Tasmanian Business Reporter December 2016

DECEMBER 2016 

T A S M A N I A’ S L E A D I N G B U S I N E S S P U B L I C A T I O N . C I R C U L A T I O N 1 2 , 0 0 0 M O N T H LY 

$20m Launceston development unveiled 

River bank revitalisation 

An artist’s impression of the planned $20m redevelopment of the derelict CH Smith site in Launceston’s Tamar River precinct. 

By Tom O’Meara 

THE revitalisation of Launceston 

will receive another 

significant boost with a 

$20 million transformation 

planned for the CH Smith site. 

Developer Errol Stewart is 

adding to his portfolio in the 

river precinct, announcing he 

would transform the disused 

and controversial site – building 

on momentum from his 

Northbank Silos hotel currently 

being constructed across the 

river from his existing Seaport 

and car yard facilities. 

Combined with the rapidly-progressing 

UTas relocation 

and Penny Royal and TRC 

expansion by fellow developer 

Josef Chromy, the northern 

end of the city is being given a 

major overhaul that has boosted 

business confidence. 

And, the TBR can exclusively 

reveal another 

multi-million dollar development 

will soon be put to Launceston 

City Council to finally 

restore the Boland St Cottages 

– ending a long-running saga. 

They have been delisted 

from the Heritage Council 

register, sold and a development 

application for a significant 

project is close to being 

submitted, with work to revitalise 

the block which fronts 

the river close to the site of the 

university’s proposed new In- 

veresk and Willis St car park. 

Progress on the derelict Boland 

St and CH Smith sites 

has been long awaited, with 

the added challenge of maintaining 

heritage aspects while 

ensuring commercial viability. 

The CH Smith site has been 

the subject of many grandiose 

redevelopment concepts that 

have never seen the light of 

It’s a sensible 

commercial 

development that 

includes all of the 

1830s heritage 

buildings 

Developer 

Errol Stewart 

day. But with confirmation the 

State Government will have 

office space within the new 

buildings and the council will 

own and operate a 300-space 

car park on-site, the Stewart 

plan is regarded as a guaranteed 

goer. 

The LCC will seek a $9m 

interest-free loan from the 

State Government as part of its 

Northern Economic Stimulus 

Package to fund the car park. 

Other retail spaces on the 

site will include a cafe and 

restaurant. 

Mr Stewart, who unveiled 

plans with Launceston architect 

Scott Curran, said it was a 

subtle development. 

“It’s a sensible commercial 

development that includes all 

of the 1830s heritage buildings,” 

he said. 

“We will spend $2m on the 

heritage buildings alone with 

an overall spend of $20m.” 

“It will be a development 

that people will be proud of 

and I’m sure there will be a 

loud cheer when we get started 

in February.” 

The council believes the 

new proposal meets a number 

of strategic goals for the city 

and will provide a better connection 

between the CBD and 

the waterfront. 

“The site is strategically located 

to provide convenient 

car parking facilities for the 

future development of Civic 

Square, northern edge of 

the CBD and the city’s recreational 

riverfront areas,’’ 

Mayor Albert van Zetten said. 

“Through its work on the 

Launceston City Heart Project, 

the North Bank redevelopment 

and the University of 

Tasmania relocation, the City 

of Launceston is seeking to 

fundamentally change the 

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2 Tasmanian Business Reporter - DECEMBER 2016 

NEWS 

Tassie honey has Brisbane abuzz 

TASMANIA’S Australian Honey 

Products Pty Ltd is revelling in 

more sweet success, having been 

named the 2016 Agribusiness Exporter 

Award winner at the 54th 

Australian Export Awards in Brisbane. 

The accolade is another feather 

in the cap for owner Lindsay 

Bourke, of Launceston, who was 

named the producer of the 2015 

‘World’s Best Honey’. 

The Australian Export Awards 

Agribusiness Award recognises 

outstanding international success 

River bank revitalisation 

From page 1 

way our city has been operating. 

“Development of the site in a manner 

that is visually appealing, restores 

the highly-regarded 

heritage values 

of the buildings and 

achieves the strategic 

function of the 

location is extremely 

important both in 

real terms and as an 

expression of confidence 

to residents and 

visitors to Launceston. 

“In years to come, I think historians 

will note that 2016 was the year in 

which Launceston finally found a way 

forward for the C.H. Smith site, one 

in the field of agricultural products 

services or technology, including 

processed foods and beverages and 

the forestry fisheries and fibres industry. 

Australian Honey Products beat 

out finalists from each state and 

territory from fields such as beef 

production and processing, vegetable 

production and innovation, 

coconut industries, allergen sensitive 

food production, and another 

honey producer from Western Australia. 

Mr Bourke started as a 

The extensive car park. 

which protected the best elements of 

our past, and paved the way for a positive 

future.” 

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the $9 

million application 

from council for car 

parking would be expedited, 

adding that 

10 councils had submitted 

infrastructure 

projects worth $36 

million as a result of 

the stimulus package. 

“This site has been 

a hole in the ground for two decades. 

This is a fantastic outcome with the 

collaboration of government, local 

government and developers,” Mr Gutwein 

said. 

one-man-operation with 200 hives 

in 1966. The business has grown 

to be a globally-recognised producer 

of honey and honey based 

products, including honey beverages, 

ales, meads and honey nectar 

concentrates. 

The business boasts more than 

3600 hives and employs up to 30 

staff during the peak season. It 

produces 200 tonnes of honey a 

year, and have built a new state-ofthe-art 

processing facility in Sheffield 

which will be used for the first 

time this processing season. 

The company exports 70 per 

cent of its award winning honey 

products to Asia, the UK, Europe 

and the Middle East, with its 

biggest markets including China, 

Hong Kong, Canada, Oman, Korea, 

Japan and Taiwan. 

It also provides an expert pollination 

service for the Tasmanian 

agriculture sector as well as exporting 

live bees to Canada, and now 

offers the accredited Certificate III 

beekeeping training program to 

nurture our next generation of apiarists 

right here in Tasmania. 

Honey producer Lindsay Bourke. 

Claremont development 


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Tasmania’s business newspaper is published 

monthly by the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry. It is distributed to businesses in 

Tasmania as well as key decision-makers. 

Circulation: 12,000 

Managing Editor: Tom O’Meara 

Ph: 0418 135 822 

Editor: Becher Townshend 

Ph: 0418 370 661 

Special Projects: Gil Sellars 

Ph: 0448 901 371 

73bigideas@gmail.com 

Advertising: 0401 252 586 

www.tasmanianbusinessreporter.com.au 

Editorial & Advertising email: 

TBReditorial@fontpr.com.au 

Publisher: 

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

309 Liverpool St, Hobart, TAS 7000 

Ph: 6236 3600 Fax: 6231 1278 admin@tcci.com.au 

TFGA House, 194-196 Cimitiere St, Launceston TAS 7250 

Ph: 6331 1144 laun@tcci.com.au 

Production: 

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Ph: 0431 241 775 

aldridge.media@iinet.net.au 

Printer: The Mercury 

Level 1, 2 Salamanca Square, Hobart, 7000 

Below, Speaker Elise Archer, left, Vos chairman Michael Vos and Premier Will Hodgman announce 

the $25m One Bournville development, seen in an artist’s impression, above. 

VOS Group has unveiled 

details of an 

idyllic $25m residential 

apartment development 

on the banks of the River 

Derwent, adjacent to 

Claremont Golf Course. 

The One Bournville 

development will be 

Vos Group’s second 

largest development 

currently under construction, 

behind the 

Mac 1 hotel in Hobart. 

Claremont Golf 

Club members, local 

residents, Vos representatives, 

sub-contractors 

and Tasmania’s top political 

figures, including 

Premier Will Hodgman, 

were among the 100 

people to attend the 

launch of the project at 

Claremont Golf Club. 

Vos chairman Michael 

Vos said the development 

was a good 

news story for Tasmania 

and a reflection of 

the business confidence 

in the state. After the 

approval of their de- 

Grant helps TCCI to get workready 

velopment application 

earlier this year, Vos 

Group has started site 

works in preparation for 

construction to begin on 

the 16 units making up 

stage one early in 2017. 

