HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES WANTED FOR PARRAMATTA HERITAGE PRECINCT

Western Sydney cafe operators are invited to become alfresco food, coffee, and wine providers at Parramatta’s North Heritage Precinct and start-up hub, which will soon be buzzing with entrepreneurs, local workers, tourists and locals.

Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the cafe-bar will cover around 200sqm of the former Hospital Boiler Room and Dining area (c1888), which is currently being sensitively restored and fitted following approval from City of Parramatta.

“This is an ideal opportunity for an innovative business to open a contemporary and stylish café-bar in North Parramatta’s stunning cultural and heritage landmark, right next to the Western Sydney Startup Hub which will give thousands of entrepreneurs space to innovate from mid-2022,” Mr Ayres said.

 “We are looking for a business that can offer day-to-night service and a high standard of food, plus the ability to cater for a growing and eclectic clientele.

“The Precinct forms part of the Westmead Health and Innovation District (WHID) and it’s a short walk from the future Parramatta Light Rail, Parramatta Park and the River.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said the restoration project and design are based on the vision developed with help from the community in 2018.

“On completion, the Parramatta North Heritage Precinct will include 13,000sqm of cultural, community, commercial, and social enterprise floor space, over five hectares of open space and a range of external and internal event spaces,” Mrs Pavey said.

“These unique spaces and cultural venues will present additional opportunities to the day-to-day trade for the successful cafe operator.”

Hospitality businesses should express their interest by 24 January 2022 via 
this link.

HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON TRIUMPHS AT 2021 NSW WINE AWARDS

Silkman Wines 2014 Reserve Semillon has won the Best In Show Trophy at the 2021 ICC Sydney NSW Wine Awards.

Chair of Judges Nick Spencer said: “This wine is nothing short of extraordinary, and a true marker of the Hunter wine region as one of the best in the world. Skilled wine maker Liz Silkman has produced a wine that is remarkably fresh for a seven-year-old wine, while still offering an incredibly complexity. 

"When I consider what makes a wine exceptional – it’s structure, balance, length, freshness, complexity, concentration and an ability to mature gracefully, this wine ticks all of those boxes.”

Winemakers and grape growers from Canberra District, Orange, Tumbarumba, Hilltops, Gundagai, Mudgee and the Riverina also received acclaim.

The Riverina region was a particular focus this year as it was selected for the Chair of Judges Trophy. The region was nominated as it is responsible for around 20 per cent of Australia's entire production and is becoming an epicentre for innovation in viticulture, with particular focus on growing grape varieties suitable to Australia’s changing climate.

The winning Riverina wine was the Trimboli Family Wines 2021 Saverio Fiano. The wine is described as a beautiful, bright, aromatic wine with lovely fine acidity and fresh fruit flavours and, importantly, is a grape variety that is very well suited to our climate. 

In addition to the wine awards, the Department of Primary Industries presented the 2020 Graham Gregory Award for services to the NSW wine industry to Liz Riley from Vitibit.

Liz Riley's viticulture consultancy specialises in research and development, vineyard sustainability, climate change adaption and fruit quality for growers, and providing expert technical and practical advice to vineyard owners throughout NSW, nationally and internationally.

View the full results here.

BUY REGIONAL THIS CHRISTMAS AND GET THE BUSH BUZZING

Gift givers looking for the perfect present, festive feasts and tasty treats are being urged to turn to regional NSW businesses in the lead up to Christmas, helping to ensure cash registers in the bush will be ringing this festive season.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said: “The greatest gift you can give those in the regions this Christmas is your business, so I encourage you to visit the NSW Government’s Buy Regional page, browse through the categories and get your orders in early.” 

“The benefit of just one purchase to a regional seller is immense - every sale puts cash into a worker’s pay packet, generates business for local suppliers and puts money into the local economy.

“I’d love to see every family in Sydney buy at least one gift from a regional business this Christmas, either in person or online, and help get the bush buzzing.”

Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said with Christmas just around the corner, Buy Regional was a great one-stop-shop for all your gift buying needs.

“We know it’s been a challenging several years for small businesses across NSW – they’ve dealt with bush fires, floods, the mouse plague and COVID-19.

“Now is the time to show our support to the many regional businesses who have done it tough. Christmas is a time for giving so I’m encouraging everyone to get online and see what incredible products and produce our regional businesses have on offer. There’s something for everyone” 

To find the perfect Christmas gift 
click here. 

MORE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS RETURN
TO NSW

NSW is welcoming back even more international students after the lifting of federal border restrictions.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney and Minister for Trade and Industry Stuart Ayres said the first cohort of 266 students, returned under the NSW International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan, are already enjoying being back in their communities across the state, with another two flights scheduled to arrive on 24 December and 9 January 2022.

“I am delighted to welcome back international students to our communities and see them enjoying our cafes and parks, reuniting with friends and working in our businesses,” Mr Ayres said.

“Prior to the pandemic, international education was our largest service export and our second most valuable export overall, worth $14.6 billion to the local economy in 2019.

“Now they are able to return, we’re actively working to build their employability and reconnect them with available job opportunities, such as the thousands of hospitality roles that were previously held by international students.”

Mr Ayres said it was important to revisit the NSW Government’s approach to re-energising the international education sector to ensure the state continues to be Australia’s first-choice destination.

