and more. Mr Bruegger is German and head chef Mate Herceg has a Croatian background. “People visit the Hydro Majestic from all over the world and we must under-
stand and accommodate their cultural needs,’’ Mr Bruegger said. “In an internationally renowned destination such as the Blue Mountains it is expected of us and certainly received by our guests in all other mature tourism regions of the world.’’ Go to www.hydromajestic.com.au or phone (02) 4782 6885 for bookings and more information about the Hydro Majestic Hotel. Words: Ellen Hill Images: Roderick Eime and supplies
The Megalong Room (Roderick Eime)
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Travel ACCESS
Lazy days cruising the Murray MICHAEL OSBORNE OUTH Australia has so much to offer. The capital city of Adelaide features in Lonely Planet’s top ten must visit cities and is described as “effortlessly chic and like a perfectly cellared red is ready to be uncorked and sampled”. South Australia is synonymous with wine country where the regions offer a drop to suit all palates. Experience the state’s finest wines, feast on fresh produce cooked by acclaimed chefs, and savour the flavours of South Australia. Beyond the plate explore the state’s diverse natural landscapes and experience native wildlife in their habitat. The pristine coastline and rugged beauty of Kangaroo Island is the perfect contrast to the untouched bush of the Flinders Ranges and Outback. Lazy days can be spent cruising on the Murray River or adventure-seekers can get the adrenaline pumping with shark cage diving in Port Lincoln. No matter what kind of traveller you are, South Australia is sure to surprise and inspire you. But for this adventure, we returned to the Murray River at Mannum for a luxury houseboat experience. Having sailed the Murray on the riverboats Murray Princess and Proud Mary, the chance to captain your own houseboat has been on ‘my list’ for some time. From Adelaide we used the services of the brilliantly named ‘Life is a Cabernet Tours’ (www. lifeisacabernet.com.au ). This allowed a relaxed and informative way to pass the few hours’ drive to Mannum, passing through the Adelaide Hills and beautiful towns and villages. For lunch we called into the magnificent Pike & Joyce Cellar Door at Lenswood (www.pikeandjoyce.com.au ). The wine tasting was enlightening, as I had never tried their wines before, which led us to a delicious lunch overlooking the vine covered valleys of their vineyard. Next call was the office of Unforgettable Houseboats for our introduction and briefing on their luxury floating mansions. www.unforgettablehouseboats.com.au To say that all has been thought of in the fitting out and set-up of these boats is almost an understatement. These boats offer such facilities as queen
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and king size bedrooms, fully tiled bathrooms with ensuite facilities, spacious lounge and dining areas complete with cocktail bars and fully equipped gourmet kitchens, sunken spa baths and heated jacuzzis. You don’t even have to bring your own food and liquid refreshments, they will organise it for you, if required. My apprehension of skippering a $1,000,000 houseboat was soon dismissed as Mark took us on an introductory cruise. All you need is a Driver’s License and some common sense. As evening was approaching, we pulled into the river bank and tied up for the night. Each of our group offered to do various tasks to organise sunset drinks and a BBQ to follow. Sitting on the aft upper deck, listening to the sounds of the flocks of birds and watching a splendid sunset – does it get any better? The provided river maps are easy to read and offer great information as to where to moor and the history and attractions of the villages along the river. Do as much or as little as you please. As our media group only had three nights, we chose to cruise along and see as much as possible.
Living heritage and pioneering history Two different Aboriginal groups lived along the Murray River and today you can still find "canoe trees" that were used to make eucalyptus bark fishing boats. Visit Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal site, where local guides take visitors to the birthplace of the Black Duck dreaming and Australia’s first archaeological dig. At Camp Coorong, just out of Meningie, learn the art of basket weaving or join a nature walk with Aboriginal elders. A tribute to the early pioneering days can be seen at the Mannum Dock Museum: home to the PS Marion, which was built in 1897. It's one of the last operational wood-fired, steam-driven, overnight passenger carrying, side paddle steamers in the world. Back on dry land, Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village boasts 12 streets of memories and more than 90 buildings that will take you back “to the old days”. Images by Michael Osborne. Michael Osborne was a guest of South Australian Tourism www.southaustralia.com, Unforgettable Houseboats and Life is a Cabernet.
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Travel ACCESS
Rich, famous, bountiful and beautiful Oak Valley Truffle Farm
Kytren Goats Cheese and Cullen
Basildene Manor
ARTICLE AND IMAGES BY HELEN FLANAGAN
Where to start? Go In Style with Peter Norris at the wheel of his Jaguar Sovereign, with a tea and scones stop at quaint Nannup before heading to Manjimup for a tour of the 75ha Oak Valley Truffle Farm, a large contributor to the 85% of Australian truffle production. English oak and hazelnut trees, inoculated with the melanosporum fungus are planted alternatively in rows. “We’ve seen an amazing elevation in truffle quality this season,” says an elated Fabio Deitos, the Oak Valley truffle manager who uses trained truffle dogs ranging from labradors and kelpies to German short haired pointers to detect the ripe Perigord beauties. “Plus there’s been a 130% increase in production”. Time to whet the appetite and be spoilt for choice. An understatement. Vasse Felix was established in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity. Today it’s one of the region’s largest producers and is owned by the powerful Holmes a Court family. Large sculptures grace the manicured gardens, there’s a chic-looking cellar door and a gallery of paintings houses Janet Holmes a Court’s private collection. Sitting on the deck enjoying a splendid Spring day it’s easy to be placated by chef’s charcuterie plate and a glass of cabernet sauvignon. Since 1971 when Cullen Estate was planted, chemical intervention is minimal and the family’s concern for the environment paramount. All food prepared in the restaurant uses only fresh, biodynamic and organic produce which is sourced mainly from its own garden, such as the chardonnay honey used on the Kytren goats cheese dish. And how about a glass of Kevin John chardonnay before a stroll amongst the vines. Degustations don’t get much better than at light-filled, breezy and view-tiful Wills Domain, where the quiet unassuming chef Seth James creates an impressive six or eight course marathon, using only
USTRALIA’S hottest food and wine destination when WA finally opens its borders is arguably the Margaret River Region. Forget the blinkand-miss-tour, take the slow indulgent route and let the taste buds dance on the tongue all the way. Seriously. From Perth, turn off the Forrest Highway and meander the wildflower-fringed road to the Margaret River region from Busselton to Albany, the 300km length of Western Australia’s southwest coast, which is bookmarked by the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste to the north, and Cape Leeuwin in the south. In-between are 40-plus beaches with surf-lashed sands and huge swells, national parks, karri forests and oft spooky caves, and a region which has successively prospered on timber, cattle and more recently world class wine. Add best surf breaks, hiking tracks, golf, water sports and seasonal whale watching. Little wonder locals are adamant there is no comparable region in Australia. Others say it’s two faced. Cheeky perhaps? Well, there is the glossy magazine profile of fancy pants cellar doors, multi-course lunches, being seduced by the particular ‘nose’ of a chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon or a craft beer plus elegant retreats where fine dining and sumptuous suites are de rigueur. Turn the other cheek and head up a dusty bumpy track to lurk amongst season-worshipping small batch farmers, biodynamic bakers, sheep’s cheese makers, snout-to-ground-pig producers plus small wineries where the pick, crush and pour is done by hand, by the family. And let’s not forget freshly foraged truffles even the French are clamouring for.
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Marron at Cape Lodge
the best ingredients. Matching wines are optional. For festival aficionados, diarise this November’s three day Margaret River Gourmet Escape extravaganza with over 45 food and wine events including indulgent beach BBQs, sumptuous forest feasts under the stars, extra-long lunches in award-winning wineries plus culinary super-stars such as Marco Pierre White and Rick Stein. Where to stay? The Grand Mercure Basildene Manor, classified by the National Trust of Australia, has sumptuous rooms, delightful breakfasts, and delicious afternoon teas featuring home-made jams plus beautiful gardens to admire. Cape Lodge has the feel of a grand country-house estate. Twenty-two lavish guest suites plus a five-bedroom private residence are arranged across 16ha of parkland, lakes and garden. Forest Suites, with lake and woodland views, private balcony and underfloor heating in the bathroom have an I-could-easily-live-here quality. Stroll to the Cape Dutch-style main lodge for aperitifs in the Drawing Room before a decadent dinner in the award-winning lakeside restaurant. Savour Margaret River wineries’ back vintages and fine fare from executive chef Michael Elfwing, who champions local produce such as Pemberton marron and Arkady lamb and also leads farmgate tours and cooking classes. Who doesn’t love sleeping under the stars? Five stars of course! If you go: www.basildenemanor.com.au www.vassefelix.com.au www.goinstyle.com.au www.oakvalleytruffles.com.au www.cullenwines.co.au www.capelodge.com.au www.willsdomain.com.au www.margaretriver.com www.gourmetescape.com.au
Vineyard table
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Travel Rediscovering our own backyard ACCESS
MICHAEL OSBORNE looks at rediscovering his own backyard. While we never tire of exploring the world, we sometimes need to refresh our easily reached local experiences.
he Legendary Pacific Coast - Covering the coast between Sydney and the Gold Coast, it is divided into easy sections. How often have we driven the highway and not looked at the surrounding areas? So it doesn’t take too long to form a travel plan. Travelling from Sydney, we decide to head to Port Macquarie via Gloucester, Nabiac and Wingham. An easy drive along the Pacific Highway and then along the scenic Bucketts Way, has us in Gloucester for a late lunch.
