Tasmanian Business Reporter April 2017
This month we weigh in on the TasWater ownership debate and hear what the new leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party has to say about the future of health, education and infrastructure development in our state. You’ll also find news of the Neil Buckby Motors expansion, a 4000 panel Launceston solar park and the Advanced Sensor Manufacturing Facility coming to Tasmania.
This month we weigh in on the TasWater ownership debate and hear what the new leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party has to say about the future of health, education and infrastructure development in our state.
You’ll also find news of the Neil Buckby Motors expansion, a 4000 panel Launceston solar park and the Advanced Sensor Manufacturing Facility coming to Tasmania.
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APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />
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<br />
The proposed takeover of<br />
water and sewerage<br />
infrastructure by the State<br />
Government is being<br />
hailed as a game-changer<br />
Macquarie Point in Hobart where business development has been stymied for years by the treatment plant, at right of picture, below the Domain.<br />
Picture: RICHARD BENNETT<br />
Waterworks<br />
debate near<br />
boiling point<br />
By TOM O’MEARA<br />
A GROWING number of <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
business and community<br />
groups are backing the Government’s<br />
proposed takeover of Tas-<br />
Water.<br />
As debate heats up, <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
communities are calling for caps<br />
on their water charges and no excuses<br />
for increases in local government<br />
rates.<br />
Anger is growing at TasWater’s<br />
proposed five to six per cent annual<br />
increases in water and sewerage<br />
costs over the next decade.<br />
The Government promises that<br />
under its more economical major<br />
sewerage and water reforms there<br />
would be about 1000 new construction<br />
jobs and earlier removal<br />
of “boil water” or “do not drink”<br />
alerts in 25 <strong>Tasmanian</strong> towns.<br />
The major selling point for the<br />
Government to take over TasWater<br />
from its current owners, the state’s<br />
29 local councils, is to reduce the<br />
timeframe for a $1.5 billion capital<br />
works program from 10 years<br />
to five.<br />
The legislation for the takeover<br />
in July next year has passed the<br />
House of Assembly and will now<br />
be considered by the Legislative<br />
Council.<br />
Organisations from business to<br />
TasCOSS have recognised that the<br />
political debate between Treasurer<br />
and Minister for Local Government<br />
Peter Gutwein, the Opposition,<br />
TasWater and the Local Government<br />
Association of Tasmania<br />
has dominated the discourse while<br />
ratepayers believe they have been<br />
ignored.<br />
Peak business organisation, the<br />
Tasmania Chamber of Commerce<br />
and Industry, has supported the<br />
takeover from the outset and is<br />
now seeking more detailed information<br />
from Mr Gutwein.<br />
“This move will provide clarity<br />
and surety for Tasmania’s water<br />
supply,” TCCI chair Susan Parr<br />
said.<br />
Continued page 3<br />
STATE<br />
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p 1300 559 122<br />
w tcci.com.au
2 <strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />
NEWS<br />
Training partnership delivers real-life benefits<br />
AURORA Energy has<br />
joined forces with Tas-<br />
TAFE to deliver a suite<br />
of customised qualifications<br />
for its employees.<br />
Fifty-two Aurora Energy<br />
employees – close<br />
to a third of its workforce<br />
– undertook the Formal<br />
Qualifications Program,<br />
achieving qualifications<br />
in Certificate III in <strong>Business</strong><br />
and Diploma of<br />
Leadership and Management.<br />
The tailored program<br />
provided direct benefits<br />
to Aurora Energy, integrating<br />
with its culture,<br />
values and strong customer<br />
service focus.<br />
Aurora Energy CEO<br />
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<br />
Rebecca Kardos said the<br />
energy retailer was committed<br />
to supporting its<br />
<strong>Tasmanian</strong> workforce<br />
through providing opportunities<br />
to obtain formal<br />
qualifications together<br />
with maintaining a workplace<br />
that was up-skilled<br />
and future proofed.<br />
“As an organisation in<br />
an ever-changing industry<br />
we need to ensure<br />
we have people with the<br />
capabilities and mindset<br />
to adapt and this is best<br />
achieved by investing<br />
in knowledge, skills and<br />
leadership development<br />
across the business,”<br />
Mrs Kardos said.<br />
“To have such a large<br />
number of our workforce<br />
accept the challenge<br />
and go on and excel<br />
to combine for a 100<br />
per cent graduation rate<br />
was outstanding.”<br />
TasTAFE Deputy<br />
CEO/Chief Operating<br />
Officer Lori Hocking<br />
said TasTAFE<br />
was proud to have a<br />
long-standing working<br />
relationship with Aurora<br />
Energy to provide<br />
tailored training for its<br />
employees.<br />
“By working closely<br />
with Aurora Energy,<br />
TasTAFE was able to<br />
develop a training program<br />
that was practical<br />
and hands-on,” she said.<br />
Tips for savvy investment<br />
MYSTATE is concerned<br />
that <strong>Tasmanian</strong>s could<br />
be negatively impacted<br />
if they do not understand<br />
the full implications of<br />
superannuation changes<br />
announced by the Government<br />
last year.<br />
“The rules around<br />
concessional and<br />
non-concessional superannuation<br />
contribution<br />
caps have<br />
changed, along with<br />
some transition to<br />
retirement income<br />
stream rules,” Wealth<br />
Management Senior<br />
Manager of Financial<br />
Planning Todd Kennedy<br />
said.<br />
MyState Wealth Management<br />
is arranging<br />
a number of seminars<br />
around to explain the<br />
changes.<br />
Seminars will be held<br />
in Burnie on <strong>April</strong> 27;<br />
Devonport on <strong>April</strong> 11<br />