Vos director Darren 

Vos said it was an 

exciting project and a 

wonderful opportunity 

for anyone looking to 

own a unique piece of 

Tasmanian real estate. 

“The development 

consists of 69 contemporary 

residential 

apartments, 11 of 

which have already 

been pre-sold,” Mr Vos 

said. 

“These modern, 

low-maintenance 

apartments will have 

THE Tasmanian Government has 

provided a $75,000 grant to the 

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry to deliver independent 

support for employers via its 

Work Readiness for Growth Industries 

Program. 

The initiative, part of a twoyear, 

$900,000 government Budget 

spend, includes: 

• a phone and email contact for 

employers requesting information 

and assistance; 

• workplace advice for employers 

considering employing a participant 

of the program; and 

• workplace visits to advise and 

mentor participating employers. 

panoramic views over 

the river while half 

of the apartments will 

also have views over 

the golf course and to 

Mt Wellington.’’ 

The development is 

expected to create 100 

local jobs and could 

double membership 

of Claremont Golf 

Course. 

This support will build on the 

TCCI’s expertise and industry-informed 

knowledge of work readiness 

for our growth industries, 

helping participants to develop 

greater confidence in recruiting 

new employees and learn new 

skills to build productivity and create 

a great workplace.

Tasmanian Business Reporter - DECEMBER 2016 3 

NEWS 

Exclusive: Eslake report reveals storm brewing 

Ageing population stunts growth 

TASMANIA’S ageing population 

is creating the perfect 

storm to stunt the state’s economic 

growth and force a reduction 

in work force participation. 

The higher the proportion 

of workers over the age of 65, 

the lower the proportion of 

younger people (15 to 65) in 

the workforce. 

The disproportion of older 

workers has also helped create 

fewer working hours per 

population and the lowest 

productivity in the country. 

The growing problem is 

confirmed by Australian Bureau 

of Statistics which reveals 

that Tasmania has the 

lowest proportion of people in 

the 20 to 44 age group and the 

highest aged 65 and over, in 

the nation. 

Respected economist Saul 

Eslake will reveal his concerns 

and consequences of 

the Tasmanian demographic 

problem when he delivers the 

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry Tasmania 

Report on December 14. 

Last year’s inaugural TCCI 

Tasmanian Report, supported 

by strategic partners, B&E 

Personal Banking, TasCOSS, 

Chartered Accountants Australia 

and New Zealand, 

Southern Cross Television 

and the Federal Group, highlighted 

the challenges and 

opportunities in merging economic 

and social needs. 

Mr Eslake said the ageing 

population and economic 

challenge wasn’t unique to 

Tasmania and was emerging 

in many smaller island states. 

“In Tasmania, the conundrum 

is an unbalanced, aged 

workforce which works fewer 

hours and has the lowest 

labour productivity in the nation. 

This means the average 

dollar value of goods and services 

produced per hour, per 

head creates lower average 

living standards. 

“The ageing population 

also makes it harder to off-set 

lower labour force participation 

by increased work hours 

because older workers, understandably, 

typically prefer to 

work fewer hours than younger 

workers. 

“The only sustainable way 

of offsetting the impact of an 

ageing population on living 

standards is increased productivity. 

“If retired workers have 

accumulated assets which 

they can run down to fund 

higher spending, it may offset 

the impact of population 

ageing on living standards 

“Unfortunately older Tasmanians 

typically have less 

wealth than mainlanders. 

Mr Eslake last year revealed 

that Tasmania’s gross 

state product (GSP) was 

$18,334, or 27 per cent below 

national average. 

Fewer Tasmanians had jobs 

than the national average; 

fewer hours were worked and 

Tasmanians produced less in 

dollar value of goods and services 

for each hour worked. 

Mr Eslake will also expand 

on reasons for why Tasmania’s 

economic growth rate of 

1.3 percent was the lowest in 

the nation. 

Energy and utilities 

dropped 8.6 percent in income 

in 2015/16 mainly due 

to drought and the Basslink 

breakdown. 

Agriculture returns also 

dropped 4.4 percent through 

floods and reduced prices in 

the dairy industry. 

Book: www.tcci.com.au 

Dan kicks off expansion in Launceston 

DESPITE an overwhelming response 

to the opening of Dan Murphy’s 

liquor outlet in Launceston, 

plans for a Hobart outlet will be a 

case of later rather than sooner. 

General Manager of the huge Dan 

Murphy’s liquor operation, Campbell 

Stott, is keen to consolidate the 

inaugural store before considering a 

second outlet. 

“We have brought an exciting 

business model to Launceston and 

we want to bed it down before considering 

another store in Tasmania. 

“We may think about it in the 

next couple of years but finding 

1000 square metre sites in appropriate 

areas takes time,” Mr Stott said. 

Mr Stott said the opening weekend 

was very exciting and trading 

since had been very strong. 

“A good example of volumes of 

people visiting the site has been 

the signed-up members to our free 

membership club which provides 

additional discounts within the 

stores and through the on-line 

business and delivery to clients,’’ 

he said. 

“In the first 10 days of trading, 

3000 Tasmanians signed up and the 

membership rate continues. 

“It became obvious when talking 

to clients over the opening weekend, 

that they were astounded by 

the range of product particularly the 

wines, spirits and craft beers. 

“I was pleasantly surprised by the 

volume and quality of Tasmanian 

craft beers, whisky and wines which 

have been very popular with clients 

as well as the wider range of products 

from Australia and overseas. 

City logs on to Internet of Things 

Dan Murphy’s general manager Campbell Stott, left, national operations manager Daniel Ellul, Launceston store manager Josh Velthoven, 

Victoria and Tasmania area manager Tim Ohem and Victoria and Tasmania state manager Tyson Holberry cut the ribbon at Tasmania’s first 

Dan Murphy’s store in Launceston. 

Minister Michael 

Ferguson with 

Definium CEO Mike 

Cruse. 

LAUNCESTON will 

become the first city in 

Australia to be covered 

by an Internet of Things 

(IoT) network. 

A $100,000 city-wide 

LORA network will provide 

a long range, low 

power network, similar 

to Wi-Fi and ideally suited 

to IoT applications. 

The project is a collaboration 

between the University 

of Tasmania’s 

Sense-T, Definium Technologies 

and CSIRO’s 

Data 61. 

Minister for Information 

Technology and Innovation, 

Michael Ferguson, 

announced the 

commitment, calling it 

an exceptional opportunity 

to bring together 

manufacturing capability, 

application development, 

community participation, 

researchers and 

government. 

“There are hundreds of 

possible applications for 

this network. It could range 

from simple things like 

tracking animals, monitoring 

bins, detecting water 

levels, or measuring air 

quality, to more complex 

projects using movement 

sensors and accelerometers 

in the area of telehealth,” 

Mr Ferguson said. 

“I expect we’ll see projects 

developed and creative 

ideas in areas we currently 

can’t even anticipate. 

“This is a first for Australia 

and shows the State 

Government’s commitment 

to the Smart Cities 

project and innovation. It’s 

through projects like this 

that we’ll see new businesses 

and new opportunities.” 

“Craft beers sales have increased 

from five per cent two years ago to 

12 per cent today and rising.” 

Mr Stott, is based in Dan Murphy’s 

Melbourne headquarters and 

The devices used to 

run IoT will be made 

locally – the network 

gateways and sensors 

will be manufactured by 

Definium Technologies, 

a Launceston-based IT 

company. 

The project will be run 

out of the new Enterprize 

Innovation Hub. 

Professor Brigid Heywo 

od Deputy Vice Chancellor 

(Research), from 

the University of Tasmania, 

said the announcement 

was very exciting 

as it clearly indicated 

Tasmania’s intention of 

taking one of the critical 

next steps in advancing 

IoT capability and capacity 

in Tasmania. 

spends much of his time visiting 

and working with the 205 outlets 

around Australia. 

His management priorities are 

culture, systems and employing top 

talent. Dan Murphy’s Launceston 

outlet on the corner of Bathurst 

and York Streets operates seven 

days a week and employs 22 Tasmanians.