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The Bee Motel.
The Bucketts Ranges.
Gloucester is also the gateway to the World Heritage Barrington Tops National Park and the National Parks and Wildlife office is also in Church Street, where we collect all the maps and information we need, to allow us to gain the maximum benefit from our short visit. Guided tours are also available. Gloucester and surrounds - World Heritage Barrington Tops National Park is 60km west of Gloucester is accessible via the Gloucester Tops Road and the Barrington Tops Forest Drive. Panoramic Scenery, waterfalls, walking tracks picnic and camping areas. An abundance of wildlife and birdlife. Copeland State Conservation Area is18 km from Gloucester. Incorporates the Mountain Maid Goldmine, boardwalk, rainforest walks, interpretive boards, BBQ and picnic areas. The town is bounded to the west by a range of monolithic hills called The Bucketts -from the aboriginal word Buchan Buchan meaning Big Rocks, and to the east by the Mograni Range. To the north of the town lies the junction of the Avon, Gloucester and Barrington rivers and beyond is a backdrop of hills and valleys stretching into the distance. The Gondwana Rainforests of this Australian World Heritage Area are stunning. Most of the park is declared wilderness, with wild and scenic rivers and winter snowcaps. A range of interesting and inspiring walks feature Antarctic beech forests,
Copeland State Conservation Area.
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Wollumbin Lyrebird Walk (Sharyn Cairns DNSW).
snow gum woodlands, tall eucalypt forests, high-altitude swamp and beautiful waterfalls. Wheelchair access is provided at Devils Hole lookout and the Williams River picnic area. Car-based camping is available at numerous camping spots. www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au Accommodation – No shortage of choices in the area, but we chose a name, ‘A Room with a View’ Bed and Breakfast, and what a delight! “A Room with a View” Bed and Breakfast provides comfortable accommodation for discerning travellers on the eastern side of glorious Gloucester Township. Gourmet breakfasts are served on the verandah or in your room or suite. Delicious evening meals showcase our wonderful local produce and the
Room With A View.
mouth-watering cuisine of Jim’s Sri Lankan birthplace. Jim and Sue had owned one of the most successful restaurants and catering businesses in Gloucester, so we took the option of sharing a home cooked dinner with them. A genuine gourmet delight. Ducted air conditioning, wireless internet service and friendly service top off the experience. www.aroomwithaview-bb.com.au Back on the road, heading for Nabiac and more exciting surprises. The village of Nabiac is situated on the Wallamba River, 24 kilometres south of Taree and 25 kilometres west of Forster/Tuncurry. Nabiac services the surrounding communities of Wootton, Failford, Rainbow Flat, Dyers Crossing, Krambach and Coolongolook.
Nabiac means ‘place of the wild fig’ and lies between lands once inhabited by the Biripi and Worimi Aboriginal Tribes. Honeycomb Valley Farm is a place where you can stretch your legs and your mind! This sustainable farm’s motto is “little farm, big picture”. Visit the unique farm-gate shop where you can buy fresh produce, raw honey, sun-baked treats, farm-made balms and goat’s milk soaps. Meet gorgeous farm animals, wander the fascinating ethnobotanical (useful plant) garden and see the biggest solar oven in Australia. We just loved the ‘Bee Motel’ and the newly born animals. www. honeycombvalley.com.au Driving into the Manning Valley, we reach the historic township of Wingham in time for lunch. At Bent on Food – ‘Not just a cafe but a destination’. Bent on Food is a multi-award-winning cafe specialising in local produce with a great selection of condiments lining the walls. www.bentonfood.com.au Port Macquarie - Continuing on the Pacific Highway for an easy hour and we reach our next destination. Greater Port Macquarie extends from the mouth of the Hastings and Camden Haven Rivers west to the Great Dividing Range, with a coastline of 84kms. The total area of the region is 3693 sqkms. The topography of the area is diverse including sand dunes, coastal wetlands, flood plains, forests and mountain regions. The area enjoys the best climate in Australia, with the average temperature ranging from 7°C to 27°C. http://pacificcoast.com.au We allocated two nights and two and a half days to experience Port and after our first look around we realise that we could easily spend more than a week. Wow! We can’t believe how great the holiday and tourism scene is. http://www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au/ Feature supplied by: www.wtfmedia.com.au
Wingham Historic Post Office. CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
REPORT | June - July 2020
Working from home BENEFITS DALLAS SHERRINGHAM FRIEND of mine is a Business Analyst with a leading financial organization and he has is now working from home permanently after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a massive change in the way Australia operates. Wayne M. works from home in Acacia Gardens where he lives with his wife and two preschool children in a modern four bedroom home on a large block. His wife owns business but works only part-time. Wayne’s job involves working many staff, associates and clients both in Australia and overseas. “Everyone is online now and I can do my job from the North Pole if I can get a phone connection,” he said. Wayne says he uses teleconferences to commute with work colleagues and because he deals with India, the UK and the USA he needs to work flexible hours. “It’s no longer a 9 to 5 lifestyle. I can work my hours around the kids and quite often I get on the computer in the evening and finish my work for the day.” The positives are obvious to Wayne. “I don’t have to do the three hour commute into the city anymore which means wife work-life balance is much better and my productivity has definitely improved,” he said. “Communications are much better with short, sharp meetings and less meaningless dialogue which is a problem with face to face staff meetings. “But when I need to go to office for a meeting day, I simply book a meeting room which is equipped with all the mod cons and away we go.’ Wayne said the staff at company had the choice of working from home or in the office, but overwhelming majority now work from home. “They are just a phone call, email or message away, but a lot use Skype to connect.” Wayne said a key factor in working from home was the introduction of Microsoft Office 365 which allowed workers to log on to any device securely worldwide. So, flexible work and working from home definitely is the way to for people like Wayne, but it doesn’t suit everyone or every business, especially they have to be involved in face to face activities like service industries.
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Communications are much better with short, sharp meetings and less meaningless dialogue which is a problem with face to face staff meetings.”
But the pandemic lockdown has certainly shown that many more people could successfully work from home, improving their family life and their approach to their work. Flexible work has always been a drawcard for employees, but while managers have typi-
cally been reluctant to embrace flexible work arrangements, University of South Australia researchers warn that the topic is likely to become front and centre as employees return to the office after months of lockdown from COVID-19. Human resource management experts, UniSA’s Professor Carol Kulik and Dr Ruchi Sinha said organisations should be prepared to discuss alternative work arrangements. “COVID-19 forced people to work from home under the worst possible conditions – it was done in a rush, it was done across the board, and in some cases, it was done without the right supports such as IT, or ergonomics,” Dr Sinha says. “Yet, even under these sub-optimal conditions, the pandemic showed that flexibility can work, with many people thriving in their safe, home-bound conditions. “Of course, not everyone loved it, but the work did get done, and employees did show that working from home is not only possible, but also productive. “Now, as workplaces return to some semblance of normal, people are asking – ‘what will happen to workplace flexibility?’ – and with such large-scale evidence that flexibility doesn’t diminish productivity, businesses cannot afford to turn a blind eye and just return to normal.