and May 17; Launceston<br />
on <strong>April</strong> 12 and May 17;<br />
and Hobart on <strong>April</strong> 11<br />
and May 16.<br />
e dition<br />
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Level 1, 2 Salamanca Square, Hobart, 7000<br />
Aurora Energy employees who have achieved qualifications in Certificate III in <strong>Business</strong><br />
and Diploma of Leadership and Management.<br />
Airport avenue a<br />
runway success<br />
Descendants of Marguerite Grueber join Hobart Airport CEO Rod Parry,<br />
Franklin MP Julie Collins, Senator Eric Abetz and Clarence Mayor Doug<br />
Chipman at the official opening of Grueber Avenue.<br />
TO ALLOW for the<br />
next stage of the Hobart<br />
Airport runway extension,<br />
the new access<br />
road connecting Seven<br />
Mile Beach to the Tasman<br />
Highway – Grueber<br />
Avenue – has been officially<br />
opened by <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
Liberal Senator Eric<br />
Abetz.<br />
Grueber Avenue joins<br />
the southern end of Holyman<br />
Avenue which runs<br />
along the western side<br />
of the airport, and links<br />
through to Surf Road in<br />
Seven Mile Beach.<br />
<strong>Tasmanian</strong> Marguerite<br />
Grueber was one of the<br />
first two Australian air<br />
hostesses, hired in 1936<br />
by Holymans Airways,<br />
which became Australian<br />
National Airways.<br />
Grueber Ave is an important<br />
part of the Hobart<br />
Airport runway extension<br />
made possible<br />
through of $38 million in<br />
funding assistance from<br />
the Federal Government.<br />
The 2.1km avenue will<br />
allow continued access<br />
to the Tasman Highway<br />
when the section of Surf<br />
Rd that runs along the<br />
southern end of the runway<br />
closes in <strong>April</strong>.<br />
The closure is needed<br />
to provide safe operation<br />
of aircraft when the runway<br />
extension project is<br />
complete.<br />
Pedestrian, cyclist and<br />
non-vehicle access will<br />
continue on Surf Road.<br />
No other part of Surf<br />
Road will be affected,<br />
while Pittwater Road<br />
will remain open for access<br />
to the eastern end of<br />
Seven Mile Beach.<br />
Grueber Avenue will<br />
also provide access to<br />
the proposed Clarence<br />
City recreational grounds<br />
when developed, reducing<br />
additional traffic go-<br />
ing through the Seven<br />
Mile Beach community.<br />
The development of<br />
Grueber Avenue provides<br />
an easier, more<br />
direct exit from Hobart<br />
Airport for people dropping<br />
off and picking up<br />
visitors and also for users<br />
of the long-term car<br />
park. Work on the Hobart<br />
Airport runway<br />
extension remains ontrack,<br />
with completion<br />
due in March 2018.
<strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 3<br />
Buckby drives new business<br />
NEIL Buckby Motors<br />
continues to expand its<br />
footprint in Launceston,<br />
recently opening Renault<br />
Australia’s newest Renault<br />
showroom in Margaret<br />
Street.<br />
General Manager Ben<br />
Newman said the business<br />
became the local<br />
dealer for Renault cars<br />
and vans in May, 2015.<br />
A decision was made<br />
to develop and open a<br />
new showroom this year<br />
to better showcase the<br />
brand.<br />
“When we took on the<br />
Renault franchise we had<br />
limited space, and now<br />
with the new showroom<br />
we can display up to 14<br />
new vehicles,” Mr Newman<br />
said.<br />
Mr Newman said the<br />
Renault range had a vehicle<br />
to suit most drivers.<br />
The Clio is the small<br />
hatch in the range, with<br />
European styling and<br />
a sophisticated design.<br />
The Captur is a small<br />
SUV that appeals to<br />
those looking for low<br />
prices and high specs.<br />
The Megane is the sporty<br />
hatch oozing quality and<br />
style, which also comes<br />
in a wagon. The all new<br />
Koleos is a popular SUV<br />
that suits <strong>Tasmanian</strong> conditions.<br />
“It’s not just Renault<br />
cars that have a new<br />
space, Renault vans are<br />
also catered for,” Mr<br />
Newman said.<br />
“Renault commercial<br />
vehicles have become<br />
a popular option<br />
in the market with options<br />
available from the<br />
smaller Kangoo van to<br />
the large Master van and<br />
Master bus.<br />
“The interest in the<br />
Renault van range has<br />
increased significantly<br />
recently - there have<br />
been national fleets including<br />
Australia Post<br />
running Renaults in<br />
Tasmania and this has<br />
helped create awareness<br />
for the vans.”<br />
The Renault expansion<br />
is the latest in a long list<br />
of recent developments<br />
for the business, which<br />
was started in 1997 by<br />
the late Neil Buckby.<br />
The original showroom<br />
still operates in St<br />
John Street.<br />
“The history of this<br />
dealership and yard goes<br />
well beyond this date<br />
however, formerly running<br />
as Webster Cars<br />
in the 80s and 90s,” Mr<br />
Newman said.<br />
The current owners<br />
of Neil Buckby Motors,<br />
Crichton Lewis,<br />
Ben Newman and Elise<br />
NEWS<br />
Buckby<br />
Motors’ new<br />
Renault<br />
showroom in<br />
Margaret St<br />
continues to<br />
expand the<br />
company’s<br />
footprint in<br />
Launceston.<br />
D’Orazio have expanded<br />
the Neil Buckby Motors<br />
footprint over the past<br />
decade, adding Renault,<br />
Jaguar, Great Wall, JMC,<br />
RAM, and Foton to the<br />
existing brands Mercedes-Benz,<br />
Subaru, and<br />
Land Rover.<br />
Support grows for Government TasWater takeover<br />
From page 1<br />
“Now we are moving<br />
the debate on we want to<br />
know the nuts and bolts<br />
of the Government plan.<br />
“This will help us understand<br />
all the opportunities<br />
that can be created<br />
by the takeover.<br />
The Labor Opposition<br />
has committed to a<br />
public-private partnership<br />
at Macquarie Point<br />
and TCCI is pushing the<br />
Government for an answer<br />
to the Macquarie<br />
Point situation.<br />
It will cost $150 milion<br />
to relocate the infrastructure,<br />
unlocking $1<br />
billion in development at<br />
the site.<br />
The TCCI says infrastructure<br />