THOUGHT LEADERSHIP 

www.tcci.com.au 

Scientists 

back salmon 

farming 

WHEN Tasmania was 

in the midst of the nasty, 

negative forestry war, 

there was one value-adding 

industry hailed as the 

state’s saviour – salmon 

farming. 

In recent weeks, the 

sustainability and environmental 

credentials of 

the sector were called 

into question during an 

ABC Four Corners story. 

Many environmentalists 

were slamming 

salmon and calling for a 

boycott – quicker than it 

took South Africa to rip 

through Australia’s Test 

batsmen in Hobart. 

They rushed to cast 

shadows over the industry 

with one-liners 

suggesting “something 

fishy’’ is going on, without 

any regard for the 

$700 million it pumps 

into the economy or the 

thousands of people it 

helps keep in work. 

We prefer to rely on 

Michael 

Bailey 

TCCI Chief Executive 

independent scientific 

evidence. So, several 

members of the scientific 

community specialising 

in this field provided 

us advice at our recent 

board meeting at Campbell 

Town. 

As the TCCI has many 

members associated with 

the industry, including all 

of the big players, we felt 

it important to seek independent 

advice. 

We do not want to give 

anyone the chance to say 

that our position has been 

swayed by the industry. 

What we learned follows, 

and we are working 

on a forum to put the 

facts back into the discussion. 

• Tasmania has some 

of the world’s best researchers 

specialising in 

wild salmon farming at 

the CSIRO, IMAS and 

within the industry itself. 

Understanding of the impact 

of aquaculture on 

the environment and the 

ability to minimise this 

impact, has evolved dramatically 

over the last 10 

years and is among the 

world’s best practice. 

• Macquarie Harbour 

is a very complex waterway, 

industry data showing 

that one area is working 

well, while another is 

struggling, is accurate. 

Essentially such a 

large waterway has environmental 

zones within 

zones and the industry 

have been reacting to this 

for years. 

• The move of the regulator 

function to Department 

of Primary Industries, 

Parks, Water 

and Environment was a 

good move by the State 

Government and has 

provided a better governance 

model. 

• The industry is focussed 

on sustainable 

growth and best practice 

animal management. 

This includes making 

sure that fish food mimics, 

as well as possible, 

the wild food that the 

animal would be eating 

and also treating them 

with antibiotics if they 

become ill. Pink flesh is 

an indicator of a healthy 

fish, not an industrial 

conspiracy. 

Any fish that is ill and 

treated with antibiotics 

(always under the supervision 

of a vet) then goes 

through a lengthy withdrawal 

period to ensure 

that there is no residue in 

their system at harvest. 

By the way, the incidence 

of sick fish has 

reduced dramatically 

in Tasmania as fish 

management practices 

have continued to improve. 

This improvement 

has come from industry 

reacting to great and 

ground breaking scientific 

research done right 

here in Tasmania. 

• The industry downstreams 

everything. All 

of the value of this product 

is held in Tasmania 

and shared with a variety 

of businesses, functions 

and communities. This is 

exactly the sort of industry 

that Tasmania needs. 

• There is a need for a 

public zoning process to 

map where the industry 

should expand in the future. 

This would allow the 

community and industry to 

understand where expansion 

is planned. 

This will need to be conducted 

in 10-year cycles 

to react to increasing sea 

temperatures making some 

Huon 

Aquaculture’s 

salmon 

pens in 

Tasmanian 

waters. 

areas less and others more 

viable. 

• The science shows that 

the industry is sustainable 

and has a long and exciting 

future in Tasmania. 

My worry is that we are 

starting to see an argument 

that the whole industry is 

dirty and should be shut 

down. 

The “Boycott Tasmanian 

Salmon” bumper stickers 

are already appearing. 

What we have learned in 

Tasmania is that too often 

these arguments are played 

out on emotion rather than 

fact. 

Please listen to experts 

and base opinions on science 

rather than an emotion-driven 

bandwagon. 

Mission targets China thirst for craft brews 

AUSTRADE is organising 

a trade mission to 

China for makers of craft 

beer, spirits and other 

premium alcoholic and 

non-alcoholic beverages. 

Sally 

Chandler 

Tradestart Adviser 

The trade mission in 

the form of a roadshow is 

visiting the first and second 

tier cities of Beijing, 

Shanghai, Guangzhou 

and Kunming to access 

buyers. Places are limited 

to 20 companies. 

The roadshow is the 

first trade mission designed 

to showcase premium 

Australian beverages 

to select importers, 

distributors, traders, corporate 

buyers and media 

together with top-ranking 

hotels, bartenders and 

restaurants. 

China’s hospitality entrepreneurs 

are seeking 

to offer an increasing 

number of unique and affordable 

luxury beverage 

choices alongside more 

traditional mass market 

brands to on-premise 

consumers. 

The mission will start 

in Beijing on Friday, 

March 3, 2017 before 

travelling to Shanghai on 

Monday, March 6, then 

Guangzhou on Wednesday, 

March 8 and finally 

Kunming on Friday, 

March 10. 

At the end of the mission, 

delegates have the 

option of attending the 

2017 China Wine and 

Spirits Fair in Chengdu. 

The program in each 

city will begin in the 

afternoon with an educational 

seminar in 

a master class style to 

demonstrate the attributes 

of the exhibited 

beverages. 

Product displays will 

be set up for businesses 

to interact with buyers 

and the media and each 

day will end with a cocktail 

function for networking. 

Brewers will have the chance to showcase their product in China. 

Table wines are not included 

in this mission. 

In 2015, China’s whisky 

imports increased by 

19.8 per cent to 15.77 

million litres and sales 

of imported premium 

beer increased by 58.9 

per cent to 538.5 million 

litres. 

Under the China Australia 

Free Trade Agreement 

(ChAFTA) the 10 

per cent tariff on Australian 

distilled spirits will 

be eliminated by January 

1, 2019 and the tariffs 

on juice and mineral 

water will be eliminated 

over the same period 

from 20 per cent. 

China currently does 

not have an import duty 

on beer. 

Applications to take 

part in the mission are 

required before December 

15, 2016 and Austrade 

will then review 

the registrations and the 

successful applicants 

will be notified accordingly. 

Should your company 

be interested in taking 

part in the mission please 

contact me for information 

on costs, the payment 

structure and financial assistance. 

For international 

trade and investment 

assistance contact 

the TCCI’s Trade- 

Start adviser, Sally 

Chandler, at sally. 

chandler@tcci.com. 

au or phone 

1300 559 122.


NEWS 

Forest industry turnaround 

By Guy Barnett 

Resources Minister 

IN A remarkable turnaround, Tasmania’s 

forest industry is growing 

again. 

More and more Tasmanians are 

finding employment in this great 

industry, whereas only a few short 

years ago thousands were being 

thrown out of work. 

Renewed confidence and enthusiasm 

is driving investment in new 

opportunities that add value to our 

wood products. 

This resurgence can be seen in 

sawmills, processors and other forestry-related 

operations across the 

state and particularly in regional Tasmania, 

where our productive industries 

are so critical. 

There is much to be excited about, 

with investment up, exports up, and 

jobs up. 

The fightback is being led by a revitalised 

business sector, which has 

been unshackled by the pro-growth 

policies of the State Liberal Government. 

In Geilston Bay, one of our leading 

fine furniture makers Craig Howard 

is showing how value-adding initiatives 

can deliver greater returns from 

our native timbers. 

While this has been a largely boutique 

business, Mr Howard is creating 

up to nine new jobs by investing 

in upgrading his processing equipment. 

This will enable the efficient production 

of high-value, thick veneer 

products from iconic craft wood species 

for fine furniture-making and 

luxury boat fit-outs, as well as in 

building and construction. 

Multiplying the value of every 

piece of timber used in the creative 

process, it will add considerable 

worth to the end product, with flowon 

benefits that are industry-wide. 

An initiative highlighting the opportunities 

that exist to grow the productive 

value of forestry, it is also an 

example of how the Government is 

backing the industry because we are 

investing $100,000 in the project. 

The business was one of 13 successful 

recipients of grants from our 

recently announced Wood and Fibre 

Processing Innovation Program, designed 

to encourage exactly this kind 

of value-adding. 

The $1.25 million program received 

strong interest, with 41 applications 

for funding, demonstrating 

again the industry’s growing confidence 

and willingness to invest. 