“Beyond COVID-19, we need a next normal that will not only embrace lessons from the lockdown, but also encourage flexible work.” While more than 80% of Australian businesses offer scope for flexible work practice, only 17% embrace flexibility, leaving much room for improvement. The way forward, according to Professor Carol Kulik, is by ‘job crafting’ – the notion that each job can be crafted to match the nature of the job and needs of worker. Prof Kulik said a balance would be necessary to navigate recovery post COVID-19. “No doubt we’re going to need giveand-take when it comes to flexible working arrangements – both for employers and employees,” Prof Kulik said. “Managers need to recognise that they are often the biggest barriers to negotiating flexible work, simply because they aren’t well-prepared to motivate or manage staff remotely. They’re also concerned about productivity from home, so all in all, it’s easier for them to say no to flexibility, than it is to say yes. “On the other hand, while the pandemic has afforded us the opportunity to prove we can work flexibly, employees must recognise that not all work tasks are conducive to remote execution.”
Instant asset write-off extended
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HE Morrison Government has announced that it will extend the $150,000 instant asset write-off for six months to 31 December 2020. Central Coast businesses with annual turnover of less than $500M will be able to take advantage of this extended timeframe to invest in assets to support their business as the economy reopens and coronavirus health restrictions continue to be eased. Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks said: “This announcement will help the many small and medium businesses across the Central Coast, who have planned to upgrade or purchase additional equipment to support and further enhance their business, as restrictions
begin to ease of the back of the Coronavirus pandemic.” These measures will support over 3.5 million businesses nationally, employing more than 9.7 million employees. The extension is designed to support Central Coast businesses sticking with investment planned, and encourage businesses to bring investment forward to support economic growth. The instant asset write-off also helps to improve business cash flow by bringing forward tax deductions for eligible expenditure. The threshold applies on a per asset basis, so eligible businesses can immediately write-off multiple assets provided each costs less than $150,000. “This extension is great news for local
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businesses, giving them additional time to acquire and install assets, as they will now have until the end of the year.” “Assets can be new or second hand and could include, for example, an additional coffee machine for a busy cafe, a truck or car for a tradesman or a commercial oven in a restaurant or an updated computer for a retail space.” Hardworking Australian businesses can rest assured that the Morrison Government will do all that is necessary to support them to bounce back stronger and get to the other side of this crisis. “Local businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and I am doing everything I can to assist them through this difficult time,” Lucy Wicks MP said.
Lucy Wicks.
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Coronavirus Report
Huge growth in WEBINARS EW research from a leading digital event provider reveals nearly nine in 10 (85 per cent) Australian organisations are utilising webinars as a key marketing and education channel for engaging remote audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic – a 21 per cent increase over the last year. Webinar adoption and spending have also shown high double-digit growth, with almost three in five (59 per cent) organisations looking to spend more on the channel in 2020 – a figure that is 69 per cent higher than in 2019. The findings come from the annual State of Webinar Marketing 2020 study, based on a survey of 127 organisations conducted by digital event specialist Redback Connect (redbackconnect. com.au), whose clients include Qantas, Downer Group, and Sonic Clinical Services, in partnership with webinar platform ON24. Redback Connect designs and hosts hundreds of tailored webinars, live event streams, studio broadcasts, podcasts, town halls, and teleconferences each month. Of the 127 organisations surveyed, the data revealed the primary reason organisations are hosting webinar programs is for lead generation (34 per cent of organisations use webinars for this). In fact, it found that webinars lower the cost per lead for 80 per cent of organisations. The data also shows that webinars are ‘mostly’ to ‘highly’ effective for 47 per cent of organisations. Organisations that run webinars do so regularly: 72 per cent of organisations now run six or more webinars a year, and 33 per cent run more than 20 a year. The report revealed that 62 per cent of organisations – up from 43 per cent in 2019 – build webinars with interactivity in mind, from enabling attendees to take breaks, to creating polls, Q&As or live chats. In fact, 33 per cent of organisations who use webinars say that audience engagement is driven mostly by enthusiastic and knowledgeable presenters, and almost a fifth (16 per cent) of organisations say engagement is driven by interactive platform features – up from just 6 per cent the previous year. Jeff Downs, CEO and Founder at Redback Connect, says: “When man-
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aged effectively, webinars provide the interactive and personable content needed to fulfil these purposes. Webinars remove geographical boundaries and are a cost-effective way to engage large, dispersed audiences over time. With social distancing the ‘new normal’ at least until the end of the year, we expect webinars to make up a large proportion of communication between organisations and their stakeholders throughout the 2021 financial year.” In March – Australia’s first month of shutdowns – Redback Connect’s webinar-based events were the most popular event category for organisations, accounting for 78 per cent of all events. In April, they were still the most popular, accounting for 76 per cent. Redback Connect’s 10 best-practice tips for using webinars to communicate in a COVID-19-affected world: 1. Choose your event format, structure and speakers wisely. If you are replacing a physical event with a virtual one, perhaps even a conference, don’t make every session live: nobody wants to sit in front of a computer for long periods. However, you may wish to broadcast some sessions live – such as keynotes and panel discussions – and pre-record others, so you can access international speakers in different timezones and make
them available on-demand. Choose a webinar provider that can not only deliver your online event, but advise you on how best to format, test, and host it, to ensure it flows. 2. Build in interactivity. Once you have your event structure, format, and speakers sorted, build in your interactive elements. Take full advantage of all the benefits of webinars to include polls, Q&As, competitions, and more. 3. Sort your pricing and sponsorship packages. You can still charge for an online event – but you may wish to lower the price to reflect reduced travel, venue, and catering costs. It is also a good idea to consider offsetting the cost of your event with sponsorship. Utilising your on-screen real estate and call-to-actionbuttons, providing digital resource packs, including a virtual exhibition hall, or even offering online giveaways, are all ways to build sponsors into your virtual events. 4. Set up your spaces. If speakers are presenting from home, talk them through the physical set-up required. They will need to consider lighting, background, and the quality of their camera, microphone, and internet connection. If they will be using their laptop camera, ensure they elevate it to eye level to avoid awkward facial angles. If using a webinar provider or videographer, check how they will maintain social distancing and hy-
giene during filming at external locations. 5. Consider a studio broadcast. Some studio providers are operating throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, and can provide you with the professional look your webinar needs. However, make sure you ask your provider how they’re observing COVID-19 social distancing and hygiene guidelines in the building and on set. 6. Invest in the right equipment. If you are going to be presenting from home regularly, you may wish to invest in a microphone and webcam to ensure the quality of your video and audio – or use headphones and your laptop camera. 7. Properly train your presenters. If your speakers are presenting remotely, either from home or from their own office, they will need to know their way around the webinar platform you’re using so they can move their own slides and, if your webinar is being broadcast live, respond to questions from your audience. Ensure they’re comfortable taking questions and running polls if you include features such as those in your webcast. 8. Rehearse your transitions. It is vital to rehearse the content and structure of your digital event as you would for a regular webinar. Practice any transitions, so you can switch between presenters seamlessly, or use a facilitator, to keep your remote event flowing smoothly. It is also a good idea to include breaks between sessions to give you time to test the tech for your next presenter. 9. Conduct a technical runthrough. Always run a technical test just prior to the event to ensure your presenters’ internet connection is up to the job, and their webcam and audio are working sufficiently. You might suggest they lock the door if they’re presenting from their office or socially isolating with children and other family members. 10. Have a back-up plan if the internet drops out. Ensure your presenters have a phone nearby so your webinar provider can call them during the event if their internet connection or video drops out. Audio and slides are an excellent back-up. To access a copy of the State of Webinar Marketing 2020 report, visit: https://ww2.redbackconnect.com.au/LP-SOWM-Report-2020
Land tax concessions now open for support
Relief delivered for small businesses
ANDLORDS providing rent relief for eligible tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 can now apply for land tax concessions online. Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the land tax concessions were part of a wide range of support measures designed to help those in need and to support jobs and business. “Eligible landlords will be able to apply for a land tax concession of up to 25 per cent of their 2020 land tax liability on relevant properties so long as they pass on the full savings in the form of a rent reduction to their tenants,” Mr Tudehope said. “The land tax concession is expected to be divided approximately 50-50 with around $220 million going to the commercial sector and a further $220 million expected to benefit the residential sector.” Once approved, a concession will be applied to any unpaid 2020 land tax notices, and refunds will be issued for payments already made this year. Those
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refunds are expected to take up to five days to process once determined. Landlords can find out more about eligibility and apply for a tax concession online and are encouraged to complete their applications before October 31, 2020. Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was committed to supporting people, communities and businesses during COVID-19. “We are doing everything we can to keep people in jobs and businesses in business,” Mr Perrottet said. “Small businesses severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions may be eligible for the NSW Government’s $10,000 Small Business Support Fund grant and those with a payroll of $10M or less can get a 25 per cent payroll waiver for 201920.” To find out more about how the NSW Government is working to bolster our health resources, protect jobs and businesses visit https://www. nsw.gov.au/covid-19/support
HE NSW Government is providing more than $420M in financial relief this year to help keep businesses in business and people in jobs by reducing insurance premiums for businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and maintaining current premium levels. The NSW Government has requested that workers insurance premiums remain unchanged in another move to cushion the impacts of COVID-19 and stimulate the economy. NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet confirmed premium rates for the Nominal Insurer, which protects more than 325,000 businesses and their 3.2 million workers, will remain unchanged from June 30, 2020, saving businesses across the State more than $325M. “The Government has deferred or waived a number of taxes, fees, and levies and I have asked icare to do the same despite the scheme being heavily impact-
ed by market volatility associated with coronavirus,” Mr Perrottet said. “This is another example of our ongoing support for NSW businesses as they deal with the impacts of COVID-19 with icare contacting around 3,000 customers to assist in premium adjustments, payment deferrals and offer advice. “Employers across the State should have confidence the NSW Government is considering all options available to keep people in jobs and businesses in business.” icare has already reduced premiums by $52M for more than 10,000 businesses who have adjusted their estimated wages because of challenges related to COVID-19. In addition, icare has paused more than $43M in premiums for 2,000 customers facing financial hardship. Customers can contact icare on 13 44 22 to discuss their individual business circumstances. Further details on COVID-19 measures and impacts are available on the icare website.
CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
Coronavirus Report
COVID-19 clinic now open at Erina HE new COVID-19 Respiratory Clinic located in Erina will be open to the public from 10:30am today. This will be providing Central Coast residents with a third clinic to be tested for COVID-19. Local not-for-profit organisation, Central Coast Primary Care, will operate the clinic from the grounds of the EV Church, at 331 Terrigal Drive, Erina. The clinic will be led by local GP’s and supported by experienced nursing and administration staff, with the capacity to test over 100 patients per day. Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks said, “Having the new COVID-19 Respiratory Clinic open up in Erina will provide a third testing clinic, along with Gosford and Wyong Hospital for residents across the Central Coast to attend if they feel as though they need to be tested.” “On the Central Coast we are currently testing 110 people a day. With this new
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COVID-19 testing.
clinic we will be able to almost double our daily testing rate.” “The higher the testing rates, the more confident we can be that ‘community transmission’ is under control,” Ms Wicks said.
Michelle Bradbury, CEO of Central Coast Primary Care, said she is proud to bring this service to the local community. “We know that testing for COVID-19 is important to help protect our community and I am pleased with the positive
response we have already received from the local community about the clinic.” The clinic is free to attend. Tests will be conducted for people who show mild to moderate symptoms of respiratory illness, including fever, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath, those who come in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and health care workers who may require a COVID-19 test. People with severe symptoms are encouraged to consult their usual GP or attend the local emergency department. It is expected that test results will be made available within 24-48 hours. People will be contacted by the GP if a positive result is received, or via text message if a negative result is received. The Erina clinic will be open from 10:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Sunday. Bookings are required and can be made at Central Coast Primary Care’s website, www.ccpc.com.au, or by calling the Clinic on 0435 813 865.
Impact of COVID-19 on community EW data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) details job losses and economic impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the local community. “The data indicates that 272,000 jobs have been lost across NSW since the start of the pandemic. Increasing our unemployment rate by nearly 2 per cent to 6.4 per cent. These figures suggest further easing of restrictions is required before business will return to normal,“ said Business NSW Regional Director, Paula Martin. “While NSW remains one of the hardest hit states with unemployment increasing more than the national average, these figures are better than initially expected.
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This is largely due to the NSW Government easing restrictions allowing cafes, restaurants and pubs to serve customers and bring back employment.” Ms Martin said. “Re-introducing outdoor public gatherings also boosted confidence and the ability to trade. The flow on effects was seen with consumers more confident to visit retail stores in CBDs and shopping centres. “With recent protest gatherings in the thousands, it is no wonder café owners and their staff are left scratching their heads on why they must have their business held back by the 4 square meter rule. “While JobKeeper continues to support some three
$50M relief for arts and culture HE NSW Government has announced a $50M Rescue and Restart package for NSW arts and cultural organisations to ensure the sector continues to make an important contribution to the NSW economy during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Gladys Berejiklian today said this funding was the largest dedicated arts and cultural support package of any jurisdiction in Australia. “This Rescue and Restart package will ensure the survival of some of the most significant arts and cultural organisations across NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said. “The NSW arts and cultural sector is an important contributor to the NSW economy as well as for our community’s well-being. We know that the arts is a place of refuge and a source of inspiration in these challenging times.” The Rescue and Restart package will be delivered in two stages: • Funding available now to enable NSW not-forprofit arts and cultural organisations to hibernate temporarily. • Funding available in the coming months to enable NSW not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations to restart operations after the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will be available to NSW not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations assessed as being in financial distress across the State on a case by case basis. Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the arts sector supports 118,000 jobs across NSW and contributes $16.4B directly and indirectly to the NSW Gross State Product. “This funding is critical to keep more businesses in business and people in jobs as the as the NSW economy begins its recovery,” Mr Perrottet said. “The Rescue and Restart package is intended to assist NSW arts and cultural organisations to hibernate, so they are in a strong position to restart operations when health guidelines permit.”
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million Australians and prop up jobs, the true impact of the crisis will be seen when the stimulus packages are due to expire in September. “Government needs to give business owners the best possible chance to survive before we get to that economic cliff. That means giving business owners some clarity about when restrictions will continue to ease so they can plan now. “Long term, Governments need to spur economic growth and reduce red tape. The best and quickest method to regain our previous strong employment numbers is to allow businesses to return to normal within health limitations” said Ms Martin.
Skiers can hit the slopes from June 22 OLIDAYMAKERS can start planning trips to the state’s ski fields with the NSW Government today announcing the alpine region will be open from June 22. Deputy Premier and Member for Monaro John Barilaro said work is underway to ensure appropriate COVIDsafe measures are in place at Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Perisher. “One of the highlights of the winter tourism season is a trip to our alpine regions,” Mr Barilaro said. “However, while many people are eager to return to the slopes, it is important that visitors can enjoy themselves safely and responsibly. “The NSW Government, through NSW Health and NSW Police, is working closely with ski field operators, associated businesses, suppliers and industry associations to ensure COVIDsafe measures are in place when the season commences. “These measures will mean that fewer people will be able to visit and stay at resorts this season, so it is essential that people book and confirm their travel arrangements and accommodation before they travel.” Some of the measures in place include maintaining physical distancing at resorts, limits to the number of people on ski areas, controlled access to ski lifts, increased cleaning of all facilities and no snowplay. Mr Barilaro said to give ski resorts enough time to implement health and safety measures they will not open before Monday June 22, which means skiers and holidaymakers will not be able to visit ski resorts for the 6-8 June long weekend. “The ski resorts will not be open over the June long weekend, so please arrange travel and accommodation from June 22 and onwards,” Mr Barilaro said. “We are welcoming every visitor to regional NSW with open arms and I will be celebrating by shouting a few beers, but it is more important than ever that we continue to be responsible and maintain good physical distancing while we are enjoying oursleves. “No matter where you are visiting, make sure you book, check that places you’d like to visit will be open, confirm your arrangements before you travel and,
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Blue Cow ski resort.
most importantly, if you do feel unwell, postpone your trip.” CEO of the Australian Ski Areas Association Colin Hackworth said The Australian Ski Areas Association welcomes the announcement today by the NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro that the NSW snow season can open from June 22. “The NSW Resorts are of course disappointed to miss the traditional opening of the snow season on the June long weekend but operators are looking forward to the season ahead and are busily preparing for the safe opening of the resorts from 22 June,” Mr Hackworth said. The Mt Selwyn resort will remain closed during the season due to bushfire damage. Several COVIDsafe measures will be in place on the ski fields as well as accommodation, dining and other recreational facilities, with details to be listed on ski resort websites soon.