needs to be suitable<br />
for the growing population<br />
and a burgeoning<br />
tourism industry.<br />
“Certainly the TCCI is<br />
very concerned that more<br />
than 20 places in our<br />
state have a third world<br />
water supply which is<br />
just not acceptable,” Ms<br />
Parr said.<br />
“You have to feel for<br />
the residents who can’t<br />
drink the tap water and<br />
then they have to warn<br />
tourists from around the<br />
world that they can’t<br />
drink the water. Really!”<br />
Meanwhile, TasCOSS<br />
argues that consumers<br />
must be at the centre of<br />
the debate and the priority<br />
must be keeping prices<br />
down.<br />
TasCOSS CEO Kym<br />
Goodes said pensioners<br />
had to budget between<br />
$500 and $700 a year<br />
(and rising) to cover the<br />
cost of receiving basic<br />
water and sewerage services.<br />
“Access to clean, potable<br />
water is not just an<br />
essential service, it’s a<br />
human right,” Ms Goodes<br />
said.<br />
“We support decisions<br />
that will achieve a 21st<br />
century water and sewerage<br />
system.”<br />
Nyrstar’s<br />
century<br />
NYRSTAR’S Hobart<br />
zinc smelter has officially<br />
marked 100 years of<br />
continuous operation.<br />
The iconic industrial<br />
giant employs 600 people<br />
with another 3500<br />
<strong>Tasmanian</strong>s indirectly<br />
dependent on the smelter.<br />
The smelter contributes<br />
about $800 million<br />
towards Gross State<br />
Product and 24 per cent<br />
of total export value.<br />
The company is investing<br />
$52 million to<br />
modernise and expand<br />
its Lutana plant to process<br />
minor metals used<br />
in smartphones, flat<br />
screens and solar panels.<br />
TCCI is very concerned that more<br />
than 20 places in our state have a third<br />
world water supply<br />
Many of the specialty<br />
projects will be supported<br />
by private enterprise<br />
and in some cases, shared<br />
contracts with TasWater<br />
on strict deadlines.<br />
Discussions before<br />
the announcement made<br />
it clear that the strategic<br />
plan had been tested<br />
and accepted as was the<br />
financial aspect of the<br />
takeover.<br />
The takeover, if approved<br />
by the Legislative<br />
Council, will use Tas-<br />
Water’s strong balance<br />
sheet to secure additional<br />
funds to cover the projects.<br />
Organisations supporting<br />
the changes include<br />
the Property Council,<br />
Tourism Industry Council,<br />
Master Builders Association,<br />
TCCI and Tas-<br />
COSS.<br />
While LGAT in general<br />
has rejected the<br />
takeover, Launceston<br />
City Council supports<br />
change.<br />
A number of East<br />
Coast councils are also in<br />
favour of rapid change,<br />
given many business<br />
owners in the region have<br />
suffered consequences of<br />
sewerage overflows on<br />
seafood stocks.
4 <strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP<br />
www.tcci.com.au<br />
Job excites new Labor Leader<br />
BY RECECCA WHITE<br />
STATE OPPOSITION LEADER<br />
IT IS an enormous privilege<br />
to have been elected<br />
unanimously as the<br />
Leader of the Labor Party<br />
in Tasmania.<br />
I’d like to thank former<br />
leader Bryan Green<br />
for his contribution to the<br />
party and public life.<br />
Bryan has been a<br />
builder and has left his<br />
mark on the state in areas<br />
like irrigation and renewable<br />
energy.<br />
I’m excited about the<br />
challenge ahead, with a<br />
state election to be held<br />
in the next 12twelve<br />
months.<br />
Labor’s priorities are<br />
clear. We are focused on<br />
delivering better health<br />
services, providing the<br />
best public education<br />
system we possibly can<br />
and building public infrastructure<br />
to leverage<br />
and support private sector<br />
investment.<br />
Our strategy to complete<br />
three vital water<br />
and sewerage infrastructure<br />
projects goes to the<br />
heart of what we want to<br />
achieve.<br />
By partnering with industry<br />
superannuation<br />
funds, we would tackle<br />
Launceston’s ongoing<br />
storm water problems,<br />
move the sewerage treatment<br />
plant at Macquarie<br />
Point and deal with the<br />
challenges at Cameron<br />
Bay which are holding<br />
back progress on MONA<br />
stage two.<br />
Each of these three<br />
projects would allow for<br />
substantial economic<br />
growth through private<br />
investment.<br />
Tasmania’s economy<br />
needs an injection of<br />
full-time employment<br />
to reverse the trend towards<br />
part-time and casual<br />
jobs.<br />
To do that we need to<br />
back significant infrastructure<br />
upgrades.<br />
The three projects<br />
identified by Labor are<br />
not even on the Liberal<br />
Government’s radar. If<br />
fact we’ve been criticised<br />
for working on a solution<br />
for Macquarie Point<br />
by the Liberals who described<br />
it as a “pet proj-<br />
A constituent makes a point to new Labor Leader Rebecca White, centre, and MP Scott Bacon.<br />
ect”. Macquarie Point is<br />
far from a pet project. It’s<br />
an incredible economic<br />
opportunity which won’t<br />
proceed unless the water<br />
and sewerage challenges<br />
are addressed. We can’t<br />
afford to wait decades to<br />
see action on the site.<br />
I want to be an inclusive<br />
leader who’s prepared<br />
to work as hard as I can to<br />
get good outcomes for the<br />
state.<br />
Pre-selection for Labor<br />
candidates for the next state<br />
election opens in May and<br />
I want to see a broad range<br />
of people put their hand up.<br />
The next Labor government<br />
needs to have a diverse<br />
range of skills and include<br />
<strong>Tasmanian</strong>s from all<br />
walks of life.<br />
Labor will win seats at<br />
the next election and I want<br />
to build a team of smart,<br />
forward thinking people<br />
Tasmania’s<br />
economy<br />
needs an<br />
injection of<br />
full-time<br />
employment<br />
to reverse the<br />
trend towards<br />
part-time and<br />
casual jobs<br />
who want the best for Tasmania.<br />
I look forward to engaging<br />
with the business community<br />
over the next few<br />
months as I travel around<br />
the state.
<strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 5<br />
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP<br />
We must open the door<br />
as opportunity knocks<br />
The much-heralded MONA where the country’s business elite will be wined and dined during the Australian Chamber of<br />
Commerce and Industry Leader’s Conference on <strong>April</strong> 5 and 6.<br />
WHEN the country’s<br />
business elite arrives in<br />
Hobart for the Australian<br />
Chamber of Commerce<br />
and Industry Leaders’<br />
Conference we have a<br />
rare opportunity to show<br />
off our state in all its glory.<br />
All of the state and<br />
territory chamber heads<br />
will be in attendance<br />
from <strong>April</strong> 5 to 6, along<br />
with the ACCI board and<br />
management and another<br />
72 peak association<br />
heads from around the<br />
nation.<br />
Tasmania’s top business<br />
players will have the<br />
chance to meet and network<br />
with high-profile<br />
CEOs and senior management,<br />
who will meet<br />
to discuss policy for the<br />
chamber in the coming<br />
few months.<br />
The centrepiece of<br />
the conference will be<br />
the <strong>Business</strong> Leaders’<br />
Michael<br />
Bailey<br />
TCCI Chief Executive<br />
Sally<br />
Chandler<br />
Tradestart Adviser<br />
Dinner at MONA, with<br />
guests being ferried there<br />
on the MR-1.<br />
They will be wowed as<br />
they are wined and dined<br />
with Tasmania’s best<br />
produce and beverages.<br />
No doubt the <strong>Tasmanian</strong>s<br />
in the crowd will<br />
regale them with our island’s<br />
success stories –<br />
the visionaries, the movers<br />
and shakers and the<br />
trail blazers.<br />
It’s not just a coincidence<br />
that the location<br />
of the event is one of our<br />
greatest tales to date.<br />
We all know how<br />
much MONA has meant<br />
to the <strong>Tasmanian</strong> economy.<br />
David Walsh’s museum<br />
and the associated<br />
MONA events and infrastructure<br />
that have<br />
followed are largely responsible<br />
for driving<br />
tourism and innovation<br />
on this island in recent<br />
years.<br />
They say success<br />
breeds success for a<br />
reason. MONA has allowed<br />
confidence to filter<br />
through all levels of<br />
business, resulting in<br />
greater expenditure from<br />
other tourism, retail and<br />
hospitality businesses.<br />
The challenge we have<br />
now is to capitalise on<br />
Directory importers’ first port of call<br />
THE Australian Suppliers<br />
Directory sits on the<br />
Austrade website and<br />
contains the name and<br />
contact details of Australian<br />
exporters who go to<br />
the site and register.<br />
The directory is accessed<br />
by international<br />
buyers looking for Australian<br />
goods and services.<br />
To be included in the<br />
Australian Suppliers Directory<br />
exporters complete<br />
an online form via<br />
www.austrade.gov.au/<br />
CompanyRego.aspx?-<br />
folderid=1735<br />
The eligibility criteria<br />
is;<br />
• the business must be<br />
an established exporter<br />
of Australian products or<br />
services;<br />
• if the business has<br />
never exported before,<br />
or has only exported irregularly,<br />
the business<br />
must meet the following<br />
criteria in order to be<br />
considered eligible for<br />
inclusion in the Directory;<br />
• the business must<br />
have a current Australian<br />
<strong>Business</strong> Number<br />
(ABN);<br />
• Australia must be the<br />
main place of business;<br />
• management must be<br />
committed to becoming<br />
an exporter and developing<br />
the export side of<br />
the business, including<br />
a willingness to visit the<br />
market;<br />
• the business must<br />
have an ability to assign<br />
an export budget and financial<br />
resources to get<br />
into export, including a<br />
budget to visit the market;<br />
• a growth strategy<br />
must be in place;<br />
• marketing materials<br />
such as a website (essential)<br />
and e-brochures<br />
must be in place with an<br />
understanding that materials<br />
specific to the international<br />
market may need<br />
to be developed; and<br />
this phenomenon at every<br />
opportunity and there<br />
will be no better chance<br />
than when we have hundreds<br />
of influential business<br />
men and women<br />
from the ACCI here.<br />
Many of them may not<br />
have visited the island<br />
before and many will<br />
take the opportunity to<br />
visit all parts of Tasmania<br />
pre and post the conference.<br />
Then it’s our job to<br />
ensure they come back<br />
once the conference is<br />
over and bring their family<br />
and friends and hopefully<br />
some cashed-up, investment-ready<br />
business<br />
associates.<br />
The door is open for<br />
domestic trade deals and<br />
there is plenty of potential<br />
for new investment<br />
capital. If the multiplier<br />
effect is applied, Tasmania<br />
could stand to benefit<br />
substantially.<br />
• the business must<br />
have capacity to build<br />
supply capability.<br />
A marketing message<br />
of a minimum 100 words<br />
is entered and the better<br />
the entry in this section<br />
the better the prospects of<br />
being noticed by a potential<br />
buyer.<br />
The categories are extensive.<br />
They are agribusiness,<br />
arts and recreation,<br />
building and<br />
construction, business<br />
and other services, consumer<br />
goods non-food,<br />
defence security and safety,<br />
education and training,<br />
environment and energy,<br />
finance and insurance,<br />
food and beverage, government,<br />
health biotechnology<br />
and wellbeing,<br />
ICT, manufacturing (other),<br />
mining, tourism and<br />
hospitality, and transport.<br />
Premier Will Hodgman<br />
will be keynote<br />
speaker at the dinner.<br />
The recent tourism<br />
figures showed a seven<br />
per cent increase last<br />
year and the Premier<br />
said the figures confirmed<br />
Tasmania as a<br />
“tourism mecca.”<br />
The forum will also<br />
hear from Australian<br />
Chamber CEO James<br />
Pearson who was extremely<br />
impressed with<br />
the strategic plan for<br />
Tasmania and the performance<br />
of the TCCI<br />
in leading the business<br />
community and advocating<br />
strongly on their<br />
behalf.<br />
It is our chance to<br />