“We’ve worked hard with the sector to deliver on the first ambition, now it’s time to ramp up our promotion and marketing of our NSW experience to drive new enrolments from across the globe,” Mr Ayres said.

Read more about the NSW International Education Recovery Strategy here.

HELPING HAND FOR COUNTRY SHOWS

Christmas has come early for country shows in NSW, with funding available to ensure these much-loved community events come back bigger and better than ever in the New Year.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said 190 agricultural shows being staged in 2022 could apply for funding under the Government’s $5 million Country Shows Support Package.

“It’s been a tough few years for country shows, with drought, bush fires, storms, floods and COVID-19 disrupting plans, but as they say, the show must go on and these grants will help make that happen,” Mr Toole said.

“Country shows are the heartbeat of so many rural communities – they not only celebrate the best of the best in the community but allow visitors to experience the tastes, sights and sounds of the bush. These grants will provide certainty to show organisers that they can lock in suppliers, hire equipment and purchase goods, which is also great news for local businesses.”

AgShows NSW President Tim Capp said: “This means our NSW shows can plan their 2022 event to bring communities together, celebrate local agriculture, improve the local well being and encourage past and new volunteers to be involved in one of the biggest events on their local community calendar.”

Funding of up to $15,000 will be available to small shows with an audience of less than 2,000 people across all event days, while medium and large shows can apply for up to $30,000 and $45,000 respectively. 

Applications close on 29 April 2022, or when funding is exhausted. Further information here.

NATURAL DISASTER PLANNING STRENGTHENED

The NSW Government is helping keep communities safe from natural disasters by working closely with councils to prepare and plan for extreme weather conditions and natural hazards.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes has released a Strategic Guide to Planning for Natural Hazards in NSW, to help councils build more resilient communities by considering the potential natural disaster risks more effectively in the early stages of the planning process.

“The impacts of climate change are already being felt in Australia with fire, drought and floods having devastating impacts on people, homes and businesses,” Mr Stokes said.

“This new guide will help ensure NSW homes and businesses are built in the right places, to help protect against the destruction of natural disasters. It is about planning for the future and minimising the impacts of natural disasters.”

Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said: “Our emergency service personnel are ready to respond to natural disasters, but they need every council to be equally prepared.

“Tools like this will assist councils to better plan and prepare by identifying things like flood and bush fire prone areas and the impacts of landslides early in the planning process.”

The guide was finalised following community consultation. It identifies natural hazards councils should consider in development applications, or proposals to change planning rules and explains key concepts related to natural hazard risk management.

Find further information and view the guidelines here. 

BOATING NOW LAUNCHES NEW MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ROUND

Boating facilities across the state are being overhauled through a funding injection of up to $28 million.

Minister for Transport and Roads Rob Stokes said the package was the fourth round in the NSW Government’s Boating Now Program, which had invested in about 330 projects since it began in 2014.

“People across NSW have a renewed appreciation for our natural wonders and this program will allow more people to get out on the water safely,” Mr Stokes said.

“This latest investment builds on the $28 million third round of funding announced in 2019 and the original $70 million program.

“Through funding partnerships with councils, community groups and industry, this program delivers improved maritime access and safety at facilities right across NSW.”

Projects funded previously through the Boating Now Program include a facilities upgrade at Rowland Reserve in Bayview, a new and improved boat ramp at Little Beach in Nelson Bay, an upgrade to the Sandy Point boat ramp and a new pontoon on the Georges River.

Through boating licence and registration fees the Boating Now Program is able to fund collaborative projects that support economic and community benefits
across NSW.

It also aims to provide better access to NSW waterways for local and visiting boaters so they can enjoy their time on the water with safety and ease.

Registrations of interest close on 28 February 2022 - click here - and must be submitted before interested parties will be invited to submit a formal funding application.

NSW ECONOMY BOUNCING
BACK FOR 2022

Treasurer Matt Kean has released the 2021-22 Half-Yearly Review, with the NSW economy showing signs of a strong rebound.

Despite a revised deficit of $19.5 billion for 2021-22, the NSW Budget is still forecast to return to surplus by 2024-25, with the impact of the Delta outbreak contained largely to the current financial year.

Mr Kean said: “COVID-19 is unpredictable, but we have demonstrated that we have the fiscal firepower to respond when needed. Our success so far in keeping people in jobs has shown that we can deal with the challenges that come our way over the coming weeks and months.

“As a result, we have seen strong rebounds in consumer confidence and business confidence, which are helping to drive a rebound in the state’s economy.

“Growth in jobs has resumed and vacancies are higher than pre-pandemic levels. Economic activity and employment are projected to rebound back above pre-Delta outbreak levels in the March quarter 2022.”

The NSW Government has committed about $45 billion in health, social and economic measures since COVID-19 restrictions were first introduced in March 2020. Mr Kean said the NSW Government would explore reform opportunities to support long-term economic growth.

“Because of the policies set out in this Half-Yearly Review and the huge efforts made by the people of NSW, we have the opportunity to build one of the strongest and most resilient economies anywhere in the world,” Mr Kean said.

“COVID-19 has taught us that the biggest issues of our time can be the biggest opportunities for our state in the future.  We intend to learn that lesson and bounce back better and stronger in 2022.”

For more information, click here