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Coronavirus Report WE’VE TAKEN TO THE BOTTLE IN LOCKDOWN
Massive increase in parents drinking DALLAS SHERRINGHAM EW figures show Australians have disturbingly taken to the bottle in massive numbers during the COVID-19 lockdown. The data from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation shows parents across Australia have been consuming more alcohol, more frequently, during the lockdown, with almost one in six saying they have been drinking every day. It follows the earlier shocking revelation that online gambling had increased by an incredible 67% with weeks of our confinement. In a survey of more than 1000 parents, it was found that since the start of the lockdown period: • More than one in four (29%) of parents had increased their alcohol intake, with millennial parents the most likely to be drinking more (35%), followed by Gen X parents (28%), then baby boomers (16%) • Parents of nine to 12 -year-olds were found to be drinking the most, with one in 10 saying they were drinking “a lot more” following the introduction of coronavirus restrictions • Impressionable nine to 12-yearolds were the most exposed to
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drinking, with almost a quarter of parents of this age group (23%) saying they have been consuming alcohol in front of their children daily or every other day during lockdown • Almost two-fifths (38%) of Australian parents reported heightened levels of stress and anxiety
as the reason for their increased alcohol intake, with one in four parents specifically pinpointing the challenges of home-schooling. The data has been released to support a new campaign led by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation called ‘You haven’t been drinking alone’.
It encourages parents to consider how their drinking may have changed during lockdown, the implications it may be having on their own health and, importantly, how it may be influencing their children’s attitudes and behaviors. The survey suggests one of the primary reasons for parents increased alcohol consumption during COVID-19 is heightened feelings of anxiety or stress. The campaign calls on parents to reflect on their drinking behaviors in front of their children so young impressionable kids and adolescents do not learn to view alcohol as a coping mechanism or to think drinking alcohol is a healthy lifestyle choice. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation report said it hoped the data would help parents assess how their drinking habits may have changed during lockdown - and “to use the loosening of restrictions as an opportunity to reassess and leave behind any harmful or negative drinking behaviors picked up during what has been an exceptional period.”
Make staying connected a daily routine U OK? is calling on Australians to include staying connected in their daily routine as they deal with the lasting impact of the Coronavirus. R U OK? CEO, Katherine Newton says the virus has affected everyone in some way and we all need to actively seek ways to connect, and in some cases reconnect, with those in our world who might be struggling. “The pandemic has inspired some wonderful examples of how caring our community can be and we need to hold on to that because that sense of genuine care and concern can be life changing for those grappling with the impact of recent events. “Some people find change pretty scary,” said Ms Newton. “Many might be feeling disconnected from day to day life, have new financial and employment pressures, added family stressors, be physically unwell, or experiencing heightened levels of anxiety. “Everyone deals differently with increasing and sometimes unrelenting
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pressure. While I might be coping well, but some of those around me might not be,” Ms Newton explained. Life might not be the same as it was before and we might need to live with some ongoing restrictions and physically distancing. “But there is always something we can do and that is look out for each other. “We want to bring everyone through and social connection is critical in ensuring we do. We want those who are well and able to make it part of their daily routine. “In the morning think about who in your world might be struggling and make a plan to reach out to them and ask ‘Are you okay?’. “That simple question and a conversation has the power to change someone’s life for the better.” To #StayConnected: • Create a list: Think about who in your world, personal or professional, near or far who might be struggling.
• Dedicate the time: Make ‘time to ask’ as part of your daily routine. • Choose your channel: Communicate in way that works for you both: make a phone call, send an SMS, video call, email or, if you can meet in person you might want to chat over the fence, go for a walk together or catch up for a cuppa. COVID-19 has forced all of us on a journey with three distinct phases from the initial Anxiety and Fear through to Exhaustion and on to Hope and Acceptance. Rachel Clements, Director of Psychological Services, Centre for Corporate Health is an R U OK? Ambassador and says staying connected can help us transition through the phases. “If you notice a change in someone don’t brush it aside or avoid the conversation because you aren’t sure what to say. Reaching out early can stop small things
from becoming bigger issues,” said Ms Clements. “Ask ‘are you okay’, and look after each other. There is another period of transition still to come as we adjust back to ‘normal’ life. It might be of lower intensity but we might again have to navigate anxiety. languish and exhaustion. “It’s important we all do what we can to support our friends, family and colleagues to manage the ups and downs that life is throwing at us.” “We accept there are things people can’t do but let’s focus on what we can do. We can make every day the day to ask ‘Are you okay?’. We can be a listening ear and a (virtual) shoulder to lean on,” said Ms Newton. “Let’s make time to look out for one another, be kind and #StayConnected.” If you need guidance on how to support someone, visit ruok.org.au If you need support or know someone who does, visit ruok.org.au/findhelp for professional support services and self-care tools.
Putting people first during COVID-19 ERVICE NSW has been contacted around 1.5 million times since COVID-19 began, with people turning to the app, calling the hotline and visiting the website to remain informed and learn about the impact of the virus on their local area. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said more than 2 million people have downloaded the Service NSW app and 63,000 phone calls have been made to the hotline with the most common questions being about restrictions, traveling to visit family and providing transport. “Families and businesses are under enormous stress right now, but we are helping make life easier for them by providing a one stop shop where they can
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get all the information and support they need,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Whether you’re a business owner after details on financial assistance, a couple wanting to book an appointment with a cost of living specialist, or a senior seeking the latest information on restrictions, Service NSW is here to help.” The top five questions Service NSW has been asked are: 1. Can I travel interstate? 2. Can I travel to visit my kids/parents/brother/sister/friend/partner? 3. Can I travel to see my elderly parents on ANZAC Day? 4. Can I provide transport to family/ friends to pick up food/essentials? 5. Can I travel for work purposes /
medical purposes? Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said support is available at Service NSW Centres, over the phone, via the app and online. “It’s the Service NSW way to put customers first and make access to information and programs as painless and efficient as possible,” Mr Dominello said. “Download the free Service NSW app to receive the latest COVID-19 information. Staff are also contactable around the clock to point customers in the right direction via the 24/7 hotline on 13 77 88.” Other examples of COVID-19 assistance available via Service NSW includes: • $10,000 small business grants
– more than 18,750 grants have been approved; • Cost of living support – phone appointments with specialists are available to assist customers with finding savings, including newly established COVID-19 specific rebates. Households have collectively saved more than $1.6B since July 2018, with the average customer saving $563; • More than 200,000 businesses to benefit from up to $70M in tradie and liquor licence fee waivers. Further information on Service NSW is available at www.service.nsw.gov.au
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Social Media
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Examining an applicants’ Facebook profile is like opening a Pandora’s box for recruiters. Image: Shutterstock
Discrimination based on women’s likelihood to be coming into childbearing age still comes up in interviews. Image: Shutterstock
Why candidates’ social media profiles are a WASTE OF TIME for recruiters HERE is little to no correlation for recruiters between a job candidate’s social media profile and potential on-the-job performance or retention levels, according to UNSW Business School research Since the advent of social media, employers and recruiters have been known to examine candidates’ social media profiles as part of the recruitment process. Opinions vary about the ethics of the practice, but very little is known about whether it actually provides employers with accurate indications of a candidate’s suitability for the position, future performance, or length of stay in a position. Liwen Zhang, a lecturer in the School of Management at UNSW Business School and her colleagues have created three studies in order to produce some answers to these questions. Using Facebook sites as their source, the experiments covered: 1. A content analysis of job seekers’ social media sites, 2. Whether job seekers’ social media information is related to recruiter evaluations, and
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Recruiters understandably want to get to the “real” person who might not be revealed in a resumé or an interview. What, for example, of a candidate who reveals racist attitudes on their social media: something which would surely be a concern in our increasingly diverse workplaces?”
