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Foreword –

Momentum is there, now to ensure it stays with us

+

14 Riverside Park at West Gosford created 600 jobs

6 Confidence builds as investors and developers sniff the breeze

14 Multi-million dollar train maintenance facility planned for Kangy Angy

9 Paul Lederer’s confidence in Gosford

15 Government delivers for Coast with State Budget

10 Coast on target to be first fully connected region in Australia

15 Has Labor’s heartland returned?

11 Gosford Hospital to be centre of medical precinct

17 Gosford and Wyong Councils agree to historic merger

12 Major health fund opens 100seat Contact Centre in Gosford

18 The great Australian Tax Office controversy

12 Gosford Classic Car Museum to be Coast’s major tourist attraction

19 First boutique marina for Brisbane Water

13 Central Coast Grammar tops a 30th year with record enrolments 14 Lisarow grows as retail centre

Contact

16 CCBR celebrates 25 yearss

20 Central Coast heroes on the World stage 21 The ’X’ Factor’ in business – CCBR’s 2015 cover stories

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Central Coast Business Review Central Coast Business Review is a Registered Trade Mark of Adams Business Publications Pty Ltd P.O. Box 3259, Erina, NSW 2250 Phone: (02) 4367 0733 Fax: (02) 4367 0744 Email: info@ccbusinessreview.com.au Typesetting by Graphic by Design ph (02) 4365 6777 Print & Distribution by Bromley Direct ph 0412 439 773 © Adams Business Publications 1994. All rights reserved.

Reproductions in any part prohibited. While every effort has been made to ensure all information in this magazine is accurate, no responsibility will be accepted by the publisher, Adams Business Publications. The producer accepts no responsibility for illustrations or photographs supplied by organisations or individuals and/or typographical errors.

Phone 02 4367 0733 Fax 02 4367 0744 Email info@ccbusinessreview.com.au Web www.ccbusinessreview.com.au

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FOREWORD

Momentum is there, now to ensure it stays with us 2015 HAS BEEN an exciting year for the Central Coast. In many respects it’s been a roller coaster ride with major projects announced, approved and some deferred.

Overall though it has been a year that has built on the positives of the previous two years of hard work by Gosford and Wyong Councils and created a momentum that we haven’t seen for twenty years.

Over the past two years there has been approximately one billion dollars of approvals in Gosford alone. This is unprecedented and shows how things can change given the right circumstances.

There is much more in the pipeline too but we have to say a new fragility has crept in with the advent of the merger of Gosford and Wyong Councils and how that may play out.

After some huffing and puffing both Councils are now working closely together on the merger to ensure that it proceeds smoothly and the momentum they have built up over the past three years is maintained. For the Central Coast the success of this merger is paramount.

We can now look forward to the Greater Central Coast City Council leading our region into the 21st century.

CCBR has always maintained that it is local government that has the capacity to drive a region’s economy and that is no more evident than in recent years as both councils have taken on new pro-active growth policies.

Neither State nor Federal Governments have had the impact on our regional economy as have Gosford and Wyong Councils in recent years.

Of course we need to understand that almost all of this is for residential development and certainly through the construction phase and then with residents moving in and spending money on furnishings and the like new jobs will be created.

So now is the time to focus our attention on the wider picture and that is to encourage new business into the region.

It is happening.

The rollout of the NBN across the region is working. Newcastle based health fund nib, will move into a 100-seat contact centre in the Gosford CBD in December. Would that have happened without our broadband capacity? Unlikely!

The reality is that there is no A grade office space available in Gosford.

Elsewhere it is different. With the completion of the Mariners Centre of Excellence at Tuggerah early in the New Year along with the Element building in Erina in about March there will be new top quality space available.

Unfortunately what could have been a real positive for the State and Federal governments but has turned into a fiasco was the announcement that the Australian Taxation Office would locate a branch of

its operations on part of the old Gosford Primary School site on the waterfront in Gosford. Six hundred jobs would come with it. It should have been good news but not so.

The whole issue surrounding the redevelopment of the school site and indeed the whole Gosford waterfront appears to have been wasted on our politicians.

To be totally frank the problem has to be sheeted home to the O’Farrell Government for deliberately muddying the waters in respect to Gosford when they first got into power. It’s water under the bridge now but when you read how it all came about its no wonder politicians get themselves into bother.

I have attempted to provide a potted history of the events leading up to all this on page 18.

Having said that, in recent years both the state and federal governments have tipped a heap of money into the region, particularly with road improvements.

Another significant announcement in 2015 was that the NSW Government had committed $368 million for the redevelopment of Gosford Hospital and in due course $20 million for Wyong Hospital.

The New Year will herald in a new era on the Central Coast with opportunities galore.

Edgar Adams Editor

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MA JOR STORIES

Confidence builds as investors and developers sniff the breeze THREE YEARS AGO following the Local Government Elections both Wyong and Gosford Councils found themselves with enough pro development Councillors to make change in the region a reality.

This, coupled with new CEOs at both councils with briefs to get their organisations moving has sent positive messages out to investors and developers in particular.

These changes became evident in 2014 with developers buying up big across the region. In particular Chinese buyers have been active across the region.

In Gosford two stand-out projects caught the imagination of the entire region.

Sydney developer Peter Zhu’s Development Application for a 28-level twin tower hotel and residential development, Vogue Towers, was approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) in May. The $212.7 million project is expected to start construction in mid 2016.

The development will comprise two residential towers above a podium containing a hotel, licensed pub, retail spaces and supermarket.

Significantly the project will deliver a brand new premium hotel with function rooms, gym and pool deck with associated restaurants and bar. It will comprise 134 rooms over 7 levels and provide underground parking for 135 cars.

It will be built over a site area of 5,462 sqm with an underground car park for a total of 475 cars plus parking for bicycles and motorcycles.

The two residential towers have been designed so that all 276 units have views

of the Brisbane Water or valley views.

The development will be undertaken by Gosford City Development Pty Ltd which is controlled by Mr Zhu. Mr Zhu told CCBR in late November that he had secured a funding package for the whole project and engaged Shanghai based global five-star hotel operator Jinjiang International to manage the hotel comWaterside Gosford. The Hunter Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel ponent of the project. will determine this project in early December “We have appointed AECOM project engineers and have retained the services of Sydneybased brand marketing specialists Our Sydney developer, Joseph Bechara, Agency to inject our brand into the public Managing Director of Pinnacle Construction domain,” said Mr Zhu. He said that he is curGroup had his development approved by rently interviewing local real estate agent to the JRPP in September. provide residential sales support.

The 6,064 sqm property at 21-23 Mann Street at the rear of the Gosford Jian Wang purchased the former Spurbest Telephone Exchange was formerly a site in Gosford in late 2014 with plans to build Telstra works depot and backs onto Henry a three tower development, two of 30-levels Parry Drive providing extensive views of each on the site. The development will be Brisbane Water. considered by the JRPP on 3rd December.