prove that this state<br />
will keep punching<br />
above its weight when<br />
it comes to business<br />
projects and development<br />
that drives the<br />
economy.<br />
When registering, a<br />
business must detail the<br />
countries they are currently<br />
exporting to and<br />
the countries they are legitimately<br />
interested in<br />
exporting to which may<br />
require prior research to<br />
make this nomination.<br />
The Australian Suppliers<br />
Directory is a free<br />
service provided by Austrade<br />
and I encourage all<br />
exporters who are not<br />
currently registered in the<br />
Directory, to go to the site<br />
and complete the online<br />
form.<br />
For international<br />
trade and investment<br />
assistance contact<br />
TCCI’s TradeStart adviser<br />
Sally Chandler<br />
at sally.chandler@<br />
tcci.com.au or phone<br />
1300 559 122.<br />
www.tcci.com.au<br />
Penalties<br />
explained<br />
Abbey<br />
George<br />
Workplace Relations<br />
NO DOUBT you are aware of the penalty rates<br />
decision that was handed down by the Fair Work<br />
Commission in February after some 39 hearing days,<br />
143 witnesses (of whom 128 were required for cross<br />
examination) and 5900 submissions from the public –<br />
what a decision it was.<br />
In essence the decision affects the following Awards<br />
in these ways:<br />
Fast Food Industry Award 2010<br />
• Reduces Sunday penalty rates in the fast food<br />
industry (Level 1 only) from 150% to 125% (for permanent<br />
staff) and 175% to 150% (for casual staff).<br />
• Reduces public holiday penalty rates from 250%<br />
to 225% for permanent employees and from 275% to<br />
250% for casuals.<br />
General Retail Industry Award 2010<br />
• Reduces Sunday penalty rates in the retail industry<br />
from 200% to 150% (for permanent staff) and from<br />
200% to 175% (for casuals).<br />
• Reduces public holiday penalty rates from 250%<br />
to 225% for permanent employees and to 250% for<br />
casuals.<br />
Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010<br />
• Reduces Sunday penalty rates in the hospitality<br />
industry from 175% to 150% (for permanent staff only).<br />
• Reduces public holiday penalty rates from 250%<br />
to 225% for permanent employees and from 275% to<br />
250% for casuals.<br />
Pharmacy Industry Award 2010<br />
• Reduces Sunday penalty rates in the pharmacy<br />
industry (7am-9pm only) from 200% to 150% for permanents<br />
and from 200% to 175% for casuals.<br />
• Reduces public holiday penalty rates from 250%<br />
to 225% for permanent employees and from 275% to<br />
250% for casuals.<br />
Restaurant Industry Award 2010<br />
• Reduces public holiday penalty rates from 250%<br />
to 225% for permanent employees.<br />
The Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2010 was also<br />
the subject of a claim to reduce Sunday penalty rates<br />
but this was withdrawn in September 2016.<br />
The Full Bench is yet to reach a finalised decision<br />
as to how the changes will be implemented but have<br />
indicated that the following is likely:<br />
• The Public holiday changes will take effect from 1<br />
July, <strong>2017</strong>;<br />
• The variation to the early/late night loadings in<br />
Restaurant and Fast Food Awards will take effect in<br />
late March <strong>2017</strong>; and<br />
• The variations to the Sunday penalty rates will<br />
take be phased in by a series of annual adjustments<br />
taking place on 1 July each year.<br />
Several Unions have vowed to fight this decision<br />
and condemned the pay cut. Many businesses have<br />
also made statements that they will not reduce the<br />
penalty rates they pay despite this decision.<br />
At TCCI there are a number of ways which we<br />
can assist with any pay rate questions you have, for<br />
example:<br />
• Pay and conditions guides; • Pay rate audits;<br />
• A partnership with the Australian Institute of<br />
Management with TCCI members receiving 25% off<br />
remuneration reviews if they contribute to the National<br />
Salary Survey; • Access to our Helpline; • Access to<br />
Consultants.<br />
So, if there is anything we can help you with please<br />
do not hesitate to contact us via our website, 1300<br />
559 122 or workplacerelations@tcci.com.au
6 <strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP<br />
www.tcci.com.au<br />
Cut in red tape a natural aim<br />
THE National <strong>Business</strong><br />
Simplification Initiative<br />
is a joint effort<br />
between the Commonwealth<br />
and States to address<br />
red tape for businesses,<br />
across all levels<br />
of government.<br />
In August last year,<br />
Tasmania became one<br />
of the first states to join<br />
the initiative and develop<br />
a pilot project for<br />
red tape reduction in an<br />
actively growing sector<br />
of our economy.<br />
We chose an issue<br />
raised by our<br />
award-winning nature-based<br />
tourism operators,<br />
who require<br />
multiple licences, permits<br />
and accreditation<br />
to conduct business in<br />
our national parks and<br />
reserves.<br />
Operators report that<br />
several of these processes<br />
require the same<br />
information to be submitted<br />
to different parts<br />
of government.<br />
The pilot project will<br />
“map” the various regulations<br />
and recom-<br />
mend ways to streamline<br />
them to save time<br />
and effort.<br />
This is not necessarily<br />
about less regulation,<br />
but a more<br />
business-friendly compliance<br />
process that will<br />
let tourism operators to<br />
get on with the job they<br />
do best, providing quality<br />
nature-based experiences.<br />
The project started<br />
when representatives<br />
from the Commonwealth<br />
Department of<br />
Industry, Innovation<br />
and Science came to<br />
Tasmania earlier this<br />
month to interview<br />
nature tourism operators,<br />
government departments<br />
and industry<br />
groups. They will report<br />
their findings in June.<br />
The State Government<br />
has a plan to attract<br />
1.5 million visitors<br />
a year to the state by<br />
2020 and by reducing<br />
red tape we can ensure<br />
that tourism operators<br />
are working in the best<br />
possible business envi-<br />
ronment, as well as the<br />
best possible natural environment.<br />
Tasmania is already<br />
reducing red tape<br />
