economic indicators - City of Greater Geelong

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regional news & events
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Business News
July 2008
> Truffleduck is awarded the 2008 Geelong Advertiser Business
Excellence Award.
August 2008
> Telstra announces its intention to cut 100 jobs from its Geelong
Credit Management Call Centre.
September 2008
> Bartter Enterprises (Steggles) announces its intention to close
its production farms in Geelong resulting in the loss of 25 jobs.
October 2008
> Ocean Grove’s Oakdene Vineyards Restaurant wins the
prestigious Geelong Golden Plate Award for Best Chef and Best
Restaurant in the Fine Dining category.
> Ford Australia announces a further reduction to its
Broadmeadows and Geelong workforce. This brings the total
number of job cuts up to 1,400 over the past 15 months.
> Boomaroo Nurseries completes work on the $8m expansion of
its Lara facility.
November 2008
> Ford Australia commences $21m worth of upgrades to its
Geelong plant to allow for the development and construction of
the I6 engine, which will meet new Euro IV emissions standards
to be introduced in Australia in 2010. The project is supported
by the Federal and State Government and is expected to save
400 jobs at the plant.
> The State Government confirms Bells Beach as the venue for
the Rip Curl Pro Championships for another three years.
December 2008
> Industrial fabrics manufacturer Hyuck Wagner announces
its intention to reduce its Geelong workforce by 150 people
by early 2009, retaining only its administration and sales staff
in Geelong.
February 2009
> International industrial auctioneer group, Ritchie Bros.
Auctioneers, establish a facility in Broderick Road Corio.
> Notley Engineering announces its intention to close its Moolap
production plant retrenching 13 workers.
> The Gordon Institute of TAFE takes over management of the
Geelong Technical Education Centre (formerly the Australian
Technical College).
> Industrial fabric manufacturer, Melba Industries, announces the
closure of its operations resulting in 120 redundancies.
> The Geelong Chamber of Commerce launches its Survive &
Thrive 09 program to help small to medium enterprises take
positive steps to survive the global financial crisis. The program
consists of a series of seminars and a mentoring program.
> Local company Air Radiators announces its intention to cut
30 jobs from its Geelong workforce.
March 2009
> The 2009 Avalon International Airshow and Aerospace Expo
attracts over 165,000 visitors.
April 2009
> Gold Coast aluminium boat builders, Makocraft, confirms
its decision to relocate its entire operations to Moolap. The
company (recipients of the Geelong Innovation and Investment
Fund) expects to increase its workforce from 40 to over 80 staff.
> The City of Greater Geelong launches its Information
Communications and Technology (ICT) Cluster, an informal
network of local private and public companies that will work
together to position Geelong as the State’s major ICT precinct and
grow local industry. The State Government has provided $100,000
over two years towards the development of the Cluster.
> Ford Australia opens its $20m Advanced Centre for Automotive
Research and Testing (ACART). The centre built in partnership
between the State Government and University of Melbourne,
includes a multi-fuel emissions cell, an environmental testing
laboratory and an engine dynamometer facility.
May 2009
> Breakwater firm, FE Technologies, is awarded a $1.4m
contract to install a new collection management system across
the Australian Capital Territory’s library service.
> Onesteel Wire announces its intention to cut 19 jobs (from its
workforce of 92) from its North Shore plant.
> The second-round of successful applicants for the Geelong
Innovation and Investment Fund (GIIF) is announced. A total
of $21m worth of investment and 326 jobs are expected to
be created from projects at RPC Technologies, Dulhunty Power
Ltd, Backwell Group, Geelong Galvanizing, Geelong Glass and
Aluminium, Insulpak, Express Promotions, ASCO Fertilizers, All
Areas Replace a Glass, Quality Australian Farmed Rabbit and
Loxley Trading.
> Geelong fertiliser plant, Incitec Pivot, announces plans to close
its North Shore plant by the end of June 2009. The closure will
result in 29 job losses from a total workforce of 80.
June 2009
More than $70m worth
of business investment
was announced in
2008/09.
> Automotive plastics firm, MHG, strikes a deal with CSR
Viridian to take over its Geelong operations saving the jobs of
60 employees at the North Geelong plant.