Works progressing on Woolworths development (left) and Mann Central (right)

Welcome to the new look Quarterly Business Newsletter from Wodonga Council. As we kick off the new year, there is already a lot happening around the city.

Find out more about what's happening across Wodonga by booking a seat on our next 'Bulrushes to Boom Town' bus tour in March  or keep an eye out for the Council Plan consultations throughout February and March where you can have your say on what you think the priorities are for city for the next four years.

 

The Mann Central development continues to show consistent progress, with the centre on track to open in October 2017.

In 2016, several milestones were met including:

• All inground services for the development;
• Precast panels and steel work for Coles roof; and,
• 50 per cent of the car park concrete slab on the corner of South and Hovell streets.

The priorities for the first quarter of 2017 are:

• Construction of roof for Coles Supermarket;
• Erection of precast panels for Kmart;
• Completion of car park deck;
• Commencement of upgrades to Manns Lane; and,
• Commencement of Kmart Auto construction

Anyone interested in leasing spaces in and around the development should call Steve Martin of Stanley and Martin on 0419 269 687.

The builders have been busy at the redeveloped Woolworths site on the corner of Elgin Boulevard and High Street (diagonally opposite Mann Central), with the new structure and roof finished in December.

You'll see more progress over the coming months as the shops that will face High St and Elgin Boulevard are built, and the project moves towards its targeted completion date of mid-2017.

The development will include a full-line, two-storey Woolworths supermarket, as well as retail and office spaces. There will also be car parking, multiple pedestrian access points and an atrium entrance.

Anyone interested in leasing opportunities are encouraged to contact Corey Finlay of L.J Colquhoun Dixon (details here).

Junction Place has won an award for its contribution to transforming Wodonga.

At the 2016 Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Awards for Excellence, Places Victoria won the Judges’ Award (Regional Victoria) for the Junction Place project, which is revitalising central Wodonga.

The judges acknowledged Places Victoria is driving capital investment and creating opportunities for the private sector through joint venture development agreements.

Places Victoria CEO Gregory Anderson said the award was testament to the collaboration with project partners including Wodonga Council, Victorian government agencies and local developer Central Place Pty Ltd. More information here.

AND - if you haven't visited Junction Place recently, book a seat on our next 'Bulrushes to Boom Town' bus tour on Tuesday, March 7 to see this and all the latest major projects currently underway in Wodonga.

Wangaratta law firm MGR Solicitors has opened an office on 7 High Street in the former Wodonga court house.

Since 2014, the building was owned and occupied by advertising and marketing agency, Dutch Media, who has moved to a $500,000 two-storey extension at the rear.

The appeal of working in an historic building was an attraction for principals Jonathan Green, Alecia Roman and Jye Cunneen - and is in line with the 'look and feel' of their Wangaratta office. 

The firm specialises in business, commercial and property law and is also involved in estate planning and administration.

The office opened for business on January 16. More information here.

What does the Wodonga we all want to live in look like? What should the council’s priorities be over the next four years? What are our opportunities?

Wodonga Council is seeking community feedback and ideas on the Wodonga we all want to live in to inform the next Council Plan 2017-2018 to 2020-2021.

Consultation will take place throughout February and March.

See the February edition of CityLife or head to makewodongayours.com.au

Many residents and businesses in Wodonga can now experience fast broadband over the nbn™, with the remaining areas to come online within coming weeks.

The nbn™ network is so much more than fast internet. A state-of-the-art communications network opens up a world of possibilities across education, business and entertainment. It also gives Australians the opportunity to be more productive, more creative, more efficient and more connected for decades to come.

For more information, including how to connect, visit here or call 1800 687 626.

Wodonga Council took the first steps towards a cleaner and greener street light network with the decision to purchase more than 2000 LED streetlights at its December council meeting.

The council allocated $1.2 million in the 2016-2017 budget for the LED replacement program following a resolution at its March meeting to proceed with the project. The lights will be installed from April.

The lights and hardware, worth $600,000 will contribute to savings of 773 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year – equivalent to removing 570 cars from the road each year for 20 years – and cost savings of about $3 million over the life of the assets. The lights should pay for themselves within six years.

More information here.

Wilson Transformers Company recently received $400,000 from the Victorian Government for a manufacturing cell in Wodonga, following a $1 million federal grant for the same project in 2016.

The cell will have the capacity to make 5000 transformers using new winding machines and drying technology, enabling the company to make a product in Wodonga cheaper than sourcing it from China.

Northern Victoria MP Jaclyn Symes said the project would create up to 16 new jobs. More information here.

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has partnered with nbn™ to create $150,000 in grants across business, community and education categories.

We are looking for stories that demonstrate how the nbn™ network is driving growth for your business, your teams and your ideas.

There are three grants of $25,000 and six grants of $10,000 up for grabs, and a‘nbn™ Staff Choice’ award of $15,000

Find out more and apply here. Applications close noon on Friday, February 17.

Sustainability Victoria is calling for applications to the Boosting Productivity energy assessment grants program for small and medium-sized businesses.

Grants will be offered to businesses with less than 200 full-time employees and who spend more than $20,000 a year on energy. The grants will enable you to carry out an energy assessment, and identify and implement energy improvements.

Funding is available to cover 50 per cent of the cost of an energy assessment at two levels:
• Basic: up to $2000. Recommended for businesses spending between $20,000 and $50,000 on energy per annum.
• Detailed: up to $6000. Recommended for businesses spending more than $50,000 on energy per annum.

More information here.
 

Does your family rely on small business or agriculture for your livelihood?

AgBiz Assist can provide small businesses in rural and regional communities with free financial counselling.

Regardless of your industry sector, the team at AgBiz can assist you with an objective analysis of your business and provide invaluable advice.

Members of the team are experienced rural professionals with tertiary qualifications in fields such as financial counselling, social science, agricultural science, economics, accounting, property or business.

More information here.

• Population forecasts
• Community profile
• Investment video clip
• Economic snapshot
• Economic Indicators
• Economic profile

Council received a total of 171 planning permit applications and 35 amendments in the 2016 Calendar year.

In the October to December 2016 quarter, 37 planning permits were issued and 121 new land parcels were releasd in and around Wodonga.

See full planning statistics here.

Major renovations on Wodonga’s Southside Terrace have added colour and pizazz to Wodonga's nightsky.

Originally on the site of an old timber mill, the structure has not altered for more than a decade. Completed in December, the new paneling is very eye-catching and features yellow, silver, charcoal and apple green.

Existing restaurant tenants, which include Platinum Brew and Hollywood Pizza Cafe, also have new LED signs that shine at night.

More information here.

The total value of building work in Wodonga in the October to December 2016 quarter was approximately $62 million, with 225 building permits being issued.

Some of the larger jobs issued over the quarter included:

• Works at a new shopping complex in Wodonga, valued at $14 million
• Works at a new shopping complex in Wodonga, valued at $13 million
• Alterations and fitout of an office, with a value of $1.8 million
• Additions and alterations to a factory, with a value of $770,000
• Refurbishment of sports facility valued at $650,000
• Additions to a factory valued at $540,000

In the 2016 calendar year, 854 permits were issued valued at $174 million, and 377 new houses and units were approved in Wodonga.

See full building statistics here.