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BUSINESS CONNECT LAUNCHES TOOLKIT TO GET BUSINESSES BACK TO WORK
A new online toolkit is helping businesses as they continue to navigate the challenges of COVID-19.
Developed by the NSW Government’s business advisory service, Business Connect, the toolkit includes more than 35 webinars on a range of business-related subjects, fact sheets and training videos.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the webinars contained invaluable tips for business owners across the state.
“This is just one way businesses can get access to the tools and resources they need to relaunch or re-establish during these challenging times,” Mr Tudehope said.
“Anyone can access the toolkit, and since the webinars are all pre-recorded, they can be watched at any time.”
Topics include Building a Successful Online Store, Survive and Thrive during COVID-19 and Brand Building.
“I also encourage small businesses to look at other services available from Business Connect, as there are more than 120 Business Connect advisors who can provide free-of-charge advice during COVID-19.”
Other webinar topics include Business Disruption: Rural and Regional, presented by Sue Williams, founder of the Great Lakes Food Trail, Organic Facebook Marketing, and Smart Phone Flat Lay Photography.
To access the Business Connect Online Toolkit click here.
HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has launched an inquiry to investigate the practices of the insurance industry that impact small businesses and consider whether small business insurance products are fit for purpose.
Affected tourism small business operators may be interested in contributing to this inquiry.
The inquiry responds to a growing trend of insurance companies denying small businesses insurance or pricing insurance policies out of reach.
The inquiry will target a range of issues affecting small businesses including:
- The availability and coverage of insurance policies provided to small business
- Insurance policy affordability
- The role of brokers in getting the right coverage
- Contract changes that have not been agreed to and whether they amount to unfair contract terms
- Timeliness of insurance payouts and effectiveness of dispute resolution frameworks
- The effectiveness of relevant codes of conduct and legislation, including if applicable penalties are adequate
The inquiry is seeking input from small and family businesses that have faced difficulties with their insurance companies via an online survey until Sunday 30 August 2020. The final report is expected to be released by December 2020.
AQUABUMPS GOES INSIDE SYDNEY
HEADLANDS AND HARBOUR
Acclaimed Aquabumps photographer and creative director Eugene Tan continues to share his fresh perspective on Sydney, with recent blog posts profiling the headlands and lesser-known beaches within Sydney Harbour.
Destination NSW’s PR team has been working in partnership with Tan to produce a new series of work focused on Sydney as part of the Love NSW campaign.
Tan’s recent posts, Inside the Heads and Inside the Harbour share the photographer’s unique view on Sydney’s north and east-side beaches.
“Here are my east-side harbour faves – Nielsen Park, Camp Cove and Parsley Bay. These beaches are great at sunset, as they mostly face west – good in the middle of winter!” Tan writes.
On the north side, Tan recommends Balmoral Beach, Clontarf, Chinamans Beach, Castle Rock Beach, Little Manly, Quarantine and Store Beaches - and even Shark Island (pictured) for an outing.
The posts link back to Sydney.com for more inspiration and to help future holidaymakers plan their Sydney adventure.
Through July and August, Aquabumps is posting content from several Sydney locations, reaching a potential audience of 5.7 million via the Aquabumps daily email and blog, social media and Destination NSW’s owned social channels. See more of Aquabumps here.
Photo: Eugene Tan, Aquabumps
MAJOR MAKEOVER FOR MACQUARIE PIER
Newcastle’s iconic Macquarie Pier and its historic harbourside walkway will be revitalised in a major new improvement project by Port Authority of New South Wales.
Starting this month, the Macquarie Pier Revitalisation Project will create a local destination that celebrates Newcastle’s maritime history and seamlessly complements the Bathers Way coastal walk.
Port Authority’s $3 million upgrade will see a new, widened pathway complete with sandstone seating, maritime-style fencing, and interpretive heritage features along the 900m route. At the foot of Nobbys Head, a new paved area will create a gathering space for visitors to relax, enjoy a coffee from mobile cafes and watch the activity of the working port.
“Macquarie Pier has provided safe passage for ships entering Newcastle Harbour for over 200 years and has been integral in developing Newcastle into the city it is today,” Port Authority’s Head of Operations, Newcastle & North Coast Emma Fenson said.