theory, I think it could be fair for organisations to review this information from social media and use it in staffing decisions. However, if recruiters use applicants’ ethnicity or marriage status information obtained from social media sites, this will raise legal concerns.” Of course, if candidates don’t want their social media accessed by recruiters, they can change their privacy settings accordingly (although few do). “There are some theories and conceptual papers suggesting that recruiters may be suspicious about job candidates with incomplete information, for example, missing social media Recruiters understandably want to get to the “real” profiles,” says Zhang. person to better understand suitability and fit. Image: Shutterstock And while she is not aware of any recruiters directly insisting on 3. Whether structuring social access to candidates’ social media, “we do media assessments affects critesee recruiters [effectively] demanding acrion-related validity. cess in various ways, such as using a social “We tried to standardise the process media profile login to create an application to help improve the validity of these profile, or to sign a consent agreement.” assessments,” says Zhang. “When anyone examines an appli“We provided training to recruiters, cants’ Facebook profile, it just looks like and provided more standardised evaluthey are opening a Pandora’s box,” says ation forms, and tried to have multiple Zhang. recruiters to assess the same applicants. Anita Ziemer is the MD of recruitBut the results show that this does not ment specialists the Slade Group, a comreally appear to improve the prediction pany with more than 50 years’ experience of future job behaviours or withdrawal in talent acquisition. intentions.” “When this practice comes up for discussion in working groups or industry Do recruiters check forums amongst recruiters and employers, out candidates’ social there is generally a wide range of views. media profiles? In our own business we have been very prescriptive about why we don’t and don’t So the belief of some recruiters in advocate for this practice,” she says. the utility of accessing candidates’ social media is not borne out by the studies, The basic problem for Ziemer is that and Zhang urges a cautious approach to the practice of examining a candidate’s the practice in advance of more research social media is a slippery slope towards in the area. But the studies also throw falling foul of anti-discrimination Equal up more general questions about the Employment Opportunity (EEO) legpractice. islation. In her own company’s practice, Recruiters understandably want to she insists on strict adherence to this get to the “real” person who might not legislation, and always seeks to educate be revealed in a resumé or an interview. her clients to do the same. What, for example, of a candidate who What do recruiters really do? reveals racist attitudes on their social media: something which would surely “Furthermore, what people elect to be a concern in our increasingly diverse do in their own time, outside of work workplaces? hours should not be open to subjective “Applicants’ discriminatory posts and interpretation by hiring managers, embehaviours are often not welcomed at the ployers or recruiters.” workplace,” says Zhang. “We categoZiemer cites a number of examples, rise such behaviours and statements as such as a brilliant young warehouse ‘information that may be a concern to an manager, who had tattoos from shoulders organisation’. to ankles but never wore clothes that According to behavioural consistency revealed them, or a marketing manager
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who was rejected for a role because of a Facebook picture of her standing on her front porch in an ocelot bikini. “[British World War Two leader] Winston Churchill was probably a depressive, but none of these features of their personal lives or backgrounds impacted their ability to do their roles, meet KPIs, gain promotions or build trusted working relationships,” she says. Recruiters don’t fare any better, in Ziemer’s mind, if the justification for examining candidates’ social media is connected to the idea of company culture. “Culture is sometimes a veiled way of saying, we only hire ‘people like us’, and doesn’t actually have depth of meaning regarding more meaningful personal characteristics,” says Ziemer, who cites an example of a senior executive who was discounted for a CEO role because they had once entered a well-known reality TV programme as a contestant. “Discrimination based on women’s likelihood to be coming into childbearing age still comes up as a veiled screening question, and ‘attractiveness’ for reception roles is sadly still a thing, though far more rarely seen these days.” Ziemer does conduct Google searches, though, in one very limited circumstance: when a candidate is being shortlisted for a senior role in government or a publicly listed company. “Relevant media coverage over relevant critical incidents may uncover a matter that will in the future affect a person’s ability to build trusted working relationships. This may lead to a conversation with that person to discover more about the reported incident and then by mutual agreement agree to continue or discontinue the hiring process,” says Ziemer. “Our observation is that the more sophisticated the employer, the less likely they are to practice discrimination based on immaterial matters. That does, however, require advanced HR and recruitment practices that are organisation-wide and embedded.” Zhang concludes that current research findings pose a question mark on whether the approach of accessing candidates’ social media is effective in nature. “I would encourage practitioners to be cautious about this approach. I would hope for future research to provide more data regarding whether this practice is effective,” she says. First published at www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au.
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WESTERN SYDNEY CENTRAL COAST
Family Business
With David Pring
Welcome COVID-19: Hospitality sector’s next step – time to reopen?
Welcome to KPMG Family Business feature articles. If you would like to discuss these articles or how KPMG can help with your business please feel free to contact me on 9455 9996 or davidpring@kpmg.com.au
What businesses in the hospitality sector need to consider as COVID-19 restrictions ease. MORGAN KELLY CAMERON ROAN PHIL QUINLAN s the restrictions ease, businesses in the hospitality sector need to consider their next steps – towards opening or reimagining their businesses. The hospitality sector has been hard hit by social distancing restrictions imposed by coronavirus (COVID-19). On 23 March, many businesses were all but shut down overnight, meaning leaders in this sector are facing a series of challenges never seen before. This unprecedented move has proved one thing – Australians are adaptable. COVID-19 has enacted 10 years of behavioural change in just six weeks, and when the economy reopens, habits formed will be changed forever. The hospitality industry is a mosaic of business operations and structures and each one will be affected differently. Revenue for restaurants and bars is predicted to be down 40-50 percent when they reopen into a landscape of continued social distancing. It predicted that businesses in the CBD could be hardest hit with not only offices operating with reduced workforces and split teams but a collective tightening of belts from individuals and organisations will mean discretionary spending will be down across the board. And it’s believed that this revenue will not be fully redistributed to suburban venues. Accommodation businesses may find it challenging to get to even a 30 percent occupancy rate in the immediate term. And while domestic demand will increase as the states reopen their borders, this revenue is not expected to replace the inbound tourism market. Corporate travel will also be down – not only have workers become accustomed to doing business via phone and video during the shutdown, there will also be a health and safety concern for leaders asking staff to travel via aeroplanes. Large conference and event centres will potentially need to be mothballed, and businesses that have previously relied on gaming revenue will feel an even greater impact on their bottom line.
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To reopen, or not? The Federal Government announced the three-step plan on May 8 around how Australia will come out of the shutdown. The plan will be applied in different stages state by state, with NSW
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and Victoria’s hospitality sectors potentially feeling the greatest impact. While stage one guidelines are finalised, stages two and three are written in pencil and will remain flexible to the impacts that stage one may cause. While we could be looking at a late July, early August, reopening of pubs and clubs in NSW and Victoria, this could be even later still if there is an outbreak associated with a particular pub or club across the country. Businesses need to start considering what they need to do to reopen. And consideration will need to be given to the additional capital expenditure needed to reconfigure to reopen – including sanitation stations, temperature checking and patron number limitations. When these considerations are coupled with constrained revenue due to trading restrictions and changes in consumer behaviour some venues may find it challenging to reopen. Businesses need to ask themselves if trade will be at a level to sustain profitability, let alone amortisation of debt?
Trading in the ‘new normal’ If your business is considering reopening, ensure you have the labour force in place, not just casual staff, but key staff and talent as well, and much consideration needs to be given to the health and safety of your staff and your customers. There will be a renewed focus on health, as mandated by the government and general consumer sentiment, and businesses can use this as a competitive advantage. Stationing staff at entry ways to check temperatures, and having staff consciously paying attention to hygiene will allow consumers to feel safe – start to consider what training you can offer staff in these areas. Reconfiguring your business now so that your business is match fit when things start to open will be paramount to future success. Venues will also need to consider how they will reconfigure their physical spaces to comply with government requirements. • Tables and chairs will need to be repositioned. • Floor markings added to guide customers to stay 1.5 metres away from each other. • Door count procedures to ensure maximum headcount restrictions across each phase are maintained. • Construction to erect plastic barriers • Distancing gaming machines.
From an operational point of view, companies should also start contacting their supply chains to ensure they are ready to ramp up again. Will your business be able to source the same quality of produce as before? Did you previously outsource your security and cleaning teams? Businesses will need to mobilise these third party suppliers, ensure that they are sustainable, or have a contingency plan in place. When bars and clubs first reopen there will be a huge amount of pent up consumer demand, but there will be a focus on enforcing the new social distancing laws. Venues that don’t respect these restrictions could face an industry-wide backlash if further shut downs are enacted. There is a real sense that if everyone gets this right, it will make reopening easier for everyone.
Permission to experiment Businesses that reimagined and strategised their way through the economic down turn that the Global Financial Crisis inflicted often found themselves in better shape on the other side, and the same rule applies now. Companies that are using this time to reimagine their offering and giving themselves permission to reinvent could do well in the long run. Restaurants and bars have pivoted to offer take away, pre-packaged food to cook at home and fresh produce direct to their customers – and while considering to continue to offer these services once the economy starts to reopening will assist in replacing some of the lost revenue, it won’t replace it all. Businesses need to consider what the consumer sentiment might be on the other side and consider how they could best place their business to offer what they will want. Moving out of this lock down, we will all have greater sense of community and this could translate as a trend towards Australians supporting Australians. Businesses that take the time to reinforce what they stand for, and communicate that effectively to their customers, will be on the front foot. Hospitality is a hearts and minds industry so use authentic and transparent communications to bring consumers on the journey with you as you look to reopen. Give consumers a direct line to your business’ behind the scenes operations, show them how their support directly helps you support your staff and Australian suppliers and farmers. This type of approach will help businesses reconnect to their consumers.