The development comprises 140 residenThe Waterside development has 3 street tial units over 16 storeys with three basefrontages – Mann Street, Baker Street and ment car parking levels.

Georgiana Terrace.

Mr Bechara told CCBR that they would The project will comprise 500 residential start marketing the project early in 2106 units in 3 Towers: In addition it will comwith plans to commence construction in prise an 80-room hotel, and 9,300 sqm of the second half of the year. commercial, retail and food premises.

The old Brisbane Water County Council building will be refurbished for use as a cinema / performance space.

47% of the site will be open space with public access and a pedestrian link from Mann Street to Baker Street and the Waterfront.

The project is being developed by New Hong Kong Macau Australian Pty Ltd which is owned by Mr Jian Wang who sees a great future for Gosford.

Architects for the development are CKDS Architecture from East Gosford.

Vogue Towers Gosford. Commencement of this project is planned for mid 2016 CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

Pinnacle Gosford

MA JOR STORIES

Tilrox Developments are reporting that they will commence construction of a twin tower development in Watts Street. Gosford in January 2016.

Quantum Towers will offer 101 distinctive residential apartments over two architecturally designed towers in the CBD. It will also provide six versatile home office apartments and two commercial suites.

Quantum Property Group residential development Gosford.

The first crane in Gosford went up in October on the Acacia site near Gosford Hospital. Acacia is a 35 unit residential development by Sydney property investment fund Quantum Property Group.

Tesmar Projects Pty Ltd are well advanced with their $18.8 million residential project across six blocks in Hargraves Street, Gosford near Gosford Hospital. The devel-

opment comprises 89 units with 102 car spaces.

Council approved a development comprising four residential buildings with 110 units in Range Road, North Gosford in October.

Publican Bob Bourne had his application for a 14-level, 75-unit residential development and hotel at 161 Mann Street, Gosford, the site of his hotel Dutton’s Tavern approved by Council in late November.

Terrigal is also feeling the benefits of a progressive Gosford Council.

October saw the first crane go up in the town on the Pine Tree Apartments Terrigal development opposite Crowne Plaza.

The $60 million project by PTL Land Pty Ltd will comprise 70 luxury apartments and ground floor retail. Completion is planned for early 2017.

Quantum Towers Gosford Sydney fund managers and property developers, Oracle Estates had a 180 unit residential development approved by the JRPP in May and indications are that construction will begin in 2016.

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MA JOR STORIES

Rockpool Terrigal Adjacent to this development on the corner of Pine Tree Lane and Ash Street the Brand Group is developing Rockpool, a luxury 3-level complex with 6 x 3-bedroom apartments and ground floor restaurant.

Sydney property developer with strong Chinese connections, Weiya Holdings Pty Ltd are developing a 39-unit residential complex in Campbell Crescent, Terrigal with construction due to commence in early 2016.

In mid-August a local developer paid $9.6 million for a motel property of 10,059 sqm overlooking Terrigal Beach with the intention of executing a development approval for 65 exclusive residential apartments.

The sale was reported as the area’s highest value residential development site sale in over fifteen years.

There are numerous other developments around the edges of the Gosford CBD, East Gosford and Terrigal in the $8 million to $15 million range. In many cases construction on these has commenced or will do so early in 2016.

Gosford Council approved almost $600 million of developments from January to October 2015. Add to these the 2014 approvals the total for the two years is around one billion dollars.

A further 15-20 development proposals are expected to be presented at its December 2105 meeting.

Chinese buyers snapped up the Magenta Shores residential resort and golf property and have since expanded the residential component.

Owned by Rich Sea International Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club is a privately owned golf club and also comprises a 5-star Pullman Resort.

Chinese backed Harman Global Holdings acquired Kooindah Waters residential golf and spa resort at Wyong in 2014 for

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

$33 million with plans to expand the residential component of the property Bruce Zhong acquired a property adjacent to the Warnervale Airport with the intention of building a Chinese Theme Park.

Investors were all over The Entrance and still are except that while there have been Development Approvals for some projects none appear to be getting off the ground.

Lakeside, The Entrance 25/11/2014 11:18:24 AM

Proposed Lakeside Plaza Shopping Centre redevelopment The Entrance

Prepared for

Property developer and owner, Bob Dunnet’s Lakeside Plaza project at The The Entrance Plaza Pty Ltd Drawing Photomontage Entrance started to gain momentum in 2014 and a DA was lodged with Council earlier this year which will be considered by the JRPP in mid December (see later for full report). If this $300 million project is approved it will be a massive boost to the economy of The Entrance as well as the region.

At Tuggerah the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence, a 5-level commercial building commenced construction and will be completed in February 2016.

Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence building Tuggerah nearing completion

MA JOR STORIES

Paul Lederer’s confidence in Gosford

The Arthouse Performing Arts Centre Wyong Last year Wyong Council bit the bullet and decided to finance the construction of its own Performing Arts Centre. The Arthouse is a $12.7 million project being built by local builder North and due for completion in December 2015.

Private and corporate developers have also been encouraged to move back into the residential subdivision market. While many are holding off on commencement due to Wyong Council’s excessive Section 94 contribution demands, there are still a number of smaller areas where home construction is well underway.

A Masters Homemaker Improvement Centre is to be built at Tuggerah adjacent to Westfield Shopping Centre.

Wyong Council agreed to make a submission to the JRPP in support of the proposal in November.

The development is proposed on part of a 42 hectare parcel of largely vacant land at the corner of Wyong Road and Tonkiss Street.

Masters plan to invest just over $26 million on a staged development of the site with the first stage creating a Masters Homemaker Improvement Centre on 5.3 hectares of the site, creating over 130 local jobs.

Imperial Centre Gosford PAUL LEDERER WHO established the Primo Smallgoods empire and went on to become one of Australia’s wealthiest men, owning a string of properties across the country including the Imperial Centre Gosford was quite upbeat when he launched the refurbished centre in November.

Mr Lederer acquired the Imperial Centre in 1994 at a time when the Gosford CBD was suffering a serious decline as a result of the opening of Erina Fair. He told the group of leading Gosford business people and centre retailers that he bought the centre because he saw Gosford’s potential. “I always had confidence in Gosford and more so now,” he said.

Mr Lederer acknowledged the support the Lederer Group had received from staff at Gosford Council in the lead up to the refurbishment.

Imperial Centre Manager Deborah Warwick, Lederer Group Chairman, Paul Lederer and Marketing Manager Stephanie Parker.

The Lederer Group has just spent $18 million on refurbishing the Imperial Centre and a few months earlier paid the Masonic Lodge $3.5 million for their premises in William Street, which are surrounded by the Imperial Centre. This move will see the Group invest further in expanding the Imperial Centre.

