BIGGER BACKYARD OPENS UP BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Business NSW Northern Rivers has launched a new initiative aimed at stopping the leakage of business spending to places outside of the region and expects to see a multimillion dollar return if we do more business to business trade inside the Northern Rivers.

“We get so frustrated to see our business dollars going outside of the region when we have great products, services and suppliers right here in our own Northern Rivers backyard.” Says Regional Director for Business NSW, Jane Laverty.

“We are in an economic crisis so every dollar that is currently being spent outside of the region is critically important to us in making the Northern Rivers regional economy stronger and more resilient. Every dollar we bring back into the region has a multiplier effect of 3 – so that is powerful.

“We have created a free, easy to use App – Bigger Backyard Northern Rivers to support Business to Business procurement with every business clearly profled in what can be easily accessed off your phone.” Says Jane.

The initiative was frst created by Mrs Laverty in 2018 as part of the In Good Company Project aimed at improving business confdence post the 2017 weather event as a manual pledgebased activity with the idea of shifting business buying behaviours to be more regionally focused.

“I always envisioned we would take it to a technology-based application that would help to link businesses directly with each other and for them not be beholden to a pay per click style search engine. You want to be confdent that you will fnd the product or service you are looking for from

Casino Chamber of Commerce and Industry Presents

another Northern Rivers based business – it’s a twist on your buy local campaign but just for business - and we hope it will give businesses in our region a much needed boost.”

“If you think about what you spend on the offce basics like stationery or raw materials for manufacturing through to business and professional services and trades procurement business spending adds up. We think there is an an easy shift to a local supplier but if you can’t fnd what you are looking for we want to know so that we can either encourage that inclusion in the app or go about attracting new businesses into the area to provide that service.”

Says Mrs Laverty.

“In phase one of development we had a founding group of 150 business set up their business profle in the App and in this next phase, where we are promoting and connecting with the broader business community, we hope to get to 500 profles and just keep growing.”

Businesses can get more information, register straight away or ask for help through the project webpage www. biggerbackyardnorthern rivers.com.au or by contacting the Business NSW Northern Rivers offce on 5631 8509.

“I am inviting all Northern Rivers businesses to be part of it. We also have larger businesses such as The Casino Food Coop, Norco, Southern Cross University, Summerland Credit Union and others committing to using the App to increase their local product and services procurement, so it is a great opportunity for small to medium enterprises to win new work just by being in Bigger Backyard Northern Rivers,” Mrs Laverty said.

A mysterious stranger and an amazing ‘tail’

Author: Alistair Pirie

Illustrations: Aaron

Wolf Price: $16.95

Publisher: Shawling

Publishing Group

By Samantha Elley

When ve children come across a mysterious stranger by the name of Peter Billycan, their day takes a turn for the adventurous.

He directs them to a tunnel, that they enter and follow, to discover an amazing underground river system.

In the depths of the tunnel they nd a ferry boat and meet its captain, a salty old sea dog who takes them on a wild ride.

ey meet two crocodiles who turn out to be friendly and take the children to an Aboriginal camp where they meet a young boy who shows them how his people live.