Financially fit Companies in the hospitality sector need to consider their financial situation closely. It’s important that you model these financials and how it might change key assumptions when scenario planning. Businesses will need to consider: • What are the funding requirements for the closure and reopening phases? • Are those requirements realistic? • What is the resulting debt profile? • What will trading performance look like factoring in the new future environment? • Will it still be viable invest in the capital spending needed to operate in the new conditions? • Does this performance service and amortise the resulting debt profile? • If not, what will we do? (Debt deferral/ rescheduling, equity injection or swap, landlord deals) While no one can predict exactly what it is going to look like when we reopen, we do know that consumers are going to be financially challenged as well. Conversations need to happen now with banks and landlords so that debt profiles are considered, and that this profile is serviceable. Find ways to defer liabilities and capex. Pricing trends such as increased input costs due to fires and drought will continue to contract margins, and the price of putting up costs will be high as consumers become more frugal through either loss of income, or the realisation of how much money they are saving and therefore previously spent in venues. We predict that come October, the stimulus will start to wear off, and while previously November marked the beginning of the party season, many businesses will attempt to last throughout December and January. But there will be an inflection point, a time on the decision tree where businesses will realise there needs to be a consolidation. We expect that there will be an industry-wide move towards consolidation and a flight to scale. The new normal will be a vastly different landscape, and one that none of us can predict, but businesses that plan, pivot and act now will be best positioned to get a head start. First published by Morgan Kelly, Partner, Restructuring Services, KPMG Australia, Cameron Roan, Partner, Enterprise Audit & Assurance, KPMG Australia and Phil Quinlan, Partner, Restructuring Services, KPMG Australia on KPMG.com.au on 12 May 2020
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Family Business
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COVID-19: and space properly BRUCE SWEENEY MEs that take a renewed focus on the right cost opportunities will face a more sustainable outcome. The immediate priority for your business is the safety of your people and customers, but long-term sustainability also needs to be considered during this economic crisis. Key takeaways 1. The economic crisis caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) is only just beginning and many industries have already been impacted including the transport, retail, hospitality, tourism and education sectors. 2. Cost optimisation is about improving capabilities – not just cost cutting. 3. Identifying the right cost opportunities and having a plan will avoid unnecessary negative impact to your business, customers and staff. 4. Manage the lifecycle of this crisis – not just the event. 5. Proactive businesses that renew their focus on costs and act before they are forced to will emerge stronger.
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Now is the time for a renewed focus on costs The coronavirus challenges are having a profound impact on Australian private, mid-market and family businesses. While some industries are experiencing a surge in activity, many are facing a rapid decrease in revenue and an evaporation of their cash reserves. It is unclear how long this crisis will continue or what the final economic impacts will be. To give your business the best chance of surviving through this upheaval, a renewed focus on costs is critical and will allow you to position your business for continued success. Cost optimisation is more than just cost cutting and belt tightening and short-term tactics alone will not lead to sustained business success. Consider the effectiveness of your operating model and if your products, channels and markets still make sense in the
current environment, and potential future state. Typical reasons for increased pressure to rethink costs are: financial distress, downward pressure on revenue or prices, changing consumer needs, intensifying competition, need to fund growth or strengthen the balance sheet, pressure from shareholders. It is time to adapt to tougher economic times.
Different approaches for different circumstances Every business will be looking at costs, but what they do will depend on whether they are in a position of relative strength or weakness. Our experience working with private, mid-market and family businesses has shown that organisations that take a more holistic, strategic view will have a greater chance of success.
Our experience has shown that successful businesses: • consider the business and operating model – not just cost savings • understand trade-offs between costs, income, impacts on customer service and risk • adjust or eliminate underperforming operations or investments • prepare to invest in certain cases to get a better outcome • embed a culture of high performance and cost leadership. Some businesses may not have the time or a strong enough financial position to take this more strategic approach. Consider speaking to a corporate restructuring adviser if your business is under significant financial distress.
How to identify the right cost opportunities Understanding your business’ cost drivers is critical to identifying the right cost opportunities and avoiding unnecessary negative impacts on your business, customers and staff. We believe a successful cost optimisation initiative starts with gathering your current cost base and performing a spend analysis. This will help inform your needs and sets a baseline to measure and track success. Industry trends, benchmarking data and access to industry or functional experts may help to improve the identification of the right cost opportunities. Every business is unique, but there are common areas to focus on costs: Supply chain • Accurate demand forecast, informing inventory management and resource planning. • Vendor effectiveness and reliability assessments. • In-bound logistics planning and rationalising. • Inventory management, including critical spare management and contingency planning. Operations • Production planning, relative to demand peaks, shortages and potential labour fluctuations. • Labour reliability and productivity management. • Support function effectiveness planning. • Asset effectiveness, including rent versus hire and build versus purchase assessments. Business model • Divest from non-core markets. • Focus on the organisations existing or emerging market strengths. • Rationalise underperforming products or services. • Close underperforming segments. Procurement • Rationalisation of supplier base. • Streamlining material planning and ordering processes.
• Category management, including the renegotiation of terms. Finance • Process automation. • System integration. • Budgetary process re-design. Systems and IT • Software consolidation. • Outsourcing/off-shoring, including short term and permanent scenarios. • Remote workforce planning. Our experience has shown that poor design principles will result in poor outcomes that could have been easily avoided – for example ‘lean’ and ‘fat’ functions are equally penalised, compromises on service, quality and staff morale. It can be prudent to establish two separate management groups, one for developing the strategy and one to execute it. This approach helps establish a common cost management agenda, drives accountability and engagement, develops future leadership capability and ultimately improves the likelihood of your cost goals being achieved.
Looking ahead to become more resilient in the future Businesses that take a proactive approach will emerge from this crisis stronger and better equipped to adapt and leverage the market opportunities that will eventually emerge. In these testing times business resilience and an ongoing focus around cost optimisation will be required. A one-off cost saving approach or mindset is unlikely to achieve sustainable value. It is important to manage through the entire lifecycle of this crisis – not just the event. As a nation we have learnt over the recent months and various crises the importance of mateship, teamwork and support. Don’t take on the burden of crisis management and costs alone. Now is the time for broad authentic communication, with your people, your suppliers and shareholders. Flex your network, reach out to old mentors and trusted advisors. Now is the time for a renewed focus on costs. First published by Bruce Sweeney, Partner, Enterprise Advisory, KPMG Australia, on KPMG.com.au on 20 April
Marketing in a time of shifting normal ANDREW BAXTER S we enter an interim period of beginning to live with a COVID-19 impacted world, where times are still uncertain and unclear, there are two main questions that marketers should be considering. How is consumer behaviour changing? And how should they be changing their marketing efforts accordingly in this interim period? And history tells us that a combination of prudent cost cutting and smart investment is the optimal way to endure it, and to set your brand up for success post-recovery. Particularly in a world where your brand’s competitors are also contemplating their next steps, and consumer behaviour and media habits are changing suddenly due to people being isolated at home to help prevent the coronavirus spreading. According to media agency Initiative, media habits in late March and early April have changed significantly. Free to air television ratings on average were up around 10 per cent on the same period the year before. News viewership on these channels was up 30 percent, but sport was down by 50 percent. Globally, Netflix subscriber numbers are up by 22.5 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to the year prior. Some Asian countries like Singapore are seeing a 60 percent increase in online video consumption. In the UK, Channel 4’s video on demand offering has seen a 37 percent increase year
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on year in the first couple of weeks of their lockdown, and in the US Tik Tok has seen an 18 per cent increase in downloads in one week in mid-March, whilst Facebook usage was up 50 percent. Likewise, new routines are being formed as consumers begin to live with the implications of isolating at home, with many of those finding themselves on a reduced income. A British study from 2009 found that habit formation takes 66 days. For many countries, including Australia, it is likely that home isolation measures will be in place for at least this number of days, giving marketers an opportunity to tap into these changed behaviours, both in the immediate and longer term. One international study regarding the onset of COVID-19 found that 90 percent of Generation Z had changed their daily routine, and 75 percent of Baby Boomers. The opportunity for brands in this interim period of a suddenly changed market context, is to be customer focussed, agile and tactical. Because for some brands, these changes have meant a sudden increase in demand (booming brands), others a decline (declining but surviving brands), and some brands have unfortunately had to temporarily close their businesses (hibernating brands). Many brands have moved quickly to try and meet these changing needs of their customers, and their changing paths to purchase. Some declining but surviving brands, like local restaurants and cafes, swiftly moved to takeaway and delivery only,
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following the social distancing rules that were put in place. Some have begun selling their produce as cook at home packs that include the recipes behind that restaurant’s main dishes. And Panda Express in the USA has simplified its menu only to its most popular dishes, making it easier for its kitchen employees, whilst maintaining customer service and delivery expectations. A great example of quickly re-prioritising its product mix. Many bricks and mortar retailers rapidly upscaled their online businesses and shifted their marketing efforts accordingly. In Australia, retailers like Mecca, Uniqlo, Sephora, Myer, Aesop and Wittner have announced they have closed their physical stores, but that their online stores are still open for business. It’s seen Australian businesses like Super Retail Group boost online sales by 145 percent the first few weeks of COVID-19. And in China similar upticks through the living with COVID-19 phase have resulted in a higher levels of e-commerce penetration in the recovery phase of COVID-19. On the other hand, many brands and organisations are booming in this time. Booming brands like supermarkets have consistently seen record sales days off the back of high demand for cleaning products, fresh produce, home cooked meals and personal hygiene items. Broadband is being stretched through the increased demand for online movies, video conferencing, news, and gaming. And many of our government services are seeing
large increases in website visitation, and call centre and in-shop traffic. For categories such as these, the brands and organisations that are best managing this sudden increase in demand are those that have quickly bolstered their customer experience capabilities online and in person. Particularly around the new moments that matter to customers. They have listened and responded fast. And been genuine and realistic in doing so. The other challenge for these booming brands is to determine whether this is an ongoing trend, or a one-off spike. And therefore, how best to manage their marketing efforts across customer service expectations, pricing strategies, product availability, automation improvements in the case of services brands, integration of any required new technology to meet demand, and what sort of levels of promotion might or might not be required. Booming brands also need to ensure they act with authenticity and empathy, given that many other brands are unfortunately either in hibernation or in decline, and many customers have found themselves in a vulnerable position. This interim period of living with COVID-19 is a testing and uncertain time for marketers. But the benefits will come for those who are customer focussed, agile and tactical. This article first published by Andrew Baxter, Senior Advisory, Customer, Brand and Marketing Advisory, KPMG Australia in Sydney Business Insights and was reproduced on KPMG Newsroom on 25 May 2020.