The redevelopment saw a new double height glazed Erina Street entry, an expanded food court with all new furnishings, a stunning new external facade across the centre’s three street fronts and redesigned and modernised shop fronts throughout the centre.

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

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MA JOR STORIES

Coast on target to be first fully connected region in Australia BY 2017 THE Central Coast will be fully connected to the National Broadband Network with the exception of those areas west of the Motorway.

Construction work is now underway across large areas of the region with one major contractor, Tuggerah based Mirait Technologies Australia, undertaking all of the work in the southern areas of the region.

In February while Minister for Communications the now Prime Minister the Rt Hon Malcolm Turnbull visited Wyong and inspected the roll out of the National Broadband Network in the Wyong area with Federal Member for Dobell Mrs Karen McNamara and met with local telecommunication stakeholders.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Federal MP Karen McNamara most of the Dobell Electorate can expect to have access to the NBN by mid-2017.

Premises - homes and businesses – east of the M1 Motorway will have Fibre-to-theNode service while those west of the M1 are likely to be serviced by NBN Wireless.

While it is difficult to obtain accurate data from the NBN Co as to when the suburbs across the region will be connected CCBR is aware that construction work is being widely carried out on.

Even so the areas with the heaviest demand, Erina, and the Somersby industrial area are still being kept in the dark as to when they could be connected.

Not on the rollout plan at this stage are Niagara Park, parts of Narara, Lisarow, Holgate, Matcham, Erina, Erina Heights,

CCBR Editor Edgar Adams, Wyong Council Acting CEO Greg McDonald, Minister for Communications The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Member for Dobell Karen McNamara MP discussing the rollout of the National Broadband Network in the Wyong area during a visit in February this year. (not in picture Wyong Mayor Doug Eaton OAM, Council’s CIO, Bob Platt and Ian Martin, a senior executive from Mirait Technologies Australia undertaking some of the NBN construction on the Coast and elsewhere around Australia.

Fountaindale, Ourimbah, Wallarah and Budgewoi and Wyee.

Broadband services are now available from Norah Head to Toukley and Charmhaven. Lake Haven, Kanwal, Hamlyn Terrace, Warnervale, Wyongah, Glenning Valley, Berkeley Vale, Tumbi Umbi, Berkeley Vale, Shelly Beach, Toowoon Bay and Blue Bay, Gosford, Springfield, West Gosford, East Gosford,

Construction has commenced in Wadalba, North Wyong, Mardi and Tuggerah, The Entrance, North Entrance, Forresters Beach, Wamberal, Terrigal, North Avoca, Avoca, Kincumber, Empire Bay, Davistown, Macmasters Beach, Bensville, St. Huberts Island, Saratoga, Hardys Bay, Wagstaffe, Ettalong Beach, Umina Beach, Woy Woy, Tascott, Point Clare

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Erina Erina Fair Kincumber Myer Mall Erina Fair

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MA JOR STORIES

Gosford Hospital to be centre of medical precinct THE NSW GOVERNMENT committed $368 million for the redevelopment of Gosford Hospital in February this year which along with a world class Medical School and Research Institute to be attached to the hospital will set the scene for a strong Medical Precinct in the Gosford CBD. Subsequently Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Scot MacDonald MLC and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch MP in mid October announced the awarding of the construction tender to Lend Lease for the redevelopment of Gosford Hospital.

Lend Lease has been engaged under an Early Contractor Involvement procurement method, where it will develop and finalise the design documentation and undertake further enabling works to prepare the site for main works construction.

At the end of the Early Contractor Involvement phase, Lend Lease will have the opportunity to submit an offer to complete the main works, set to commence in early 2016.

Once completed Gosford Hospital will provide expanded and upgraded services to for the Central Coast, including a new Emergency Department - more than twice the size of the current department - a new and larger Intensive Care Unit, as well as new maternity services and a Women’s Health Clinic.

It will also include: • New Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre; • New endoscopy facilities; • New inpatient wards; • New Paediatric Treatment Unit;

• New cardio-vascular service; • More medical imaging services, including a nuclear medicine department; • More outpatient services that will triple the current size and capacity; • New Rehabilitation Unit; • Expanded cancer treatment services with more chemotherapy chairs; • Improved visitor Photomontage of Gosford Hospital showing a new main entrance off Showground navigation and patient flows inside Road and a new multi-storey car park as a part of the redevelopment works. the main buildings; • A relocated helipad to the top of and education, potentially colocated with the main building.

Gosford Hospital.

“This has the potential to position Medical School and Research Institute Gosford, and the Central Coast region, as a In April this year Federal Member for place of excellence in health and medical Robertson Lucy Wicks welcomed the research and education, State Government’s support for a globally “This plan would help to tackle emerging connected, fully integrated Central Coast health issues on the Coast, as well as attract Health and Medical Research Institute high quality students, clinicians, researchers at Gosford Hospital in concert with the and healthcare professionals to Gosford.

University of Newcastle.

Central Coast Local Health District (LHD) “This is a unique opportunity to deliver Chairman, Paul Tonkin, said, "We see the a shared vision for a University in Gosford,” progression towards a Medical School at Mrs Wicks said. “These facilities have the Gosford and a Central Coast Health and potential to become a base for worldMedical Research Institute as key pieces in class healthcare and medical research the maturity of the Central Coast LHD.”

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CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

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MA JOR STORIES

Major health fund opens 100-seat Contact Centre in Gosford

Gosford Classic Car Museum to be Coast’s major tourist attraction

nib Health Funds’ Gosford Contact Centre – Photo courtesy D&C Interior Projects MID-YEAR SAW ONE of Australia’s largest health funds, nib Health Funds (nib) announce that it would establish a Contact Centre in the former Commonwealth Bank building in Gosford, leasing 1,100 sqm of ground floor space.

With the completion of an extensive fit-out the Centre was opened in late November It will complement nib’s primary Contact Centre located in Newcastle, which currently services more than 1.5 million customer interactions annually.

Recruitment of local employees for the centre has taken place in recent months, while Central Coast based nib employees who currently work in the Newcastle Contact Centre have been given the opportunity to express interest in relocating.

nib’s decision to locate in Gosford was influenced by its close proximity to Newcastle as well as infrastructure, NBN broadband access and interconnectivity.

Commenting on nib coming to Gosford, Rob Wilcox from Chapman & Frazer Real Estate who negotiated the lease to nib said, “This is a tangible sign that Gosford is again becoming a point of destination for business and Gosford having NBN was an important factor.

Contact Centres There are around twenty contact centres operating on the Central Coast including: ING DIRECT, NIB Health Funds, Department of Human Services – CentreLink, NSW WorkCover Authority, Police Assistance Line, APIA, NRMA Membership Services and NRMA Roadside Service, nib, NSW Long Service Leave Corporation and Optus.