Many of the projects we are funding 

involve biomass. 

There is 

much to 

be excited 

about, with 

investment 

up, exports 

up, and jobs 

up. 

An important source of renewable 

energy in Europe, biomass has great 

potential in Tasmania, not only as 

an alternative power supply but also 

because it would add value to forest 

residues. 

Each of the successful applicants 

under the program give more reason 

for optimism about the future of this 

industry. 

But there is much good news 

across the sector. 

For example, SmartFibre, a subsidiary 

of the state’s largest native 

forest sawmiller, Neville Smith 

Forest Products, is investing $3 

million in expanding its woodchip 

export plant at Bell Bay. 

In a ground-breaking partnership 

with SFM Forest Products, 

the SmartFibre PureForest project 

will deliver Tasmania’s first native 

forest exports carrying full Forest 

Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. 

On a related note, and in another 

welcome development, Forestry 

Tasmania also recently received 

FSC Controlled Wood certification 

for its plantation operations. 

In October I outlined to Parliament 

the Government’s plan to deliver 

resource and job security to 

allow the industry to continue to 

grow. 

With a new name of Sustainable 

Timber Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania 

will be put on a sustainable footing, 

ending the public subsidies. 

I was pleased to also have the opportunity 

to speak at a meeting organised 

by the Tasmanian Chamber 

and Commerce and Industry, with 

key stakeholders attending, to explain 

our plan. 

As I told Parliament, the Liberal 

Government looks forward with 

confidence to the sunrise industry 

of the future, with new directions, 

new value-added products, new investment 

and new jobs based on our 

renewable, sustainable production 

forests. 

Switching. It’s easy. 

It’s where you end up that’s most important. 

To get covered 

please contact: 

Northern Tasmania: Southern Tasmania: North West Tasmania: 

Courtney Osborne 

0417 563 546 

cosborne@stlukes.com.au 

Alicia Frankcombe 

0417 561 948 

afrankcombe@stlukes.com.au 

Rebecca Roth 

0439 392 453 

rroth@stlukes.com.au 

Jan Hooper 

0459 022 553 

jhooper@stlukes.com.au



Putting value 

on valuables 


A year of contrasts 

DIRECTOR, 

INSURANCE SOLUTIONS 

CHRISTMAS is just 

around the corner – hopefully 

Santa’s feeling generous. 

And if he is, make sure 

your home and contents 

insurance covers all your 

new gifts. 

In fact, it’s a good 

time to really look at 

your sums insured and 

your policy to make sure 

you’re covered for the 

full replacement value of 

your home and your contents. 

Most policies cover 

you “new for old” these 

days. 

So while you think 

your old and beloved 

lounge suite is only 

worth a few hundred 

An active business is 

a much more complex 

structure than simply 

static land and buildings 

dollars, it might actually 

cost a few thousand dollars 

to replace. 

We strongly recommend 

that you get an 

insurance valuation for 

your home. 

An insurance valuation 

is very different from a 

market valuation, and 

only needs to be done 

once every five years or 

so. 

It’s a much better way 

to find out you’re under 

insured than at the time 

of a claim. 

Your building sum insured 

should be enough 

to cover the cost of rebuilding 

your home – 

including any sheds, 

outbuildings, fences, 

driveways and any other 

aboveground (or underground) 

improvements. 

For your contents, it’s 

a great idea to go around 

each room and take photos 

of your furniture, 

knick knacks, paintings, 

collections etc – and take 

photos of your jewellery 

and other valuable items 

so you have “proof of 

ownership” if you have a 

claim. 

While you’re doing 

that, work out the replacement 

value of everything 

you have in each 

room (including the carpets, 

curtains and blinds) 

to get a better appreciation 

of what your contents 

sum insured should be. 

If possible, email your 

photos to your broker to 

keep on your file. 

It is human nature to 

think it won’t happen 

to you, and hopefully it 

won’t. 

But these are a few 

easy steps to give you the 

peace of mind that if you 

do have a claim, you’re 

well prepared. 

Sally Bevis is a director 

at Insurance 

Solutions Tasmania 

Pty Ltd (AFSL 

315540) - brokers 

for the TCCI. Information 

is general 

in nature. Contact 

Sally via sbevis@ 

inssoltas. 

There were plenty of highs for shipping in the state in 2016. The positivity is set to continue with news the world’s 

largest shipping line, Maresk, will be calling in Bell Bay in 2017. 

DID you blink? That was 

2016 that just went by. 

Not an insignificant 

year I would say in terms 

of freight and logistics. 

Let’s recap 2016. 

It marked the year of 

the extension to the Tasmanian 

Freight Equalisation 

Scheme for Tasmanian 

exporters to be 

closer to our northern 

cousins in regards to 

freight levels. 

We have seen great 

confidence in the expectation 

of trade development 

in Tasmania 

with Searoad completing 

the new build of their 

vessel for Bass Strait 

trade, Toll confirming 

an upgrade of vessels 

for 2018, a new service 

for King Island, signifi- 

Brett 

Charlton 

Agility Logistics 

cant works on the state’s 

roads, MSC retaining a 

weekly service into Bell 

Bay, Swire maintaining 

services into Hobart and 

Bell Bay, progress on 

the Hobart runway expansion, 

Launceston airport 

winning Australia’s 

best airport, the recent 

announcement of a new 

direct air freight service 

to Ningbo, China ex-Hobart 

and the recent news 

that the world’s largest 

shipping line, Maresk, 

will be calling in Bell 

Abbey 

Guilbert 

Workplace Relations 

Bay in 2017. 

Our cup runneth over. 

It has not all been beer 

and skittles of course. 

While the dizzy heights 

of expectation for the 

extension to the TFES 

for exporters were not 

reached in the first year, 

it has certainly laid some 

great stepping stones for 

growth in confidence to 

enter new markets and 

potentially value-add to 

our current exports. 

There will be some 

scrutiny on the extension 

to the scheme over 2017 

and I would encourage 

all that use the TFES 

to shout its praises and 

provide commentary as 

to how it has benefited 

trade at every opportunity. 

At the beginning of 

2016 we were all switching 

off lights and moving 

generators around 

the state so we could recharge 

our iPhones, then 

in June we were watching 

bridges and ports being 

washed away. 

We certainly were 

shown the forces of 

Mother Nature in 2016 

and it would be a brave 

person to say for certain 

what the weather patterns 

will be in the future. 

Brexit and the results 

of the US election have 

sent a shock wave of 

“perception of reality” 

into the ether and I expect 

we are all entering 

2017 with an underlying 

position of optimism 

but with a side dish of 

“what’s next?” 

Thank you for reading 

my columns. 

I do get some feedback 

from time-to-time letting 

me know that they are 

being read. 

Please feel free to drop 

me a line at bcharlton@ 

agility.com if you have 

any comments or questions. 

I wish for all a safe 

and enjoyable Christmas 

with family and friends. 

See you in 2017. 

High price of underpaying staff 

A RECENT Fair Work 

Ombudsman investigation 

into a business in 

Hobart serves as a timely 

reminder that it is always 

best to continually check 

you are paying the correct 

pay rates to staff. 

The Fair Work Ombudsman 

found that 

workers had been paid 

$11 to $13 per hour at a 

Muffin Break franchise 

outlet which resulted in 

more than $46,000 in underpayments. 

As casuals, employees 

had been entitled to be 

paid more than $23 for 

ordinary hours, weekend 

rates of up to $33.24 per 

hour and public holiday 

rates of up to $52.23 per 

hour. 

The business was then 

sold and it has been made 

clear that the current 

owner was not involved 

with the underpayments. 

The Fair Work Ombudsman 

is also currently 

undertaking inquiries 

into: 

• Wages and conditions 

of people working under 

the 417 Working Holiday 

Visa Program (2016). 

• Trolley collection 

services procurement 

by Woolworths Limited 

(June 2016). 

• Procurement of 

housekeepers by four 

and five-star hotel groups 

(May 2016). 

• Identifying and addressing 

the drivers of 

non-compliance in the 

7-Eleven network (April 

2016). 