through major planning<br />
and building reforms<br />
and more than 70 other<br />
areas identified through<br />
consultation. But there<br />
is still more work to do.<br />
I expect the types of<br />
solutions developed for<br />
nature-based tourism<br />
operators could also be<br />
applied in other sectors<br />
and settings and<br />
encourage anyone with<br />
a red tape problem, or<br />
ideas for red tape reduction,<br />
to contact the<br />
Red Tape Reduction<br />
Coordinator on 6165<br />
5027.<br />
Shannon Wells from<br />
Par Avion, left, Luke<br />
Martin from the<br />
Tourism Industry<br />
Council of Tasmania<br />
and Roger Jaensch.<br />
Workplace health and safety culture change<br />
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HORTLE<br />
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the same outcome.<br />
This is especially the<br />
case when trying to implement<br />
a culture of<br />
working safely when<br />
this may not have been<br />
as important in the past.<br />
The Workplace Health<br />
and Safety Act makes<br />
very clear the obligation<br />
of the PCBU (person<br />
conducting business or<br />
undertaking) in promoting<br />
and taking the lead<br />
in ensuring a safe workplace.<br />
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To ensure that the environment<br />
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that management set the<br />
example in promoting<br />
and talking about health<br />
and safety. This can be<br />
achieved by:<br />
• the way we talk about<br />
WHS to our supervisors<br />
and employees;<br />
• being prepared to<br />
release personnel to develop<br />
a workplace health<br />
and management system;<br />
• if there is an obvious<br />
fix for a WHS issue, being<br />
prepared to take the<br />
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• take the lead in our<br />
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There may be an initial<br />
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... it is essential that management<br />
set the example in promoting and<br />
talking about health and safety.<br />
The benefits far outweigh<br />
doing nothing –<br />
you will have a workplace<br />
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hazards and risks, you<br />
will have a better work<br />
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which means taking<br />
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Contact Craig Hortle<br />
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<strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 7<br />
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP<br />
Trade all about face-to-face meetings<br />
Tassie’s wares to the fore<br />
Brett<br />
Charlton<br />
Agility Logistics<br />
WHEN you step off that<br />
Dash 8 at Launceston<br />
airport and take in the<br />
air, blue skies, space and<br />
see your children waving<br />
through the window, you<br />
check yourself and tick<br />
that box in your head that<br />
tells you that you live<br />
in the best place on the<br />
planet.<br />
I have a new phrase for<br />
Tasmania – “we are living<br />
on an ark.”<br />
Two and a half weeks<br />
travelling through Hong<br />
Kong, Japan, Korea and<br />
China is an eye-opener<br />
without the trade bent,<br />
but being part of a delegation<br />
representing the<br />
state and, by proxy, the<br />
rest of Australia, is another<br />
level completely.<br />
The Department of<br />
State Growth trade and<br />
investment department<br />
excelled in creating an<br />
engaging, informative<br />
and smooth experience<br />
that has allowed a group<br />
of <strong>Tasmanian</strong> traders an<br />
insight into Japan and<br />
Korea markets.<br />
Despite the leaps in<br />
technology of our generation,<br />
the bridging of cultures<br />
is really something<br />
that can only be done<br />
face-to-face and the old<br />
adage of “relationships”<br />
is completely what it is<br />
all about.<br />
Someone once told<br />
me that a shared bottle<br />
of champagne can do infinitely<br />
more good than a<br />
church full of cardinals<br />
– replace the champagne<br />
with some good Tassie<br />
pinot or gin and I think<br />
that is pretty much right.<br />
Seoul and Korea were<br />
part of the <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
delegation for trade and<br />
were represented by a<br />
good cross-section of the<br />
trading community. Fine<br />
Brett Charlton at the headquarters of JD.com<br />
in Beijing.<br />
ucts – that said, it did<br />
not appear to me that<br />
our exotic location and<br />
safe food manufacturing<br />
equated into lofty returns<br />
for exporters as a general<br />
rule. There is some work<br />
needed in that space.<br />
Away from the delegation<br />
I visited Hong<br />
Kong, Guangzhou and<br />
Beijing where the main<br />
focus was to explore and<br />
learn the e-commerce<br />
channels.<br />
It is certainly an eye<br />
opener and something<br />
that showcased for me<br />
the embracement of electronic<br />
mediums to be the<br />
conduit for pretty much<br />
everything that can be<br />
purchased.<br />
There was a very keen<br />
desire to explore Australia<br />
(not just Tasmania) as<br />
a source for products and<br />
I got the impression that<br />
the boom of the industry<br />
in China has restricted<br />
the time for these companies<br />
to source products<br />
from overseas.<br />
Taking what we have<br />
to them is something we<br />
need to embrace as it is<br />
unlikely they have the<br />
time to come to us.<br />
www.tcci.com.au<br />
Golden rule<br />
for finance<br />
Dean<br />
Demeyer<br />
<strong>Business</strong> Broker<br />
GETTING finance to<br />
buy a business is difficult<br />
in Australia, but not impossible.<br />
Most people apply to<br />
one of the big four banks<br />
because that is where<br />
their home mortgage is.<br />
However there are other<br />
options to consider.<br />
The best way to find<br />
a loan is by using a specialist<br />
commercial finance<br />
broker, as opposed<br />
to a mortgage broker.<br />
This is my golden rule<br />
for finding a loan to buy<br />
a business.<br />
And if you are serious<br />
about buying a business,<br />
another option to consider<br />
is always to have a line<br />
of credit set up against<br />
your property, where<br />