Early 2015 saw the former Bunnings Warehouse in West Gosford acquired for $12 million by Tony Denny who has recently returned to Australia after an extended stay in Europe where he operated a major motor car sales business.

Mr Denny now lives on the Central Coast with his family and is developing other business interests in the region.

A lover of classic motor cars Mr Denny has made a substantial investment in the acquisition of rare vehicles and will display them in the largest car museum in Australia.

The museum will house around 400 classic cars and motorcycles and promises to become a major tourist attraction for the Central Coast.

The museum will be home to vintage heroes, modern classics and everything in between Mr Denny’s plans are for the museum to attract car lovers from all over Australia as well as being a venue for car club meetings, weddings and other functions.

Apart from the cars themselves the museum will also comprise a retail memorabilia shop and function facilities on the 25,000 hectare site.

Did you know

About these NSW Government investments on the Central Coast?

300 jobs

$360

$10

$124

The NSW Government has committed 300 Public sector jobs for relocation to Gosford over the next term.

The NSW Government has committed more than $360 million towards

The NSW Government has committed $10 million towards the

Gosford Hospital.

Regional Performing Arts Centre.

To improve safety and reduce travel times, the NSW Government is expected to spend $124 million for

million

million

million

Road Projects.

Do these investments create an opportunity for you?

Come and talk to us about economic development opportunities on the Central Coast.

For more information visit ccrdc.nsw.gov.au call 1300 304 676 or email info@ccrdc.nsw.gov.au

One region I Countless opportunities

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

MA JOR STORIES

Central Coast Grammar tops a 30th year with record enrolments

Central Coast Grammar School Performing Arts Centre Auditorium.

CENTRAL COAST GRAMMAR SCHOOL at Erina Heights celebrated its 30th Anniversary this year with record enrolment levels and being named in the top 26 coeducational schools and top 25 primary schools in The Weekend Australian’s annual national school league tables in June.

CCBR has been told there is a 25% increase at kindergarten level enrolments for 2016 necessitating the school having to add an extra class.

It has been an extraordinary year of growth, achievement and development for the school which makes it a highly sought

after option for local families as well as those relocating from Sydney, interstate and internationally.

To meet demand CCGS has added an extra class in Kindergarten for next year and anticipates enrolment over 1200, the highest number of students in the school’s history.

Commenting on the School’s success Headmaster Bill Low said, “excellence in literacy and numeracy is of course just the start of the balanced education CCGS provides. Children are motivated and keen to learn here because we make an equal commitment to a rich and comprehensive cocurricular program in sport

and the performing arts at the same time as emphasising the uniqueness of the individual within a culture of high expectations.”

2015 also saw the launch of Next Generation Teaching and Learning, the strategic plan that will take the school through to 2020. “Central to developing our contemporary learning community is ensuring that our teachers are the very best they can be and that our students reach their potential in all areas of their development,” said Mr Low Central Coast Grammar has become the school of choice for people relocating to the Central Coast.

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MA JOR STORIES

Lisarow grows as a retail centre Multi-million dollar train maintenance facility planned for Kangy

Lisarow Homemakers’ Centre Lisarow, half way between Gosford and Ourimbah, has traditionally been seen as an industrial area however that is changing as the expansion of the Lisarow Shopping Centre takes shape.

Opened in 2010 the centre, anchored by a Coles BiLo Supermarket, was developed by a consortium of two local property developers, Stevens Group and Brand Group and it became a very successful centre drawing trade from Ourimbah to Niagara Park.

The centre is now undergoing an extensive growth phase with the expansion of the Coles Supermarket into a full size store and the building of a new Woolworths Supermarket.

At the same time the Gibbens Group, having completed the redevelopment of their West Gosford property, have now turned their attention to the redevelopment of the former Albany International factory almost opposite the Lisarow Shopping Centre.

Gibbens acquired the factory in 2012 following the closure of Albany’s operations in Australia.

The enormous factory on a 7.7 hectare site provided an opportunity for Gibbens to relocate their spring manufacturing plant from West Gosford (to be redeveloped as Riverside Park) into a section of the factory building and redevelop the front of building facing Pacific Highway as a Homemakers Centre.

Riverside Park at West Gosford created 600 jobs 2015 saw the completion of the Riverside Park development at West Gosford.

The project by the Gibbens Group, Australia’s leading spring manufacturer, saw their manufacturing facility relocate to new premises at Lisarow releasing the land for new employment opportunities.

The site was a massive 100,000 sqm and ended up creating an entirely new commercial and retail precinct at West Gosford creating some 600 jobs.

Built in stages over about six years Riverside Park includes: • Moneywise commercial building with ground floor retail • Caltex Service Station • KFC store • Dan Murphy’s • Riverside Tower Building with GP Super Clinic and commercial offices • Masters Home Improvement, and • Riverside Homemakers Centre

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

• Riverside Park has totally changed the face of West Gosford which has been enhanced by the $170 million upgrade of the Brisbane Water Drive / Manns Road / Pacific Highway intersection.

The intersection project was opened in November 2015 seven months ahead of schedule.

CCBR understands that Coles Supermarkets will be looking at redeveloping the West Gosford Shopping Centre in 2016.

A new multi-million dollar train maintenance facility is proposed to be located at Kangy Angy by the NSW Government.

In May 2014 the NSW Government announced its intention to purchase the New Intercity Fleet, a fleet of trains that will carry long distance customers from Sydney to the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra.

As part of this project an enclosed maintenance facility will be built to maintain the new fleet.

Transport for NSW considered a number of locations alongside existing railway lines across the network, as well as using existing maintenance facilities.

The Central Coast was identified as the ideal location with the new trains regularly operating on the Main Northern Line. Land adjacent to the Main Northern railway line at Kangy Angy has been identified as a preferred site due to its proximity to the railway line and alignment with the train operational requirements.

A new access road into the proposed site from the Pacific Highway is also planned, which in turn will help with access to local roads during wet weather. Transport for NSW will soon commence detailed design, environmental and geotechnical surveys of the area. Relevant planning documents will be put on public display in early 2016.

Following planning approval, construction is expected to begin in 2017 and be completed by 2019.

The facility that is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and ongoing employment will be a maintenance hub for their next generation Intercity Fleet.

Wyong Mayor Doug Eaton OAM said it was great news that Transport for NSW had identified a proposed site in Kangy Angy. ”This is a big project for the Central Coast, and shows a great deal of confidence in the area from the NSW Government,” Mayor Eaton said.

“Transport for NSW is spending billions of dollars on this brand new fleet of trains and this will be the main location in NSW where they will come for maintenance,” he added.

“They have spent over 12 months planning the procurement of the trains and researching appropriate sites for the maintenance facility. Not only will the railyards create hundreds of jobs directly, it also provides an opportunity for flow on to local businesses to supply products and services to the facility.