“The revitalised Macquarie Pier will give people a place to connect with Newcastle’s maritime heritage and create a space for visitors and the city’s community to enjoy for years to come.”
The works are scheduled to begin this August and the revitalised Macquarie Pier is set to open to the public in late 2020 in time for the summer season.
For safety reasons, Macquarie Pier and Nobbys Head will be closed to the public during the construction period. The Newcastle Breakwall will remain open during the works and can be accessed by the public via Nobbys Beach. Find out more about the project.
TRANS-TASMAN NRL CLASH COMING TO TAMWORTH
Grassroots footy in regional NSW will receive a massive boost in 2020 with the NSW Government and the National Rugby League announcing a Premiership game will take place in Tamworth later this month.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the game, which will be played between the New Zealand Warriors and the Newcastle Knights on 29 August is huge news for rugby league in the regions, where people live and breathe sport.
“I have said in the past that rugby league is the fabric of life in the bush so to see the elite level of the game return to its grassroots base is truly exciting,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The Warriors and the Knights are guaranteed to put on a show in this Trans-Tasman encounter, but the real winner on the day is footy in the bush.”
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said bringing the NRL’s first graders into our regional communities is a big win for the bush.
“Taking the NRL out of the big smoke and into the country will give families from Tamworth the chance to see their stars from the stands.”
Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys AM said the match provided the perfect opportunity to acknowledge the Tamworth community for their assistance in the resumption of the Telstra Premiership.
“We want to thank the Tamworth community and businesses for their kindness, support and hospitality shown to the Warriors whilst they were (in quarantine) in their beautiful town,’’ Mr V’landys said.
The NSW Government will be working with the NRL and ground staff to ensure all COVIDSafe plans and Public Health Orders are followed. Photo: Paul Barkley/NRL
DOMESTIC BUSINESS EVENTS CAN SECURE WELCOME BOOST
Applications are still open for Tourism Australia’s Business Events Boost Program, which enables industry to access financial support for industry-led marketing and distribution projects that encourage corporate events to resume domestically. Managed by Tourism Australia's specialist business events unit, Business Events Australia (BEA), the Business Events Boost Program delivers specific, measurable, and achievable activity for marketing or distribution initiatives that have the potential to influence decision makers to hold domestic business events. BEA’s domestic campaign continues to progress, with insights from a corporate sentiment research project to inform the campaign direction ahead of the launch of marketing activities in Australia when the time is right. See the Prospectus for full details and to apply online. Applications close 30 September 2020.
SEE THE BOTANIC GARDEN IN BLOOM
The Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is now presenting a new display- inBLOOM - allowing plant-lovers to explore a breathtaking world of colour and light. Lime yellow, vivid red, marmalade orange, shades of green and bright pink are just some of the colours to be found on the green wall at The Calyx, one of the largest vertical floral walls in the southern hemisphere. Visitors will discover new plants and rainforest trees inside the new free-floral display and learn how every flower is a natural machine designed for reproduction and survival. Taking the form of an impressionistic living watercolour painting, the brilliant display of flowers stretches over 50 metres in length and 5.5 metres high. On show for the next twelve months, this stunning backdrop will play host to guests looking to escape through daily visits and a rich varied community programming of art exhibitions and book launches, workshops, tours, music and food focused events. inBLOOM is accessible by donation and will be on display daily from 10-4pm at The Calyx to July 2021.
BALMORAL HOSPITALITY TO OPERATE THE WATERFRONT DINING PRECINCT
Balmoral Hospitality has purchased the nearly 1,000 sqm of prime retail space at harbourfront dining precinct on the ground floor of Aqua at The Waterfront, Shell Cove, promising to bring a unique dining and social experience to the NSW South Coast. The new dining precinct will feature up to eight tenancies fronting the harbour’s edge suited to complementary food and beverage offers. Balmoral Hospitality has previously committed to the community as the owner-operator of The Waterfront Tavern at Shell Cove. Balmoral Hospitality now has over 2000 sqm of internal space plus outdoor dining areas at The Waterfront, Shell Cove with both the dining precinct and Waterfront Tavern anticipated to open around mid-2021, coinciding with the opening of the new Shellharbour Marina. Shellharbour City Council Mayor Marianne Saliba said: “Balmoral Hospitality really understands and shares the vision we have for Shell Cove.” Find out more or express interest in the project online.