A full list of inquiries 

and information regarding 

those can be 

found on the Fair Work 

Ombudsman’s website: 

www.fairwork.gov.au/ 

about-us/access-accountability-and-reporting/inquiry-reports#dsdbi 

and 

this does not take into 

account the other complaints 

that the Fair Work 

Ombudsman receives on 

a daily basis. 

The 2015-16 Fair Work 

Ombudsman Annual Report 

(www.fairwork.gov. 

au/annual-report) shows 

that in 2015-16 the Fair 

Work Ombudsman had 

more than 25 million 

customer interactions 

which included: 

• 15,308,115 website 

visits (up 14 per cent); 

• 5,024,736 pay tool 

calculations (up 66 per 

cent); 

• 4,417,001 fact sheet, 

guide and template 

downloads and views (up 

13 per cent); 

• 415,862 advice over 

the phone (down 12 per 

cent); 

• 60,407 email subscribers 

(up 22 per cent); 

• 58,543 online enquiries 

answered (up 72 per 

cent); 

• 18,220 online learning 

centre courses started 

(down 11 percent) ; 

• helped customers resolve 

more than 29,900 

workplace relations matters; 

and 

• recovered more than 

$27.3 million for 11,158 

workers. 

The message is clear – 

if the correct pay rates are 

not paid, businesses will 

be caught (and potentially 

fined). 

The good news is that as 

a business there are a number 

of avenues that you 

have to ensure that you are 

complying with your minimum 

rates of pay as prescribed 

in the legislation, 

which includes: 

• Fair Work Commission: 

www.fwc.gov.au/; 

• Fair Work Ombudsman: 

www.fairwork.gov. 

au/; and 

• TCCI: www.tcci.com. 

au/Home 

At TCCI there are a 

number of ways which we 

can assist with any questions 

you have, for example: 

• pay and conditions 

guides; 

• pay rate audits; and 

• a partnership with the 

Australian Institute of 

Management with TCCI 

members receiving 25 

per cent off remuneration 

reviews if they contribute 

to the National Salary Survey. 

Workplace Assured; 

access to our Helpline 

and access to consultants. 

Contact us via our 

website, 1300 559 

122 or workplacerelations@tcci.com.au




Macquarie Point call for action 

I RECENTLY met Labor’s 

Federal Infrastructure 

spokesman Anthony 

Albanese when he was 

visiting Hobart. 

He’s no stranger to 

Tasmania having visited 

dozens of times over 

the past 10 years, both as 

a Minister and now as a 

Shadow Minister. 

Our discussion soon 

got onto the Macquarie 

Point development 

which he played a key 

role in, way back in June, 

2012. 

The opening line of 

his press statement from 

June 22 summed up the 

anticipation attached to 

the project. 

“Every so often an opportunity 

comes along as 

a Minister to make a decision 

that will transform 

a community for decades 

into the future.” (Anthony 

Albanese, June 22, 

2012) 

More than 40 months 

later, he lamented over 

the lack of progress on 

the site. 

“I find it extraordinary 

that years later, and 

about 20 visits by me to 

Hobart, there is so little 

action on this site,” 

(Anthony Albanese, the 

Mercury, November 3, 

2016) 

Mr Albanese noted 

the project has the potential 

to unlock more 

than a billion dollars’ 

worth of investment. 

The lack of progress 

has been a major frustration 

for many in the 

business community 

here in Hobart. 

It’s clear that nothing 

can really happen without 

moving the sewerage 

works on the site. 

It’s a significant spend 

($145 million according 

to recent reports) but it’s 

an inevitable one. 

TasWater has rightly 

said that it’s not prepared 

to stump up for the project, 

leaving the responsibility 

with the State Government. 

Labor has urged 

the Premier and State 

Growth Minister to engage 

with Infrastructure 

Australia to try and progress 

a solution. 

The bottom line is, 

something has to happen 

soon or the fiveyear 

anniversary of Mr 

Albanese’s $50 million 

announcement will tick 

over without a major step 

forward. 

Now is not the time for 

finger pointing it’s time 

for a practical way forward. 

Hobart’s Macquarie Point awaits a way forward. 

Investors need confidence 

that the redevelopment 

has momentum 

and that their ideas can 

be properly and transparently 

assessed. 

This project could be 

one the most exciting opportunities 

in the country 

over the next decade or 

so, but we have to get it 

right. 

Labor stands ready to 

work constructively with 

all levels of Government 

on a way forward. 

Make a date with a business matchmaker 

MANY people want 

to own their own business, 

and the majority 

of them would prefer to 

buy an existing business 

so they do not have to 

build a business from the 

ground up. 

The problem is that 

many of these potential 

business buyers do not 

have an idea about what 

Identifying workplace hazards 

By Craig Hortle 

IDENTIFYING hazards 

in the workplace is a key 

way to ensure that your 

workers are safe. 

The difficulty is to ensure 

that the method you 

use to identify hazards is 

user friendly. 

A simple method to 

ensure that all hazards 

are identified is to seperate 

the worksite into different 

aspects of work: 

• physical work environment; 

• equipment, materials 

and substances used; 

• work tasks and how 

they are performed; and 

• work design and management. 

To determine the hazards 

in each work area, 

the hazards themselves 

can be divided into common 

hazard areas: 

• manual tasks; 

• gravity; 

Dean 

Demeyer 

Business Broker 

kind of business to buy, 

so many of them automatically 

default to what 

• electricity; 

• machinery and equipment; 

• hazardous chemicals; 

• extreme temperatures; 

• noise; 

• radiation; 

• biological; and 

• psychosocial hazards. 

These common hazards 

can be identified in 

the work area by implementing 

a workplace inspection. 

Regularly walking 

around the workplace 

and observing how 

things are done can help 

you predict what could 

or might go wrong. 

Look at how people 

actually work, how 

plant and equipment is 

used, what chemicals 

are around and what 

they are used for, what 

safe or unsafe work 

practices exist as well 

as the general state of 

housekeeping 

they know from daily 

life and look into retail 

businesses, particularly 

You can also consult 

your workers. 

Ask your workers 

about any health and 

safety problems they 

have encountered in doing 

their work and any 

near misses or incidents 

that have not been reported. 

Worker surveys may 

also be done to obtain 

information about matters 

such as workplace 

bullying, as well as muscular 

aches and pains 

that can signal potential 

hazards. 

Finally you may want 

review available information. 

For example, risks relevant 

to particular industries 

and types of work 

is available from regulators, 

industry associations, 

unions, technical 

specialists and safety 

consultants. 

Manufacturers and 

food retail. For current 

baby boomer business 

owners, who currently 

own more than half 

of Australia’s 420,000 

small businesses, and 

who are looking to sell 

their business and retire 

comfortably, this can 

be cause for worry. 

Will they be able to 

find a buyer? 

suppliers can also provide 

information about 

hazards and safety precautions 

for specific 

substances (safety data 

sheets), plant or processes 

(instruction manuals). 

Analyse your records 

of health monitoring, 

workplace incidents, 

near misses, worker 

complaints, sick leave 

and the results of any inspections 

and investigations 

to identify hazards. 

If someone has been 

hurt doing a particular 

task, then a hazard exists 

that could hurt someone 

else. 

These incidents need 

to be investigated to find 

the hazard that caused 

the injury or illness. 

Contact Craig Hortle 

or Janelle Whitehouse 

at the TCCI 

on 1300 559 122 or 

safety@TCCI.com.au 

How many people are 

looking to buy niche 

businesses that require 

special skills? 

The key is a good 

broker, who will match 

a niche business with 

the right buyer. 

Most people end up 

buying a different business 

to that which they 

initially inquired about. 

Understanding what 

potential buyers’ goals 

and objectives are for 

owning a business is 

key. 

A great broker will 

always run a “buyer” 

database along side of 

their “seller” database, 

and proactively match 

businesses with buyers. 

From the seller’s perspective, 

knowing how 

to prepare a business 

for sale and knowing 

how to market it to the 

right people is critical. 

If you have a niche 

business to sell that you 

worry will not attract 

buyers, rest assured that 

with an expert handling 

the process and an existing 

database of buyers, in 

many cases, the perfect 

buyer can be found. 