MA JOR STORIES

Government delivers for Coast STATE MEMBER FOR Terrigal, Adam Crouch MP has provided CCBR with details of the 2015-2016 NSW State Budget providing record infrastructure and services for Central Coast .

“This is the first part of our four year election commitment on building our future for the Central Coast” he said, “The Treasurer delivered her first budget that shows an underlying surplus estimated at $712.6 million for this financial year”. $124 million for Central Coast roads with $7 million to complete work on the upgrade of the Central Coast Highway intersection with Brisbane Water Drive and Manns Road at West Gosford. This is a project on time and on budget. $10 million to commence construction of the Pacific Highway widening to four lanes between Ourimbah Street, Lisarow and Glen Road Ourimbah. $10 million to commence construction of the upgrade of the intersection of Wyong Road with Enterprise Drive. $30 million to continue Gosford Hospital redevelopment and $2.2million to complete construction of the renal Dialysis Centre at Long Jetty.

The upgrade of Point Clare Public School will continue Erina High School will be funded for a new bus bay and turning circle to improve the entry and exit within the grounds of the school. $6 million completing the upgrade of Terrigal Drive and Charles Kay Drive Terrigal We are also protecting the most vulner-

Has Labor’s heartland returned?

NSW Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian with Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch able by providing upgrading to social housing in Gosford, Terrigal and Wyong with estimated $4 million in this budget.

“This budget also provides $94 million for a new $2.8 billion intercity fleet of trains with purchasing set to start in 2015-2016.

This project will deliver new state of the art trains for customers from Newcastle and the Central Coast”.

The May 2015 State elections saw the Central Coast revert to the Labor with the popular David Harris returning to Wyong after one term out in the cold.

The Entrance and Gosford also went back to Labor.

The result in 2011 was an aberration.

In the end, though, what it has shown for the Central Coast is that it cannot be taken for granted by the ALP. And, with a little effort the Liberals can turn around their fortunes in Gosford and The Entrance.

Firstly, the Election was fought by an incumbent government with a Premier who had credibility and a vision for NSW. That was a first!

In spite of a hugely deceitful campaign by NSW Unions to protect their featherbedded patch at Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy and a huge resource put in to door knocking thousands of homes in the Gosford and The Entrance Electorates, some in Labor’s heartland must have had second thoughts. These two seats have now become the most marginal in the state.

In Terrigal the Liberals scored some much needed new blood with the election of Adam Crouch. In view of the issues surrounding the former Member Chris Hartcher and his brush with ICAC many expected that this margin would be much lower. It is an indication of the work he put into the electorate.

30 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS. 30 YEARS OF GROWTH. 30 YEARS OF GRATITUDE. We’d like to thank the Central Coast community, our past and present students, parents, staff and supporters who have all contributed to our three decades of incredible success. Today we can celebrate one of Australia’s most inspirational learning environments. We are immensely proud to be ranked 26 in the top Coeducational Schools and 25 in the top Primary Schools in Australia. Proud to be educating tomorrow’s thought leaders, creators and community achievers… today.

K-12 | Independent | Coeducational

www.ccgs.nsw.edu.au

Call us on 4367 6766

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

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MILESTONES

CCBR celebrates 25 years JUNE 2015 MARKED a major milestone for Central Coast Business Review with the celebration of our 25th Anniversary. To be in business for 25 years for any business is quite an extraordinary feat. But to thrive in the cutthroat world of the media, especially considering we were the first regional magazine in Australia, is something we are very proud of. So how and why did it all begin?

When the first issue of CCBR was published in June 1990 the Central Coast economy was in the grip of the so-called “recession we had to have”. So that would perhaps prompt the question, “Why then?”

The answer is threefold. Firstly, the Coast had been on a strong growth trajectory up until that point. And we knew from the Beverley and Edgar Adams at the 2015 Central Coast Business Excellence Awards extensive research we had done over the previous two years that the area would get Central Coast focused and straightforward, ness. It was to be another Australian first. back on track quickly. Secondly, we (and with a no holds barred editorial approach I’m proud to say other regions throughout the many businesspeople we spoke to) saw that we knew our readers were looking Australia have since followed our lead on a real need for the Coast to have its own for. It was all about what was good for the Prospectus that continues to be provoice. And last but not least, as an accountthe region. Not everyone agreed with our duced annually and utilised broadly to this ant who has specialised in the managecontent but we felt there was a need to day. Ten years after launching the Central ment and operation deliver a counter arguCoast Investment Prospectus we launched of small to medium ment and voice of the Hunter Business Review, a publication sized businesses reason against many which has gone from strength to strength across Australia and of the ‘questionable’ on the back of a rapidly growing economy served on many stories the mass media and under the guidance of Hunter based committees and seemed only too Editor in Chief Garry Hardie. Then in 2010 boards, I had personhappy to print. From its I established the Central Coast Business ally developed an inception, CCBR quickly Excellence Awards after seeing the need to intimate knowledge gained a solid reputacelebrate and reward businesses and busiand understandtion for its cut to the ness leaders that excel in our region. The ing of the ins and chase content. But we awards have since grown year by year and outs of business would never have got are now strategically aligned with the NSW management. In the magazine off the Business Chamber Awards. While we are no other words, unlike ground had it not been longer personally involved in the organisamedia operators we for our first advertisers tion of the annual awards, they are a legacy understand busiwho had sufficient faith we will always be proud of. ness because we’ve in what we were doing lived and breathed it to give us a go, includToday we have a strong and very loyal ourselves for so long. ing the late Ashley Reid subscriber base and many advertisers who So with Beverley have clearly deemed the value we deliver who owned Central working full time Coast Motor Group, their businesses worthy of their support over The first issue of CCBR in June 1990 and me continuing a number of years (over 150 subscribers and office furniture manuto manage the local fish shop we owned at facturer Accent Group, and accountants some advertisers have been with us for more the time while getting the magazine off the Bruce Phillips, Tim Cullen and David Purkiss. than 20 years). Moving with the times, we ground, CCBR was born. It was two years Naturally like any new business venture are embracing social media in an intelligent before we were ready to sell the shop and way but are pleased to see that people still (especially an Australian first) it wasn’t devote 100% of our time and energy to the appreciate receiving CCBR in hard copy always smooth sailing. For starters, I am an publication. But this was time well spent, format, with some subscribers collecting all accountant, not a writer. But I was fortunate particularly given the economic volatility at to have been mentored by former Express editions and placing each issue on display the time. On a personal note, Beverley has Advocate Editor in Chief, the late Vern Arbie, every month in their offices. While the past been (and continues to be) an integral part and I will be eternally grateful to Vern for his ten years have seen the regional economy of the business from the word go. I couldn’t barely growing, that is now turning around. support and encouragement to, in Vern’s have have built CCBR without her.