possible, to the highest<br />
equity value you can get.<br />
Once you have that<br />
set up, you don’t have<br />
to worry about the bank<br />
mustards, amazing gins,<br />
great wines showcased<br />
Tasmania’s wares with<br />
timber, aquaculture development<br />
and other industries.<br />
I was there to wave the<br />
flag with our ability to<br />
provide first-class freight<br />
and logistics for getting<br />
products to the markets<br />
as well as to learn the<br />
mechanics of importing<br />
into such countries.<br />
We had some excellent<br />
meetings with trade<br />
officials and importers<br />
that showed us the potential<br />
of their markets<br />
for <strong>Tasmanian</strong> exporters,<br />
but with the reminder<br />
that we are living in a<br />
global economy and that<br />
while the economies are<br />
evolving to a Western<br />
bent, there is a need to be<br />
competitive.<br />
Australia is seen as a<br />
very safe environment<br />
to buy food-related proddenying<br />
you an overdraft<br />
when cash flow gets<br />
tight.<br />
You may want to keep<br />
your property out of the<br />
deal, but a lender isn’t<br />
going to let that happen.<br />
Banks always want assets<br />
as security and your<br />
property is usually your<br />
largest asset.<br />
A home equity loan<br />
will be wise given the<br />
way lower interest rates<br />
and much longer payback<br />
periods.<br />
Another tip – don’t<br />
quit your job right away.<br />
Establish your finances<br />
first while you are still<br />
gainfully employed.<br />
My last tip is to be<br />
flexible about changing<br />
banks. Your commercial<br />
finance broker will<br />
be looking for the best<br />
and most suitable deal<br />
for you and it may not be<br />
your mortgage provider.<br />
NEW TRACK, NEW EQUIPMENT, NEW TECHNOLOGY<br />
NEW APPROACH, NEW ATTITUDE, NEW FOCUS<br />
THE NEW STANDARD FOR FREIGHT LOGISTICS IN TASMANIA<br />
SETTING A NEW STANDARD<br />
FOR FREIGHT LOGISTICS<br />
IN TASMANIA<br />
Bookings:<br />
1300 TASRAIL<br />
freightbookings@tasrail.com.au<br />
WWW.TASRAIL.COM.AU
8 <strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - MARCH <strong>2017</strong><br />
FOCUS ON BUSINESS<br />
Old Woolstore<br />
entersTourism<br />
Hall of Fame<br />
HOBART’S Old Woolstore Apartment<br />
Hotel enjoyed another successful<br />
night at the annual Qantas Australian<br />
Tourism Awards last month,<br />
being inducted into the Hall of Fame<br />
after winning gold for the third consecutive<br />
year in the <strong>Business</strong> Event<br />
Venue category at the gala dinner<br />
held at the Darwin Convention and<br />
Exhibition Centre in February.<br />
The Old Woolstore triumphed<br />
against tough competition from all<br />
states and territories to take home its<br />
seventh gold award at national level<br />
since 2008, along with the Silver<br />
award for Deluxe Accommodation.<br />
Chief Executive Officer Ben Targett<br />
said: “Everyone at The Old<br />
Woolstore Apartment Hotel will be<br />
incredibly excited and honoured<br />
to have been recognised as one of<br />
Australia’s most successful tourism<br />
businesses.<br />
“Over many years our team has<br />
worked hard to provide genuine hospitality<br />
and this result just highlights<br />
their ongoing passion for creating<br />
wonderful guest experiences.”<br />
“To achieve both national Hall of<br />
Fame status in the highly competitive<br />
<strong>Business</strong> Event Venue category<br />
and Silver in Deluxe Accommodation<br />
is an extraordinary acknowledgment<br />
of the value of continual investment,<br />
innovation and focusing<br />
on the needs of our guests. To win<br />
gold three years in a row is just phenomenal.”<br />
“We would also like to sincerely<br />
thank our industry and commercial<br />
partners, and of course our guests for<br />
their ongoing support.”<br />
It was another successful year for<br />
<strong>Tasmanian</strong> operators, winning a total<br />
of 14 medals combined – five gold,<br />
seven silver and two bronze - more<br />
than any other state.<br />
The Qantas Australian Tourism<br />
Awards recognise and promote excellence<br />
in tourism and are the pinnacle<br />
of achievement for the tourism<br />
industry across Australia.<br />
As highlighted by their induction<br />
into the Hall of Fame, The Old<br />
Woolstore team knows how to deliver<br />
events with consistency and personalised<br />
service. Rich in history,<br />
ideally located, and with all the extras<br />
that appeal to business travellers,<br />
the hotel is the obvious choice<br />
for business events in Hobart.<br />
The purpose-built facilities provide<br />
a versatile and professional environment.<br />
With a unique range of<br />
CEO Ben Targett and team members<br />
from the Old Woolstore in Hobart<br />
celebrate a seventh gold award at the<br />
Qantas Australian Tourism Awards<br />
and, inset, the welcoming lobby at<br />
the Sullivans Cove apartment hotel.<br />
indoor and outdoor options to suit<br />
almost any occasion, the property<br />
specialises in residential multi-day<br />
conferences for up to 170 delegates.<br />
For larger event in Hobart, competitive<br />
overflow accommodation<br />
and conference options are available.<br />
As an independent property, the<br />
team has the flexibility to design<br />
a conference package which best<br />
suits needs. State-of-the-art digital<br />
audio visual capabilities, including<br />
Apple Airplay, provide for a professional<br />
presentation. Catering can<br />
be tailored to meet most styles and<br />
budgets – from a casual outdoor barbecue<br />
to an elegant three-course dinner.<br />
Accommodation consists of a<br />
unique choice of 242 fully serviced<br />
apartments and hotel rooms.<br />
Apartments are fully self-contained<br />
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<strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 9<br />
NEWS<br />
Sensor<br />
production<br />
face of<br />
the future<br />
Designer Richard Deverell deals creatively with the devil in detail.<br />
Sky the limit in creativity<br />
ONE <strong>Tasmanian</strong> design company<br />
is taking to the sky in a bid to<br />
further enhance his business.<br />
Richard Deverell started his<br />
own graphic design company,<br />
Dev Design and Creative, in May<br />
2016 - a natural progression given<br />