H O T E L 

ENJOY THE WATERFRONT 

Ask your business 

broker how they handle 

these critical aspects 

for successfully selling 

your business – it could 

make all the difference 

to when you sell your 

business and retire comfortably. 

Information is 

general in nature. 

You can contact 

Dean via dean. 

demeyer@ 

finnbusinesssales. 

com.au or 

0419382359. 

15% off midweek when you mention this offer! 

Negotiated corporate rates & group packages available. Conference 

and meetings facilities. Wireless/broadband internet. Cafe and catering. 

Security parking and lifts. Mini gym & sauna. 

6270 1444 / 1300 733 422 15 Hunter Street, Hobart 

www.zerodavey.com.au


FOCUS ON BUSINESS 

Bankers getting down to business 

LEADING Tasmanian customer-owned 

financial institution B&E 

Personal Banking has a long and 

proud history of putting customers 

first. 

Not only does B&E help Tasmanians 

fulfil their personal banking 

needs, it offers a comprehensive 

range of business banking products 

and services as well. 

With nearly 50 years’ experience 

between them, B&E’s statewide 

business banking team – Kris Wye 

and David Ponting – appreciate that 

running a business can be both challenging 

and rewarding. 

Just as financial institutions are all 

different, so too are business bankers 

and having the right one on your 

team can make or break your business. 

Whether your needs are simple 

(an everyday business account) or 

more complex (a business loan), you 

should feel confident that you have 

a dedicated business banker, who 

understands your business and your 

long-term business goals and objectives. 

So with this in mind, we asked 

Kris and David to tell us what they 

consider as key attributes of a good 

business banker. 

Time is money 

“A good business banker recognises 

that your time is precious,” 

said Kris. 

“They should be available when 

and where you need them. If you 

don’t have access to their direct 

number or mobile, ask for it! It’s 

about being responsive and flexible 

in order to help you solve your financial 

challenges quickly and efficiently.” 

Know how 

“Your business banker must have 

the experience and expertise to help 

you manage risk and build your 

business,” said David. 

“They will take the time to understand 

your business. They may not 

be an expert in your field but they 

will get to know you and the industry 

you operate within.” 

“People often don’t look beyond 

the ‘friendly banker’,” said Kris. “It 

is important that you and your banker 

can work together but they should 

also offer you superior service, valuable 

advice and guidance.” 

Support 

“When choosing a business banker 

it’s important to not only consider 

what services you will need now but 

what you might need in the future,” 

said David. “Have you thought 

about how 

much support 

will you need 

as your business 

changes 

and grows?” 

“A business 

banker 

should see 

your growing 

business 

as an opportunity 

to provide 

you with 

more useful 

services and 

solutions 

along the 

way,” added 

Kris. 

“ T h e y 

should be 

helping your business thrive at every 

stage.” 

Nurturing trust 

David and Kris both agreed that 

banking arrangements are often 

long-term. 

“A business banker should invest 

the time to develop and nurture 

your relationship,” said Kris. “Open 

and honest communication really is 

key,” enthused David. 

“It shouldn’t be left up to you to 

make a call – your business banker 

should initiate contact to build trust 

and forge an ongoing relationship.” 

One-stop shop 

“We see it all the time – business 

owners with complex and inter-connected 

business and personal banking 

needs,” said Kris. “It makes 

sense that your business banker services 

all your business and personal 

banking needs.” 

“One of the most important factors 

to consider is whether or not 

your business banker has the authority 

and the discretion to make onthe-spot 

decisions,” said David. 

“To save time and money, make 

sure you are dealing directly with 

the person who is making the decisions 

and not a go-between.” 

Local knowledge 

“As locals, Kris and I understand 

the Tasmanian market,” said David. 

“A good business banker is attuned 

to local market conditions and will 

have a good understanding of market 

forces at play in the local and 

wider-economy. 

“From helping you borrow capital 

to planning for the future, a local 

business banker is an invaluable 

partner to your business – creating a 

relationship that is mutually beneficial 

is so important,” said Kris. 

B&E’s business banking team is 

here to help you and your business 

succeed. 

Contact Kris Wye on 0455 093 421 

or David Ponting on 0472 848 938. 

we’re big 

4 business 

banking. 

David Ponting 

Business Banking Manager 

(South) 

Kris Wye 

Business Banking Manager 

(North) 

8034 

At B&E, we’re not just Big 4 personal banking, we’re Big 4 business banking too. 

From business loans and overdrafts through to everyday banking, our Business Banking Team is here to help you. As a leading Tasmanian customer-owned financial institution, we 

can tailor our products to suit your individual business needs. We offer simple solutions, with fast, local decision making. And of course we can come to you, at a time that suits you. 

Meet the team: With 50 years’ combined experience, David Ponting and Kris Wye have helped hundreds of local businesses with their business banking needs. Whether your 

business is expanding or you want to take advantage of market opportunities, the team will make your business banking as easy and stress-free as possible. 

Call Kris (North) on 0455 093 421 or David (South) on 0472 848 938 for a no obligation chat about your business banking needs today. 

b-e.com.au | 1300 306 716 

B&E Ltd ABN 32 087 652 088. AFSL & Australian Credit Licence 236870. 

me



Awards turn up mining gems Course 

NEWS 

THE 2017 Tasmanian Women 

In Resources Awards has 

been launched ahead of April’s 

awards ceremony. 

The AusIMM Women in Mining 

Network Tasmania (WIMnet) are 

accepting applications in five 

key categories to recognise the 

important role women play in the 

resources sector. 

The categories are Exceptional 

Woman in Tasmanian 

Resources, Gender Diversity 

Champion in Tasmanian Resources, 

Excellence in Diversity 

Programs and Performance, 

Outstanding Tasmanian Tradeswoman, 

Operator or Technician 

and Exceptional Young Woman 

in Tasmanian Resources. 

Dozens of people attended the 

launch at QVMAG at Inveresk. 

ABOVE LEFT: Tarrisha Simpson, 

South32-Temco, left, Ariel 

Pasco, Grange Resources, Kelly 

Down, Bell Bay Aluminium and 

Sarah Courtney, MP 

BELOW LEFT: Alison Hilder, 

TMEC, left, John Stanton, Atlas 

Copco Australia, Sue Stanton, 

Jacinta Bradshaw, Ted Bradshaw, 

Kimberley Consulting 

Group 

Pictures:Rob Burnett Images 

IN BRIEF 

STEM success 

THE state’s best and brightest science 

and technology minds have 

been celebrated with the inaugural 

Tasmanian STEM (Science, Technology, 

Engineering and Mathematics) 

Awards. 

The awards form part of the 

eleventh Science Meets Parliament 

event, which brings together the 

state’s top scientists and elected 

representatives, to celebrate our science-related 

achievements. 

University of Tasmania Associate 

Professor Calum Wilson won the 

Premier’s Tasmanian STEM Researcher 

of the Year Award for his 

research on the effects of harmful 

pathogens on the agricultural 

environment, resources and crop 

sustainability. 

The Minister for IT and Innovation’s 

- STEM Innovation of the Year 

Award was won by the CSIRO Data 

61 project for its innovative nanotechnology 

advances aimed at understanding 

bee pollination. 

MyState matters 

MYSTATE Bank announced today 

that it will offer its more than 105,000 

customers Apple Pay, which is transforming 

mobile payments. 

MyState customers across Australia 

will be able to use Apple Pay to 

make quick and secure purchases 

wherever contactless payments are 

accepted with a MyState Visa debit 

card. 

The bank is also partnering with 

children’s education charity, The 

Smith Family, to help bring the spirit 

of Christmas to nearly 15,000 disadvantaged 

children across Australia.Until 

December 14, all MyState 

branches around Tasmania will collect 

donated new toys and books as 

part of The Smith Family’s national 

annual Toy & Book Appeal. 

Loan standards 

THE National Credit Providers Association, 

the peak body for small 

loan providers in Australia, has started 

formulating additional industry 

standards. 

The NCPA has agreed to develop 

a Code of Conduct and has begun 

initial consultation in line with the 

Australian Securities & Investments 

Commission guidelines and standards. 