With well-founded growth policies now in words, “write what needs to be said”. place at Gosford and Wyong Councils, the Our goal with the magazine was to regional economy is about to take off. We After five years of running the magazine deliver a monthly information service to I was appointed by the Manager of the look forward to being at the forefront of it all local businesses and to take up issues that Department of Regional Development representing the business community of our affected them. Our editorial policy would to produce the Coast’s first Central Coast region and delivering the information busibe strictly business-orientated (especially ness deserves and needs to know about for Investment Prospectus as a means to sell geared towards small business), positive, many years to come. the region as a place to invest and do busiCENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

MA JOR STORIES

Gosford and Wyong Councils agree to historic merger IN NOVEMBER GOSFORD City and Wyong Shire Councils announced that they had agreed to a historic, voluntary merger as part of the NSW Government’s Fit for the Future reform package.

Both Councils will now submit their merger preference to the NSW Government – with it likely that a Central Coast council could be proclaimed before the end of 2015 and come into effect early next year.

Gosford City Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the agreement was a defining moment in the Central Coast’s history.

“Although time was against us, I’m very pleased with how both Councils have worked hard to protect the interests of their communities and the Central Coast,” Mayor McKinna said.

“I’m confident that this monumental decision to voluntarily merge means that the community’s voice will not be lost, which is something the NSW Government couldn’t guarantee under a potential forced amalgamation.

“We’ll also have access to $20 million in support from the NSW Government for the voluntary merger that will make sure funding from our recent operating surpluses is not diverted away from vital service, facility and infrastructure improvements.

“There’s no doubt that merging our two organisations will be challenging, but my fellow Gosford Councillors and I are looking forward to working alongside our Wyong counterparts to achieve the best outcome for the residents of the Central Coast,” Mayor McKinna said.

Mayor of Wyong Doug Eaton OAM and Mayor of Gosford Lawrie McKinna “The only way now is forward. We have to work together to ensure a Central Coast Council continues to deliver the best possible services our community need and want.

“This decision will put the Central Coast on the map as a region in its own right and

I believe will ensure we get a lot more funding and recognition in the future.”

Gosford’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Anderson and Wyong’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Rob Noble will now meet to create a staff transition team and start on plans to amalgamate the two Councils.

Over the past twelve months...

We delivered a preliminary $36 million operating surplus for the 2014/2015 financial year.

We helped you display 30,000 poppies to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of World War One. We opened a new state of the art sporting precinct in Lisarow.

We began installing solar panels on seven of our facilities - saving us more than $80,000 a year in electricity costs, and more than 600 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.

We launched a five-year, $70,000 conservation project to protect a threatened tree species responsible for filtering the region’s waterways.

We extended our development incentives to encourage development, and celebrated when more than $300 million worth of development was approved for our city centre.

We introduced BPAY View, an easier way to receive, pay and store your rates and water notices.

We donated $20,000 towards the creation of an iconic art work at Gosford Regional Art Gallery.

We undertook $1.1 million worth of road improvements at Terrigal Haven.

Thanks for a great year, Gosford City.

Gosford City Council, 49 Mann Street (PO Box 21) Gosford NSW 2250. (02) 4325 8222. gosford.nsw.gov.au

GosfordCityCouncil

@gosford_council

@gosford_council

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

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MA JOR STORIES

The great Australian Tax Office controversy IN LATE NOVEMBER the Australian Senate agreed to a motion by Senator Deborah O’Neill requiring the Australian government to provide documents about the decision to locate the Australian Tax Office building on the former Gosford Primary School site on the Gosford waterfront.

The announcement, on a rain sodden morning on Friday 25th September

by Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison and Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks standing on the old school site, that the Australian Tax Office would be located on the site bringing 600 jobs to Gosford was a hurried affair.

No details as to who had won the bid to buy the school site and no details as to who would build the building or what it would look like.

By the end of the day however it was clear that some sort of deal had been cooked up between the NSW Property Office and some agency in Canberra. Politics had got in the way and an election promise that had dragged on had to be honoured.

What should have been well received in the community became a dead albatross.

So what went wrong?

It all started with former Gosford Councillor Peter Hale, when first elected in 2008 calling for a 20 year Vision for the City of Gosford. A totally new thought process!

Council established the Gosford Challenge Team with a budget. There followed an extensive community consultation process.

In distilling all the comments across the entire Gosford Council area the issue of most concern to the City’s residents was the Gosford CBD and waterfront.

With the aid of some of Australia’s leading town planners and architects, leaders from the community, business and government the Gosford City Centre Masterplan – Our City Our Destiny was produced and approved by Council.

The Masterplan showed the primary school site as an arts and entertainment precinct with the Gosford Performing Arts Centre on part of the site.

No political input had been sought which gave it the credence it deserved.

It was approved by Council and property developers were invited to tender for the redevelopment of the first phase, the Gosford Waterfront.

So impressed was the State Government with the process that Planning Minister Tony Kelly established the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation with the authority to redevelop the waterfront.

That was in mid July 2010 and in partnership with the Land and Property Management Authority they immediately sought proposals for the redevelopment CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015

of the waterfront, which included the site of the Gosford Primary School and all State Government land around it including the Brisbane Water and boat harbour.

With a newly appointed, high powered and successful Board of Proposed Australian Tax Office building Gosford Waterfront Directors drawn overlooking the park and a ‘blue chip’ tenmostly from business, the Corporation ant was essential to take up around a third moved onto the front foot. to half of the space.

By December 2010 five property develBy this time the country was in election opers had lodged submissions with Lend mode with the Seat of Robertson being Lease being selected as the ‘preferred fought over bitterly by the Liberal and proponent’ with a plan that included resiLabor Parties. dential finger wharves sticking out into the The Liberals said they would bring a Brisbane Water. government agency with 300 jobs and the It caused a furore!

State Government had indicated it would Three months later the O’Farrell do something similar.

Government was elected and while the fate The election was in September 2013 and of the primary school had been sealed the Mrs Wicks was elected. new government had little appetite to go any Come the first Federal Budget in 2014 and further than the redevelopment of the site. the Treasurer announced that the ATO would The waterfront could wait forever! locate an office in Gosford with 600 jobs.

The relocation of the primary school also Following this announcement State became a political issue however, with the Government via the CCRDC in October die cast, the government was forced to pro2014 called for Expressions of Interest to ceed and the school closed in April 2014 and redevelop the primary school site with being demolished by the end of the year.

Minister for the Central Coast Rob Stokes Meanwhile, It wasn’t until March 2013 that calling it “a ‘key site’ for the city of Gosford the Corporation was able to get any traction and a significant catalyst of the region’s with the State Government. It then lodged a regeneration.” revised submission to amend the planning Deadline for the submission of controls for part of the Gosford CBD with the Expressions of Interest was November 14th.

