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$45 MILLION FOR SOUTHERN BORDER SMALL BUSINESSES
NSW small businesses will benefit from a new $45 million grant program designed to cushion the economic impacts of the southern border closure.
Businesses in 13 Local Government Areas along the NSW and Victorian border will be able to apply for $5,000 and $10,000 grants through Service NSW from 8 September.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Southern Border Small Business Support Grant is designed to support small businesses doing it tough through the current border restrictions.
“We know people in border communities like Albury-Wodonga, Yarrawonga-Mulwala and Echuca-Moama usually move between towns, with closures having a significant impact on day-to-day business,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The NSW Government is investing in targeted relief to help ease the pressures and costs of keeping businesses open while borders remain closed.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the $45 million grant program includes two tiers of targeted support.
“The first tier of $5,000 is for employing and non-employing small businesses, such as non-employing sole traders, that have suffered at least a 30 per cent decline in turnover as a result of the border closure.
“The second tier of $10,000 is for employing small businesses that have suffered at least a 75 per cent decline as a result of the closure,” Mr Barilaro said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said, “The Grants can be used to pay for unavoidable expenses such as utilities, as well as to develop marketing and communication materials or to diversify their offerings to help businesses adapt to the new environment.”
The Southern Border Small Business Support Grant is available from Tuesday, 8 September until Sunday, 18 October 2020 and small business owners can apply via the Service NSW website.
DELICIOUS. HARVEY NORMAN PRODUCE AWARDS
delicious. has revealed the list of the 2020 delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards Gold Medallists, with NSW taking out 19 medals including Highfield Farm & Woodland, a recipient of Destination NSW’s Regional Tourism Fund.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state winners’ produce from the Earth, Dairy, Paddock and Sea categories were tasted in isolation over a three-week period by the national judging panel to decide the 2020 Gold Medal Winners.
delicious. Editorial Director Kerrie McCallum said, “Judging our delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards Gold Medallists may have looked a little different this year, but it definitely didn’t affect the spirits of the National Judges who were as excited as ever about the outstanding produce. Normally our National Judges would all be sitting around a table to taste the country’s best produce but the Coronavirus pandemic challenged us to come up with a new plan.”
The 2020 National Trophy Winners will be revealed in October, including: Producer of the Year; Best New Product; In the Bottle; Outstanding Viticulturist; Outstanding Region; Outstanding Farmers’ Market; Outstanding Innovation; Outstanding Design; the Maggie Beer Award for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Food; the Unearthed Next-Gen Chef Award; Outstanding Native Producer; Outstanding Artisan; and new award, Unearthed Next-Gen Producer.
Click here to view the full list of the 2020 delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards Gold Medallists and Outstanding Farmers’ Market National Finalists.
NEW KOALA COUNTRY NATIONAL PARK
Important koala habitat is to be protected for future generations with the creation of the new Guula Ngurra National Park in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the creation of this national park delivers on a commitment from the 2019 election and is an important step to securing the future of koalas in the wild.
“Koalas are an iconic Australian animal and national parks like this protect their habitat for future generations,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The Aboriginal traditional owners recommended we name this new national park ‘Guula Ngurra’ which translates to ‘Koala Country’ because of the importance of the habitat.
“The NSW Government has committed to a $44.7 million koala strategy, the largest financial commitment to protecting koalas in the state’s history, along with a range of other practical measures to ensure the preservation of koala populations.”
The NSW Government is already implementing the plan we announced in May 2018 to protect koalas, including:
· Creating over 24,000 hectares of new koala reserves and parks
· Fixing priority road-kill hotspots across NSW
· Delivering a network of koala hospitals
· Developing a statewide koala habitat information base
· Increasing wildlife care training for veterinarians and veterinary nurses
· Relocating koalas to unoccupied koala habitat
· Undertaking research to significantly reduce the incidence of chlamydia.
Located about 25 kilometres northwest of Bowral, the 3358 hectare Guula Ngurra National Park comprises what was 2148 hectare Tugalong Station, the 402 hectare Little Forest West property and an 808 hectare outlier of Bangadilly National Park.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL FUNDING
NSW individual artists, arts and cultural workers, practitioners and organisations are encouraged to apply for Round 1 of Create NSW’s 2020/2021 Arts and Cultural Funding Program, which opened this week.
Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said the NSW Government is committed to further assisting the heavily impacted arts and cultural sector to boost their COVID-19 recovery and encourages creatives to apply.
“Last year we delivered a simplified process that removed barriers to applying for arts and cultural funding, and this year in response to additional feedback from the sector we have further revised the guidelines,” Mr Harwin said.