NCPA chief executive Phil Johns 

said it was a formal and long-term 

plan from the NCPA to self-regulate 

the industry it represents. 

options 

for busy 

schedule 

FACED with an increasingly 

complex and competitive 

business environment, it has 

never been more important 

for directors and senior executives 

to invest in professional 

development. 

However, those same pressures 

often make it difficult to 

fit learning into busy schedules. 

The Australian Institute of 

Company Directors 

helps to solve 

this problem by 

providing flexible 

learning options 

that suit the busy 

schedules of Tasmanian 

directors, 

The Company 

Directors 

Course is now 

available in a 

variety of 

formats 

executives and 

business owners. 

Traditionally 

offered as an intensive 

five-day 

course in Hobart, 

the AICD’s Company 

Directors 

Course is now available in a 

variety of formats: five days 

intensive, one day per week 

over five weeks, five days 

over two weeks and the fiveday 

intensive in Launceston 

in January 2017. 

The Company Directors 

Course is designed to help 

develop the skills and knowledge 

of directors and senior 

executives, ensuring they 

understand key regulations 

and current good governance 

practices. 

Christine Edwards, former 

CEO of the Myer Foundation, 

a recent graduate of the 

Company Directors Course, 

said: “I wanted to understand 

governance through rigorous 

learning, and to do that 

through the AICD, given its 

high professional standing in 

this area. 

“The most outstanding benefits 

from the course were 

making the critical shift from 

executive leadership to directorship, 

and understanding the 

complex responsibilities 

of directors.” 

The flexibility 

of course formats 

proved invaluable 

for recent participant, 

Stephanie 

Van Brecht, Operations 

Manager 

of Eskleigh Foundation 

Inc. 

“Completing 

the course in the 

split format was 

fantastic. It allowed 

time, during the remainder 

of the week, to reflect 

on the course content as well 

as to catch up on work that 

had mounted up in your absence,” 

Ms Van Brecht said. 

“When you commence the 

second week you are fresh, 

ready and enthusiastic to 

jump back into it. 

“It was also very easy to 

manage and maintain family 

commitments with this format. 

If you get the option I 

would highly recommend this 

course and particularly the 

split format in which it can be 

delivered.” 

WANTED 

Business 

movers and 

shakers 

• Promotions 

• Appointments 

• Awards 

• Celebrating 

success 

Share the news 

with the 


business 

community 

Send your news 

snippets, with a 

high quality photo, 

to TBReditorial@ 

fontpr.com.au



APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Baby steps 

modernise 

Parliament 

Chris Elliott Nic d’Emden Camille O’Meara 

Carolyn Ranson 

Finance duo 

promoted 

CROWE Horwath has 

appointed Chris Elliott 

as Managing Partner in 

their Launceston office. 

Chris is highly regarded 

in the financial 

services sector, having 

spent the past 30 years 

focussed on delivering 

expert wealth planning 

advice to assist his clients 

in achieving their 

lifestyle and financial 

aspirations. 

Crowe Horwath has 

also promoted Nic 

d’Emden as Associate 

Partner. 

In 2014, Nic was 

awarded the FPA Certified 

Financial Planner 

Professional of the Year 

Award for Tasmania. 

In 2012 and 2013 he 

was also named in the 

AFR Smart Investor 

Masterclass for Financial 

Planning, ranked in the 

top 10 financial advisers 

from around Australia. 

O’Meara joins 

CCF Board 

THE Civil Contractors 

Federation in Tasmania 

has welcomed Stornoway 

General Manager, Business 

Services, Camille 

O’Meara, as their newest 

branch board member. 

Camille has a passionate 

interest in the civil 

construction industry, 

working in construction 

and manufacturing her 

entire career. 

This includes time 

with Shaw Contracting, 

Stornoway (twice 

in her career), 10 years 

in manufacturing with 

Cadbury and working 

as a consultant to the 

industry. 

“My passion for involvement 

in the CCF 

stems from a belief 

that I can contribute to 

assisting the industry 

in dealing with issues it 

faces, and be a positive 

advocate for our industry,” 

Camille said. 

Utas North 

appointment 

Thinking of selling or 

buying a business? 

Australia’s largest specialist 

business broker network is 

now in Tasmania. 

Call Dean Demeyer on 

0419 382 359 for a FREE, no 

obligation assessment 

of your business. 

THE University of Tasmania 

has appointed James 

McKee as director of 

the Northern Expansion 

Project. 

The project will 

deliver new inner-city 

university campuses in 

Launceston and Burnie, 

and a strengthened Australian 

Maritime College 

at its existing Newnham 

location. 

Mr McKee arrives in 

the role from the Office 

of the Tasmanian Co-ordinator 

General, key 

partners in the design and 

delivery of the Northern 

Expansion Project. 

“This truly is a 

once-in-a-generation opportunity 

for Launceston 

- it will fundamentally 

change the community 

and economy for the 

better,” Mr McKee said. 

“I’m very excited by the 

opportunity to be part of 

that.” 

Lawyer 

joins MyState 

SIBYLLE Krieger will 

join the board of MyState 

Limited. 

MyState Chairman 

Miles Hampton said Ms 

Krieger had 35 years of 

broad commercial experience 

as a lawyer, economic 

regulator and non-executive 

director. 

She was a partner in 

two large commercial law 

firms for 22 years. 

WANTED 

Business 

movers and 

shakers 

• Promotions 

• Appointments 

• Awards 

• Celebrating 

success 

Share the news 

with the 


business 

community 

New B&E 

retail role 

CAROLYN Ranson has 

joined B&E Personal 

Banking as Retail 

Manager for Northern 

Tasmania, bringing over 

27 years extensive retail 

banking experience to 

the role. 

Mrs Ranson will lead 

B&E’s regional retail 

team to deliver superior 

customer service, 

ensuring the home and 

personal finance and 

everyday transactional 

needs of Tasmanian customers 

are met. Most 

recently, Mrs Ranson 

was Service Quality 

Manager with ANZ. 

B&E Chief Executive 

Officer Paul Ranson 

said: “We have invested 

significant resources to 

review and improve our 

retail model over the last 

12 months and Carolyn’s 

role will be crucial 

support for this evolution 

and the company’s overall 

growth strategy.” 

Fastway gets 

local owners 

FASTWAY Couriers’ 

Launceston franchise is 

under new management. 

Now locally owned 

and operated by new 

regional franchisees 

Tom Wendt and 

Rob Cadwallander, 

the Launceston team 

services the greater 

Launceston region, 

including Ulverstone, 

Devonport and Burnie. 

Fastway offers personalised 

courier delivery and 

pick-up services for large 

and small businesses. 

Fast firm 

recognised 

LAUNCESTON architecture 

and design firm S. 

Group has been listed at 

54th spot on the 2016 

Australian Financial 

Review’s Fast 100 list. 

The annual list recognises 

business across the 

country and is determined 

by the annual growth of 

each company over a fouryear 

period – S. Group’s 

growth listed as 61.3 per 

cent. 

S.Group is inolved 

with the 75-metre tall, 

20-storey, four-star hotel 

proposed for 2-6 Collins 

Street, Hobart. 

SOLUTIONS 

IN PRINT 

your print specialist for over 90 years 

Speaker Elise Archer 

CHANGES have been made to the House of 

Assembly Standing Orders in a move to modernise 

the Parliament. 

Tasmania’s first woman Speaker Elise Archer 

said she was proud have led the push to 

change rules dating back over a century that 

didn’t contemplate female members, which 

meant the House was strictly reserved for 

elected members only. 

This meant a nursing mother was unable 

to enter the chamber to vote or participate in 

debates at short notice without an accompanying 

infant being declared a “stranger in the 

House” and ordered to leave. 

More than 60 years after a woman MP 

was first elected to the House of Assembly in 

Tasmania, proposed changes to our House’s 

Standing Orders will remove this outdated 

categorisation for a child under 12 months of 

age, allowing a nursing mother to enter into 

and to participate in the proceedings of the 

House free from discrimination. 

Existing provisions still remain allowing 

the Speaker to maintain control over the 

Chamber at all times and the member also has 

the option of a “pair” to ensure they are not 

disadvantaged during a vote. 

A final recommendation being put forward 

is the automatic entitlement of a member 

to 12 weeks’ maternity leave without needing 

the formal consent of the House. Under 

current rules, members can be held guilty of 

contempt if they are absent for more than 14 

days without this consent. 

