As our population and business landscape continue to expand, the variety and types of businesses seeking commercial and industrial space is constantly evolving.

To help better understand the issues and opportunities of our local business’s, the Council recently conducted a survey with users of the West Coast Business Park Industrial Estate, to understand what is currently working well and how we can improve.

You've told us what you value about the space and what improvements you'd like to see and we really appreciate your time and feedback.

You told us that you love the location of the estate, close proximity to your home and being around other like minded business owners.

As the estate expands, the council has recognised some of the issues raised, including challenges related to parking and traffic movement, and it is actively working on solutions. One initiative includes implementing clearer signage for the service road off Surf Coast Highway.

From the survey, we also learned that as the estate matures, Google is struggling to accurately identify business locations. To address this, the council has updated address points through the Google portal, to help correct any inaccuracies.

As we move forward with our strategic plans, your feedback remains invaluable.

If you’re interested in learning more about the survey results, please don’t hesitate to email us at business@surfcoast.vic.gov.au

Business as a Force for Good

It's great to see more businesses realising that they can use their power and money for good.

Lately, there's been a lot of talk about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and "conscious capitalism." It's all about getting companies to step up and do the right thing, showing that making a profit doesn't have to come at the expense of society.

To help local business's understand the impact that they can have, Ripple Surf Coast have organised an inspiring networking and connection event showcasing the power of business for good on the Surf Coast.

According to Matty Lawrence, the Chair of Ripple Surf Coast and Founder of locally based B Corporation space Happy Spaces  "The Surf Coast is such a potent community of lifestyle and impact businesses and when we come together at these events, it's empowering to see how the connections grow beyond that".

There will be plenty of time to meet and connect with other like minded people throughout the event; which will also feature speakers from am number of local business's who will share their stories and personal experiences on their journey to make their business a "Force for Good"

To find out more visit the Event Listing on the Ripple Surf Coast webpage and get along to this Inspiring event on May 2nd.

Responsible Cafe's

In 2022, Surf Coast Shire Council partnered with Responsible Cafes – a not-for-profit program supporting local cafes to reduce their plastic waste and single-use cups.

This was in response to an increase in single-use takeaway containers during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

At the time there was a great response to this initiative by our wonderful local café’s, and as a result of their efforts, a huge number of non-recyclable disposable cups were saved from landfill.

To keep the momentum going, the council will once again be reaching out to cafés over the next few months to help support their ongoing efforts to reduce waste.

A key component of this is the HuskeeCup – an ingeniously crafted, reusable cup made from a by-product of the coffee industry – coffee husks!

For eligible café’s who sign up to be a Responsible Café, the business team at the council will be providing a pack of reusable cups worth $300 to get you started, as well as the benefit of being on a map listing on the Responsible Cafes website, used by thousands of customers each week who are searching for cafes that are doing the right thing for their community and the planet.

If you are a keen bean, you can register your café on the www.responsiblecafes.org website or email business@surfcoast.vic.gov.au for more info. 

Surf Coast as an Eco-Tourism Destination

Surf Coast Shire Council has commenced the exciting journey of attaining ECO Destination Certification through Ecotourism Australia.

We all care deeply about the beautiful and unique environment that we are lucky to have here on the Surf Coast, and we love to welcome and share it with the many visitors who come to the region every day.

Ecotourism aims to preserve the integrity of a destination. Its focus is on conserving the local environment and historical heritage, while supporting the culture and encouraging people to look after the natural resources that attracts them to the region.

As the peak body for ecotourism and sustainable tourism, Ecotourism Australia's ECO Destination Certification program assures travelers that certified destinations are backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to ongoing improvement of sustainable practices and provide high-quality nature-based tourism experiences.

The council is inviting all interested tourism focused business's in the region to our info session on how tourism businesses can be involved with the ECO Destination program, and what opportunities exist for you to be supported on your own sustainability journey.

The session is complimentary and the details are:

Day: 30 April 2024

Time: 8.00am - 9.15am

Where: Great Ocean Road Resort (Victoria Room), 105 Great Ocean Road Anglesea (see google maps) 

Light breakfast supplied.

To find out more and to RSVP your attendance you can email our Tourism Coordinator 

Understanding Accessibility and Inclusion in Tourism

Are you part of the tourism industry and eager to enhance the experience for all your visitors?

In an effort to promote inclusivity and accessibility, Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORRT) is hosting a half-day forum on the 7^th of May, focusing on the significance of accessibility in tourism.

This event will provide practical tips for businesses to enhance their inclusivity, as well as strategies for effectively marketing their accessibility features to potential visitors.

Facilitated by Kerry Williams, the founder of The Accessible Group, this forum will delve into the critical need for the industry to cater to people with disabilities. Kerry's presentation will outline the business case for accessible tourism, supported by compelling data that highlights the necessity for the sector to better serve this market segment.

The forum will also feature Ashlee Morton, who is the General Manager of Accessible Accommodation. She will share her personal experiences as a wheelchair user and discuss ways to reduce barriers for people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.

This event is a must-attend for anyone in the tourism industry looking to improve accessibility and inclusion.

For registration details and additional information, visit the Event Website, partners can also reach out to Jo Birley to obtain a coupon code.

Empower Your Small Business with the ATO's Online Learning Platform

Ready to empower your small business with valuable knowledge and skills? 

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has launched Essentials to Strengthen Your Small Business, a free online platform offering valuable education for small business owners. This resource aims to support businesses through various stages, from start up to exit, and covers crucial topics like reporting obligations, record-keeping, and cash flow management.

In addition to the online platform, the ATO is also offering a series of Masterclasses. These involve a Q&A webinar with a tax and super expert, focusing on a specific topic related to small businesses and designed to enhance understanding and application of the online course material.

The Masterclasses are discussion-based, allowing participants to delve deeper into the subject matter and get answers to their specific questions. Each Masterclass lasts approximately 45 minutes, with additional time for questions if needed.

This is a fantastic opportunity for small business owners to gain expert insights and advice on crucial tax and superannuation issues. To find out more visit the ATO Webpage

What is the Business Concierge service?

The free Business Concierge service is designed to take the stress out of getting permits and to make the experience as smooth as possible at each stage of the process. You can submit a business proposal online or use use our Business Permit Self Assessment Tool  when you visit our website. 

Or just contact the Business Concierge directly on 5261 600 or business@surfcoast.vic.gov.au.

Also check out our FAQs about permits for businesses

Community Event Grant Applications Open

Sign up for the Surf Coast Events monthly newsletter to get all your event news in one place.

The Council's Community Event Grants opened on the 1^st April and provides support to events that foster economic, community, and cultural development, prioritise positive environmental outcomes, and demonstrate a commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Grants of up to $3,000 are available to not-for-profit and commercial event organisers that hold an event in the Surf Coast Shire.

There are two rounds available:

• Round 1 Open: April 1st to April 30th, 2024 (for events held from July 1st, 2024, to December 24th, 2024)
• Round 2 Open: October 1st to October 31st, 2024 (for events held from February 1st, 2025, to June 30th, 2025)

For more information, please visit: Event Grants & Sponsorship – Surf Coast Events

The Surf Coast Business Collective Newsletter gives local business support information and is published by the Economic Development & Tourism Unit of the Surf Coast Shire Council.