“It’s extremely important to highlight the incredible contribution arts and culture makes to the State, and we are working to deliver a funding program that attracts a wide breadth of individual artists, arts and cultural workers and organisations to apply for funding.”
The 2020/2021 Arts and Cultural Funding Program applications will be assessed by 10 restructured Artform Advisory Boards. Members will make funding recommendations to the Minister for the Arts and provide strategic advice on issues facing their artform.
Due to the overwhelming response from applicants last year and in appreciation of the important role that festivals play in our creative environment, the Festivals and Multi-arts Board will be divided into standalone boards.
Round 1 of Create NSW’s 2020/2021 Arts and Cultural Funding Program is now open for Annual Organisation, Project and Creative Koori Project categories.
Applications close Wednesday, 23 September 2020. Visit the Create NSW website for more information, guidelines and to apply.
HAVE YOUR CHANCE TO NAME SYDNEY'S THIRD CITY
The Western Sydney community will be given the chance to have their say on part of the naming of Sydney’s third city, which will be the beating heart of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
The area to be named is more than 100 hectares of land that will become home to research, science and education facilities as part of the first stage of the Aerotropolis Core precinct.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the naming process to be carried out will find a unique name which will forever define Australia’s first 22nd Century City on the doorstep of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
“Until now we have been referring to the area as the ‘Aerotropolis Core’, but with the city quickly moving from a vision to a reality now is the time for it to be given a real place name,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The area to be named is the parcel of land which will be the CBD of the Aerotropolis and we want its name to be as iconic as the existing major city centres of Sydney and Parramatta.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said as part of the naming process the community will be consulted and asked to nominate potential names for the new city.
“We want the community to help us come up with a list of names that reflect the area’s heritage, recognise people who have contributed to NSW or honour significant figures with ties to Western Sydney,” Mr Ayres said.
To find out more and submit your suggestion go to, www.wcaa.sydney/nametheplace
SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANTS CLOSING SOON
Eligible NSW small businesses have less than a week left to apply for the Small Business Recovery Grant to help create COVID-19 safe workplaces.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said applications for the Grant had been extended until midnight Monday, 31 August 2020, and expanded to eligible small businesses in a further 18 industries.
“Small businesses are doing a great job adapting to the new health and safety requirements and we know these grants are helping to cover some of these costs,” Mr Tudehope said.
“There is still time to apply for the grant which can be used to cover eligible expenses incurred from 1 July, 2020 where no other Government support is available, with small businesses encouraged to get their applications in before the closing date.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the grant had built upon the previous Small Business Support Grant of up to $10,000.
“Both grants are funded through the $750 million Small Business Support Fund, which forms part of the NSW Government’s almost $16 billion health and economic response measures,” Mr Perrottet said.
“These grants have played a vital role in keeping people in jobs and businesses in business as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
More information on the Small Business Recovery Grant is available here. Small business owners can contact Service NSW for more information about eligibility on 13 77 88.
SHORT FILM FOR THE SHOALHAVEN
Shoalhaven City Council has unveiled a new four-minute short film titled ‘Walking on Country’, which explores personal narratives of connection to country by local individual Aboriginal community members.
Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley said, “Walking on Country provides an education of both traditional, modern and contemporary Aboriginal culture and is a means for understanding and harmony in our region. It highlights the vibrancy of Aboriginal culture in the Shoalhaven.”
The short film will be showcased in the Shoalhaven Visitor Centre and Council foyers, and on the Council’s website and social media platforms.
NEW REGIONAL NSW FLIGHTS
In a welcome boost to the regional NSW economy, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport will now welcome flights from Canberra and Dubbo via renowned regional airline, FlyPelican. The new seasonal routes are the first new destinations for Ballina Byron Gateway Airport in 9 years.
The Dubbo service is twice weekly between on Mondays and Fridays with start-up fares from $149 per seat one way. The Canberra service is three weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays with flights starting from $229 one way.
Bookings for the new direct services are available via flypelican.com.au
FREE ONLINE EVENT FOR NSW BREWERIES
Breweries across the state are encouraged to sign up to the next NSW First online event - Discuss and Develop Your Business: Creating Bookable Brewery Experiences.
Run by Destination NSW, the event can help breweries find helpful tips for listing their business on visitnsw.com and sydney.com, increasing their visitor spend by creating bookable visitor experiences and getting involved with Destination NSW programs and opportunities.
After the presentation, there will be a short Q&A session with Destination NSW and the Independent Brewers Association.
The online event will be held on 1 September.