Woolston Printing - 2016 Christmas Ad - proof 2.pdf 1 18-11-2016 6:19 pm 

Extending a 

warm thanks to 

our Tasmanian 

clients for their 

business during 

2016! 

Best wishes 

for 2017! 

www.finnbusinesssales.com.au 

Send your news 

snippets, with a 

high quality photo, 

to TBReditorial@ 

fontpr.com.au 

sales@paperstat.com.au 

6391 8481 

www.woolstonprinting.com.au


EVENTS NEWS 

EVENT: 

2016 Innovative 

Tasmania Awards 

LOCATION: 

Wrest Point 

Casino Hobart 

DATE: Friday 

October 28, 2016. 

ABOVE: Luke Scott, left, and Emma Price from the City of 

Launceston with Kim Evans from the Department of State Growth. 

ABOVE: Co-presenter of the Innovative Region Award, TCCI chair Susan 

Parr, left, Sue Sherriff of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and 

co-presenter Jen Newman of Regional Development Australia, Tasmania 

Committee. 

LEFT: 

Joris Roell of 

Linii Tasmania, 

left, with 

Rosanna 

Coombes of 

NRM North, 

presenter 

of the Innovative 

Environment 

Award. 

ABOVE: Martin Dingemanse of Mode Electrical, left, and Carol 

Harding of Australian Innovation Research Centre, presenter of 

the Innovative Service Award. 

LEFT: 

Dr Sukhwinder 

Singh Sohal, 

left, with 

Assistant 

Minister of Industry, 

Innovation and 

Science, Craig 

Laundy, 

presenter of the 

Innovative 

Science and 

Technology 

Award. 

ABOVE: Aksael Wachter of NANOPROTECH, left, with Ben 

Lovitt of Bellamy’s Organics, presenter of the Innovative 

Product Award. 

LEFT: 

Darren Cundy 

of UTAS, 

left, presenter 

of the Young 

Innovator of the 

Year with Jodie 

Snooks from 

the House of J. 

ABOVE: John Hislop, left, and Gilda Sorella from Deviant Distillery and 

Bill Woodworth of Bell Bay Aluminium, presenter of the 

Innovative Process Award.


PROPERTY MATTERS 

Tassie’s East Coast on the up 

Scott Newton 

Property Matters with 

Knight Frank 

Our column this month comes from Adele Plunkett 

and Leanne Dann with a rundown of the residential 

market conditions on the East Coast. If you have 

been considering a sea change or a weekend getaway, 

read on. 

THE 2015/2016 financial year has 

seen great improvement in the real 

estate market on Tasmania’s central 

east coast, with property settlement 

numbers being the strongest since 

2009/10. 

Contributing factors for this have 

been low interest rates, improved 

confidence levels in the state economy, 

and the tourism marketing of 

the Great Eastern Drive Tasman 

Highway. 

Days on market have decreased 

and a sure sign that the market is 

turning is multiple offers occurring 

on a regular basis. 

Most local businesses reported 

great trading for 2015 and are now 

indicating 2016 YTD has been even 

better. 

The majority of property sales in 

the last few years have been to re- 

Coles Bay is the ideal place for a sea change. 

tirees and those wanting a second 

home holiday property to utilise 

now, with the aim of retirement in 

due course. 

Over the last 12 months we have 

noticed a new enquiry base, investors 

looking for houses with potential 

for holiday letting. 

Astute owners and good marketing 

can generate excellent rental returns 

with the bonus of being able 

to have a holiday home which pays 

for itself and some personal use 

when time allows. 

Expat Tasmanians are also keen 

to own their little piece of the state 

again, most appreciating the beauty 

of our coast and value for money 

compared with interstate and international 

markets. 

The temperate climate and beautiful 

scenery of the East Coast offers 

a great lifestyle, which is continually 

being improved with better 

services for residents. 

Health services are well provided 

for through May Shaw Health Centre 

located in Swansea and local GP 

and paramedic services in other locations. 

As well as providing an excellent 

aged care facility, May Shaw have 

a number of specialists visiting on a 

regular basis providing regular access 

for coastal residents. 

Fast growing visitor numbers to 

the East Coast have underpinned the 

confidence of many local businesses. 

Beautiful national parks, unspoilt 

coastal waterways and beaches together 

with our excellent vineyards 

and local seafood are major draw 

cards for our growing economy. 

Active coastal communities also 

offer a variety of cultural activities 

including the arts and music, theatre 

groups and a range of sporting clubs 

including fishing, golf and bowls or 

for those wanting a quiet peaceful 

lifestyle - magnificent nature walks 

in three national parks within easy 

reach. 

Residential subdivisions are back 

in focus with several to enter into 

the market in early 2017. 

The 2015 change to the Tasmanian 

Interim Planning Scheme has 

The temperate 

climate and 

beautiful scenery 

of the East Coast 

offers a great 

lifestyle, which is 

continually being 

improved with 

better services for 

residents. 

allowed many to take up the option 

to subdivide their small acreages 

with the minimum area changing 

from 2ha to 1ha. 

This in turn has created more activity 

for tradespeople both locally 

and statewide with building applications 

on the increase. 

A great positive vibe is alive and 

well on our Central East Coast at 

present. Mariners, fish farms, subdivisions 

and golf courses have all 

been mentioned in the headlines and 

even if just a few of those mentioned 

go ahead, this will add to confidence 

and property value on the coast. 

We are booming and open for 

business. 

PROPERTY VIEW 

DECEMBER 2016 

For sale or lease by Expressions of Interest 

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT 

168 Collins Street, Hobart 

Knight Frank is pleased to present this 

exceptional property to the market. Features 

include: 

• Central CBD position 

• Attractive fit-out to remain 

• Outstanding street presence 

• 9 secure undercover parking spaces 

• Leaseback until 1 July 2017 

• NLA: 836sqm (approx) 

• Land area: 379sqm (approx) 

For sale by Expressions of Interest 

LANDMARK RETAIL OFFERING 

10 Derwent Park Road, Derwent Park 

• Rare opportunity to acquire a landmark 

property of substantial proportions within 

Hobart’s preferred showroom precinct 

• Retail warehouse complex with a gross 

building area of 5,290sqm (approx) and 

100 (approx) customer car parks; large yard/ 

hardstand to the rear; zoned ‘Commercial’ 

• Includes 7 Linear Court, Derwent Park: 

land area of 1,503sqm (approx); zoned 

‘General Industrial’; improved with concrete 

hardstand 

Scott Newton: 0409 186 261 

Hayden Peck: 0412 766 395 

View at Knightfrank.com.au/3306446 

For sale by Expressions of Interest 

SIGNIFICANT OFFICE INVESTMENT 

162 Macquarie Street, Hobart 

• Offered for sale in one line are all 6 strata 

titles in this quality office building, set over 5 

levels plus basement car park for 34 cars 

• Outstanding location within Hobart’s 

traditional Macquarie Street office precinct; 

Salamanca & Parliamentary Precinct nearby 

• NLA: 3,443sqm (approx); total strata area: 

4,381sqm (approx); zoned ‘Central Business’ 

• 96% of tenancies leased with estimated net 

income of $671,025 

Scott Newton: 0409 186 261 

Richard Steedman: 0408 559 046 


For sale from high $400,000s to early $700,000s 

‘WATERmarque’ 

38 Waterworks Road, Dynnyrne 

The WATERmarque residential development 

presents a rare opportunity to purchase a 

brand new home in sought-after Dynnyrne. 

• Architecturally-designed 2 and 3 bedroom 

townhouses 

• Style and comfort in a peaceful setting 

• Professionally styled interiors 

• Contemporary open plan living. 

• Secure double garage 

• Go to www.watermarquetas.com.au to 

register your interest 

Matthew Wright: 0458 290 588 

Richard Steedman: 0408 559 046 


Pam Corkhill: 0419 103 867 

Anne Boman: 0409 571 542 

View at Knightfrank.com.au/HBT160444 

KnightFrank.com.au PH: 03 6220 6999 5 Victoria Street, Hobart

Tasmanian Business Reporter December 2016

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