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Health
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Improve your health by getting cold LINDA MUSIC HE idea, that to improve your immunity you should take cold showers or swim in cold water, sounds counterintuitive, if not outright wrong. After all, most of us grew up believing that being cold increased our chances of getting sick. But increasing evidence shows there is real benefit to gradually increasing your exposure to the cold. But how? Cold immersion increases the body’s metabolic rate both during, and after, the immersion. Increasing your metabolic rate plays a dual function. Not only does it help burn a few extra calories but also activates the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells which, you may remember from high school science, are the body’s “soldiers” in the fight against viruses and bacteria. The benefits of cold therapy are well known in many Nordic countries, as well as in Russia, where thousands of people participate in weekly cold-water plunges during winter. Most notable in the area of cold therapy is Wim Hof, whose program the Wim Hof Method (WHM), claims to improve your health and immune system using gradual exposure to the cold. In 2013, a research team at Radboud University in The Netherlands set out to see if Hof could prove his claim. Over a period of 10 days, Hof trained 12 volunteers in the WHM which included a specific breathing technique as well as gradual exposure to cold conditions.
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When the 10 days of training were over, the volunteers all received an injection containing E-coli bacteria. Normally, exposing the body to this bacteria would result in the individual experiencing flu-like symptoms. However, this didn’t happen. In fact, the volunteers showed far less signs of influenza than the control group who were not exposed to gradual cold training.
Breathing Techniques The researchers of this study concluded that the breathing techniques and cold exposure taught in the WHM had a positive impact on the immune system. Getting cold also has other benefits. When we expose or bodies to short bursts of stress, like 5-10 minutes of cold immersion, we release a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. In short bursts, norepinephrine can play a role in reducing inflammation in the body. Indeed, studies have shown that
cold stress, such as short cold showers or a quick dip in the cold sea, can increase norepinephrine levels five-fold. This increase in norepinephrine has been shown to reduce inflammatory proteins in the blood. Due to the increasing number of people claiming that cold therapy has helped them alleviate symptoms of conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, researchers are starting to explore this benefit these claims. However, a word of warning: having too much norepinephrine can also be detrimental to your health as it increases heart rate and blood pressure. Therefore, it is important that people with heart conditions do NOT undertake cold therapy without talking to their doctor first. So how often should you undertake cold therapy? The advice from Wim Hof Method advocates is to gradually increase your exposure to the cold. Certified WHM instructor, Asher Packman, recommends
Eventually, you can increase the time of your cold shower to 10 minutes and then start including two-to-threeminute ice baths, with the aim of being able to swim in cold water in nature. “ starting with just 10-20 seconds of cold in the middle of your normal shower and then turning back to warm again. Eventually, you can increase the time of your cold shower to 10 minutes and then start including two-to-three-minute ice baths, with the aim of being able to swim in cold water in nature. Cold therapy is a simple, natural, athome measure that most healthy people can try. It only takes a few minutes a day, doesn’t cost a thing and, if you really can’t handle it, there’s no reason why you can’t turn the tap to the left and finish your shower nice and warm.
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News
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Community Bank East Gosford, Ettalong Beach, Kincumber, Lisarow and Wyong
Bendigo supporting KIDS IN NEED
INCE 1993, families with children who require treatment and hospitalisation in Sydney or Newcastle, have been able to access the support of local charity Central Coast Kids in Need. The small volunteer group raises money to provide financial assistance to pay for accommodation, travel expenses, high cost prescriptions and formula. In recent times the organisation has struggled to attract required levels of funding. The team at the Central Coast branches of Bendigo Bank at East Gosford, Ettalong, Kincumber, Lisarow and Wyong heard about the local charity’s plight and moved quickly to provide a $15,000 grant. Senior Branch Manager, Michael Bell, said that it was an honour to support the work of Central Coast Kids in Need. “Covid19 has thrown many challenges to our community – not least the work of many local charities. We became aware that the charity was struggling to support local families and moved quickly with our counterparts across the coast to approve a grant,” Michael said. Over the past 14 years, Kids in Need has assisted 2,627 families and provided more than $3.2 million dollars of support. It includes just 20 members who meet just four times per year.
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“The Central Coast branches are pleased to assist Central Coast Kids in Need, but more importantly we are humbled by what those dollars will do for a local family,” he said. In the past 12 months, about 60 Central Coast charities, sports clubs, notfor-profit and community organisations have benefited from the ongoing support of the Central Coast branches of Bendigo Bank.
Celebrating 20 years In 1999, the five major banks at the time had closed their East Gosford branches. The local chamber had been working on with local shop keepers and business owners who were becoming increasingly anxious about losing critical business and community infrastructure. With the support of local identities and businessmen including Bob Moore, Ron Hincksman, Terry Dibben, Bob Rudd, Brian Lindbeck, Max Hiron, Warren Price, Bruce Binns and Michael Clayton began a process to attract a bank into the suburb that would support local community needs. The group saw a story by Ray Martin on A Current Affair about a community modelled bank and worked on a compel-
Chairman Garry Morris and Senior Branch Manager Michael Bell.
ling business case that saw Bendigo Bank establish its most northern branch at the time. The East Gosford branch of Bendigo Bank was in the former premises of the NAB bank in Victoria Street and was officially opened on 5 August 2000. In 2020, the branch is also one of the first Bendigo Bank branch to have a face lift that also includes a refreshed corporate logo, with modern imagery and colours. The volunteer board of the East Gosford and Districts branches of Bendigo Bank together with Michael Bell and staff were keen to mark the two-decade milestone.
“We had begun developing events to celebrate 20 years in the region, but Covid19 has put those plans back a bit. We did however continue on with the renovation of the East Gosford branch which now includes all the new branding and colours,” Michael said. “There are a few final touches to be added but it is a great modern space that suits our customers’ needs,” he said. The renovation was undertaken in May with most of the work by local contractors. The branch has been reconfigured to be more open planned work and customer spaces and features all new branding and colours.
WE’VE GOT THE CENTRAL COAST COVERED Central Coast Business Access – the region’s only independent media covering business, progress, development and lifestyle. Read all editions online www.coastba.com.au CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS JUNE - JULY 2020
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