Department of Planning. This would set the About the same time the Member for stage for a new DCP and the revitalisation Dobell announced that expressions of interof Gosford (as anticipated in the Masterplan) est to construct a government agency were starting with the primary school site. being sought and called on local builders The new plan went back to basics focus“to get on board”. By this time though, sing on a new land use framework. it was to be a purpose-built Centre of Stepping back to the Lend Lease proExcellence to house some ATO staff. posal the Corporation had negotiated It now turns out that NSW Property with the Gosford RSL Sub-branch for Office having called for Expressions of the performing arts centre to be located Interest to buy the school site and having immediately under the Cenotaph near the received bids from at least three developMemorial Garden. They agreed as it would ers, has chosen apparently to secretly sell bring life to the Cenotaph area. Nothing 5,000 sqm or about a third of the site to has changed in that respect except that the a property developer in Canberra, Doma Memorial Garden is now called ‘Poppy Park’ Constructions, for an undisclosed price. and is seen as sacred in the community.

Similarly the Federal Government’s EOI It was therefore planned that the school for a suitable building to be built, with no site would be developed initially with a location mentioned in the EOI, received a commercial office building as there was no number of submissions at least from local “A” Grade office space in Gosford that would developers but the Canberra company won attract new commercial or professional out and apparently will build a dumbed businesses into the CBD. down 3-level building suitable for the pubTo get a developer for such a building lic service, with no allowance for retail on which would be 9-storeys of office space the park level. with restaurants on the waterfront level

MA JOR STORIES

First boutique marina for Brisbane Water

Koolewong Marina Brisbane Water FOLLOWING THEIR ACQUISITION of the Koolewong Marina in July this year marina designers Les Binkin and Symantha Suprain have announced that work will begin on a new, 50-berth facility in January, with completion scheduled for June 2016.

Mr Binkin and Ms Suprain own the Marmong Point Marina and manage the Trinity Point Marina in Lake Macquarie.

Noted marina designers they conceived the Koolewong project which will be engineered and built by the Superior Group.

“This will be a world-class marina and haven for boats in the Brisbane Water and from Sydney,” said Ms Suprain. “ The new, 50-berth facility will be developed adjacent to the existing structure which comprises The Boathouse Restaurant and a suite of offices overlooking Brisbane Water.

Incorporated in the design are 10 catamaran berths and an additional 10 casual

berths with the capacity to expand to double the size of the marina in five years, pending a new DA. Mr Binkin, said the project has been at least six years in the planning. “It has been an arduous process with plenty of hoops considering it’s a pre-existing approval.

Building a marina is not getting any easier.

There are many reasons why developers should have to prove the worth of their project and toe environmental lines, but in this case, there was a lot of red tape.”

“Fortunately, Gosford Council was very supportive of the concept and excited at the prospect of creating a new boating, tourism and social hub between Gosford and Woy Woy on Brisbane water,” he said.

“We are thrilled that we have the green light now and we aim to start driving the piles in by January 2016 with completion scheduled for June. Key to the design is a substan-

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The Superior Group was appointed to the project following a competitive tender process. Superior will handle all facets of the engineering and design detail, marina construction, architectural gangways and the main entrance way.

“Superior has the expertise, the runs on the board and the team to do the job,” states Mr Binkin.

“Aiming to attract catamaran owners looking for custom-built pens for their craft, Binkin says vessels and visitors of all kinds will be welcome.

“During the GFC, our business at Marmong Point Marina flourished because we cater to boaties of all walks of life – from casual berths and smaller craft, to yachties and the high end user. We have future-proofed Koolewong too by creating a place where everybody will be comfortable and can enjoy a piece of paradise, however they want to enjoy it, and ensuring that the design can accommodate growth in years to come.”

The Boathouse is an elegant restaurant with panoramic views across Brisbane Water. Its owners are keen to expand the offering to include a wine bar and café for more casual dining. There are six commercial offices above the restaurant, ready for tenants to take advantage of the views and the increased visiting the marina will attract.

Beneath the marina, Binkin plans to install fish habitat, ensuring the marina enhances the natural environment which is the location’s main drawcard.

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CEN T R AL COA S T HEROES

National award for Ramm Botanicals

Ramm Botanicals’ Directors Ryan and Elise Weber with the Production Nursery of the Year Award at the NGIA Awards ceremony 2015 In May Ramm Botanicals, one of Australia’s leading propagation nurseries, was awarded the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia’s Large Production Nursery of the Year Award at their national industry awards in Melbourn.

Kangy Angy based Ramm Botanicals is a certified wholesale nursery which exports plants in the form of tissue culture to many markets including USA, Europe and Japan, and services the needs of a broad network of licensed growers throughout Australia.

Ramm was praised for constantly pushing the boundaries to be a world class marketing innovator in high health plants, a success due in part to its commitment to new product development and a strong focus on quality production and impeccable laboratory and nursery hygiene protocols.

Big win at Cloud World Series Awards - London

BlinkMobile Director and CTO Alan Williams, in London in July In July Gosford based BlinkMobile won through from a high quality field of international companies to be selected as the “Best Enterprise Mobility Solution" at this year’s Cloud World Series Awards in London.

BlinkMobile was the only Australian company shortlisted for any of the award categories and ultimately successful amongst such nominees as AirWatch and Tangoe.

Technically, BlinkMobile has developed the first fully offline operation of hybrid Android apps and more recently expanded its server side capability with its new Envoy services that manage work-in-progress, APIs, authentication and workflows to optimise the mobilisation of core business processes.

National award for Erina finance broker

Astute Ability Finance Group Principal Mhairi MacLeod (c) with Consultans Sue Wilson (l) and Kirsty Bryson Erina based finance brokerage, Astute Ability Group, beat lawyers, accountants, financial planners and marketing professionals across Australia to take home a win from the Australian Small Business Champion Awards in May winning won the ‘Professional Services’ award Mhairi MacLeod, founder and principal of Astute says it is their commitment to building a lasting relationship with clients which won them the trophy. It also comes down to their use of technology to make the loan process quick, easy and personal for clients,” she said.

While Astute is based at Erina they service clients nationwide.

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CEN T R AL COA S T HEROES

Coast engineers amongst Australia’s finest

Tech StartUp Wins Kick Start Prize @ TEDx Sydney

National building award for Stevens Construction

Stevens Construction Managing Director, Steve Mailey with Award Sponsor Brad and Russell Byrne installing their Plunge Test laboratory equipment in Japan Precision engineering and manufacturing company Archer, based at Somersby, was recognised as one of Australia’s finest industrial companies at the prestigious 2015 Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards and 2015 Pace Zenith Awards in July.

The two awards programs are the highest pinnacle for celebrating excellence in engineering and manufacturing in Australia.

Archer was announced as a finalist in five categories.

Archer submitted two precision engineering projects: the design and development of a scientific piece of laboratory equipment known as the RTI Plunge Test Tunnel which is used orldwide to test the performance of automatic fire sprinklers and the design and manufacturing of new-generation MJC Multi Jet Control safety valves for the Stanwell Power Station in Queensland.

Helen Mitchell, CEO and Co-Founder of Busivid.com at the Sydney Opera House TEDx event Gosford-based tech startup Busivid.com Co-Founder and CEO Helen Mitchell, won a $10,000 St. George Bank KickStart Your StartUp prize at TEDx this year, an initiative designed to help new ideas and business initiatives become a reality.

Held at the Sydney Opera House TEDx is televised around the world. “The greatest win was the validation it gives us as a company based on The Central Coast taking on the highly competitive video space.

Busivid’s app also automates many distribution tasks including sharing to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and eBay.

Erina based construction company, Stevens Construction won the National Award for the best public building in the $5 million to $10 million category at the Master Builders Australia’s national awards event on the Gold Coast in early November for the Central Coast Grammar School Performing Arts Centre project which they completed in late 2014.

Confirming the entry, the judges said, “With approximately 3,500 sqm of usable floor space, this contemporary facility includes a 750-seat auditorium and stage, as well as dressing and rehearsal rooms and a recording studio.�

Commenting on the win Grammar Headmaster, Bill Low, said, “Our shared dream was to build an innovative and cutting edge Performing Arts Centre, an extraordinary space that would be worthy of our children’s creative talents. Stevens Constructions dedication to achieving our aims has seen us achieve all of this.�

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2 0 15 F R O N T C O V E R S T O R I E S

By Phaedra Pym

The ‘X Factor’ in business – CCBR’s 2015 cover stories THIS YEAR’S COVER stories once again featured many of the Central Coast’s most highly esteemed business leaders. Often preferring to fly under the radar, these businessmen and women (well, in

the case of this year, the men have dominated) have all had fascinating stories to share. Not only have our cover features given these business leaders the ‘five minutes of fame’ they deserve, but their

February – Ian ‘Moose’ Robilliard (Central Coast Academy of Sport) Delivering opportunities through sport has always been a passion for Robilliard, who is justifiably proud of the not-for-profit Central Coast Academy of Sport (CCAS) he began building from the ground up in 2004.

Through Robilliard’s vision, determination and knack for building businesses, the CCAS is now one of our most treasured community assets.

March – Samuel Yeats (UltraServe) At the age of just 31, Yeats was by far our youngest cover story subject. But as a global IT business leader today, Yeats is living proof that age is no barrier to success. Key business lessons shared by Yeats in terms of leading UltraServe’s meteoric rise include constantly staying ahead of change; not being afraid to take a risk and fail; learning from the mistakes made by others; putting more focus on the success of your customers than on your own success; and trusting your gut.

April – Patrick Wilde AM (The Henry Kendall Group) Regarded as a pioneer in the retirement sector, Wilde has delivered enormous benefits for the Central Coast. His story focused on how a solicitor had the vision to transform vacant land holdings into successful commercial ventures that continue to feed a host of benefits back into our local community. A great listener with an innate skill of connecting with his target market, Wilde continues to deliver enormous community benefits today.

May – Jeff McGarn (Graphic By Design – GBD) McGarn has always excelled at breaking down barriers and stereotypes. Indeed it is a trait that has played in his favour. He has learned that to be successful in the world of advertising and marketing, you need to be confident enough to go against the grain.

Celebrating 25 years in business last year, McGarn has created a model that has seen his company give larger city-based agencies a genuine run for their money.

June – 25th Anniversary issue CCBR celebrated its 25th year in June. A milestone for any business, made even more special due to the fact that CCBR was the first regional business magazine in Australia.

We set out be the region’s business leaders and be responsible in our reporting of news and issues.

Co-incidentally , we were able to report on the landmark decision to approve the development of the Union Hotel in Gosford with two 28-storey towers within the same issue.

July – Matthew Gibbens (Gibbens Group) Gibbens Group CEO Matthew Gibbens, a fourth generation Gibbens, has led the Group to deliver significant economic benefits to the region with the delivery of hundreds of jobs to date as well as significant contributions towards infrastructure improvements on the Coast. An engineer by profession, Gibbens’ maintains to this day, “The best degree you can do is on the job and in the school of hard knocks.”

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willingness to share their stories so openly, including the mistakes they’ve made along the way, has been inspirational and we hope, rewarding for you, our readers. Let’s take a look back over this year’s

August – Ron Mussalli (McDonalds) As the owner of ten Central Coast McDonalds restaurants and the employer of more than 1,000 Central Coast locals, Mussalli is one of McDonalds Australia’s greatest franchise success stories. Proud to be a McDonalds ‘lifer’ and absolutely passionate about the business, Mussalli continues to prove that “Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity.”

featured business leaders, who we think all possess that certain ‘X factor’ as business leaders, which is precisely why they were selected to be in the spotlight this year.

September – Ken Jolly OAM (Scholastic Inc.) Still as passionate about the business he helped build from grass roots level today as he was when it all began 45 years ago, Jolly said growing the fledgling HJ Ashton Company from the ground up was key to his leadership growth. Today that business is part of Scholastic Inc, an almost 2 Billion US dollar company that is arguably the largest publisher of children’s books in the world.

October – Central Coast Business Excellence Awards – Winner: Koala Publishing Winning the Business of the Year and Employer of Choice awards at the 2015 Central Coast Business Excellence Awards, Koala Publishing is proof that the greeting card industry is alive and well. 100% Australian owned and operated, Koala prides itself on innovation through a solid investment into its number one resource – its people.

So what does it take to be featured on the CCBR cover?

November – Alan Williams (BlinkMobile) With a theme of ‘key lessons from an entrepreneur’, Williams’ story highlighted that while being an entrepreneur is not for the faint hearted, the rewards are enormous for those who dare. Williams says those that enjoy the greatest success have far more than just a good idea, money and a viable business plan. The common thread they all share is the right management team, the right people, the passion, the right attitude and “a whole lot of luck”.

December – Graham McGuinness OAM (former local Health Sector Leader & Innovator & passionate Community Champion) Passionate about creating innovative change, the local community and “just getting on with it”, McGuinness, a self-confessed ‘rebel with a cause’, can claim many firsts in the health industry in NSW right here on the Central Coast. A firm believer in the power of delegation and empowerment, McGuinness’ shared his number one ‘secret weapon’ as a leader, which he calls MBWA (Management By Walking Around).

Most subjects have at least 20 years under the belt in business and have built successful ‘all weather’ businesses due to their ability to weather the storm when challenges come their way. Our stories have also highlighted a few common threads in terms of our subjects’ leadership traits, including a genuine focus on building and maintaining a strong workplace culture, delegation, leading by example, not being afraid to take risks and fail, always striving to be a step ahead of the game in their industry, truly understanding their target markets and just getting on with the job.

Who will be in the spotlight in 2016?

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW YEARBOOK 2015