his 20 years’ experience in the<br />
design, advertising and marketing<br />
industry.<br />
He already has plans to expand<br />
the business to incorporate<br />
aerial photography and video<br />
production through the use of his<br />
recently obtained drone, or as Mr<br />
Deverell calls it “Sky Devil”.<br />
“When you own your own<br />
business you get the opportunity<br />
Solar<br />
power<br />
for the<br />
future<br />
to explore areas that interest you<br />
personally,” Richard said.<br />
“‘Sky Devil’ does just that… I<br />
get to enjoy the outdoors and see<br />
things from a pretty cool perspective.<br />
“I hope to combine my passion<br />
for golf too, and provide flyovers<br />
for local golf clubs, showcasing<br />
the amazing courses Tasmania<br />
has to offer.”<br />
Dev Design uses the slogan<br />
“the devil is in the detail” and offers<br />
a complete in-house design<br />
service incorporating graphic<br />
design, branding, print and web.<br />
“I have worked with more than<br />
80 new or existing business since<br />
Dev Design started and it has<br />
been really satisfying connecting<br />
and reconnecting with people<br />
I’ve worked with in the past.<br />
My clients like the fact they<br />
are talking to the person who<br />
will be responsible for the actual<br />
designing of their project.<br />
“There is nothing more rewarding<br />
for me than meeting<br />
with a client, discussing their<br />
vision and developing original<br />
design concepts that meet their<br />
requirements.<br />
“And they get a great result that<br />
doesn’t break the bank, within<br />
a time frame that suits their<br />
needs.”<br />
LAUNCESTON will be home to a new<br />
advanced manufacturing facility, producing<br />
sensors which would previously<br />
have been sourced from global hi-tech<br />
giants such as Japan and China.<br />
The University of Tasmania’s Advanced<br />
Sensor Manufacturing Facility<br />
(ASMF), which will be operated<br />
in partnership with Launceston firm<br />
Definium Technologies, was launched<br />
last month.<br />
The facility is born out of both opportunities<br />
and demand created by the<br />
growing Sense-T research program, a<br />
collaboration of the Australian Government,<br />
CSIRO and the University of<br />
Tasmania.<br />
University of<br />
Tasmania Deputy<br />
Vice-Chancellor<br />
(Research) Professor<br />
Brigid Heywood said<br />
the new facility was<br />
a stellar example of<br />
the type of advanced<br />
manufacturing which<br />
will define the future<br />
capability of the state.<br />
“This is smart, future-facing<br />
manufacturing,”<br />
Professor<br />
Heywood said.<br />
“This will position<br />
Launceston and<br />
Tasmania as an innovative provider of<br />
advanced circuit board components and<br />
electronic hardware design.<br />
“This is a direct return on investment<br />
by our Government in the Sense-T<br />
project and shows what can happen<br />
when we marry our distinctive research<br />
strengths, our capacity in the STEM<br />
disciplines, and a strong partnership between<br />
the University, government and<br />
industry.”<br />
The ASMF will manufacture sensor<br />
Hi-tech electronic component<br />
manufacuring defines<br />
the fuiture capability of<br />
manufacturing in Tasmania.<br />
prototypes to be embedded across the<br />
emerging Internet of Things and build<br />
upon Definium’s global reputation –<br />
also serving as a training and education<br />
centre for students at the University of<br />
Tasmania.<br />
It will:<br />
• manufacture sensors which will<br />
support an ecosystem of data collection<br />
and analysis for <strong>Tasmanian</strong> businesses;<br />
• support a network which will connect<br />
with backend cloud-based communication<br />
with multiple applications<br />
for sectors including agriculture, viticulture<br />
and aquaculture industries; and<br />
• enable small companies and larger<br />
organisations the unique capability to<br />
rapidly deploy sensor<br />
prototypes in a<br />
cost and time-efficient<br />
manner.<br />
Sense-T Director<br />
Associate Professor<br />
Dr Stephen Cahoon<br />
said that Sense-T had<br />
developed a close<br />
working relationship<br />
with Definium Technologies<br />
in recent<br />
years and it was the<br />
natural partner for the<br />
ASMF.<br />
“The ASMF is an<br />
important component<br />
of our data value chain as it will enable<br />
21st-century sensor technology to be<br />
developed in Launceston for our suite<br />
of innovative projects,” Professor Cahoon<br />
said.<br />
The sensors will collect real-time<br />
data, that when combined with Sense-<br />
T’s data analytics capabilities, will<br />
provide new business insights and evidence-based,<br />
decision-making for managers<br />
in a range of sectors from agriculture<br />
to transport logistics.<br />
A $2 million dollar solar<br />
park project involving<br />
4000 panels has been<br />
launched in Launceston.<br />
Nest Energy is undertaking<br />
the project at<br />
Merino St to take advantage<br />
of improved solar<br />
infrastructure that make<br />
it more cost-effective to<br />
compete against traditional<br />
energy generators.<br />
Nest’s Mark Barnett<br />
said the project would<br />
have a 35-year lifespan<br />
and would offset more<br />
than 20,000 tonnes of<br />
CO 2 .<br />
<strong>Business</strong>es in the<br />
Kings Meadows area<br />
will be offered the energy<br />
produced at the site<br />
and any remaining output<br />
would be sold back<br />
to the grid.<br />
David Hillier, left, and Mark Barnett from Nest Energy show Treasurer<br />
Peter Gutwein one of their solar panels.<br />
Treasurer Peter Gutwein<br />
said the project<br />
would be one of the<br />
state’s biggest ever solar<br />
power plants and was a a<br />
clear sign that <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
businesses are confident.<br />
“They’re looking for<br />
opportunities to grow<br />
and they are investing in<br />
infrastructure,” Mr Gutwein<br />
said.<br />
“The flow-on benefits<br />
of this investment are<br />
significant. It will create<br />
around 14 jobs during<br />
design and construction<br />
and will provide significant<br />
cost savings to business<br />
tenants that choose<br />
to lease space at the old<br />
wool store site in Merino<br />
Street.<br />
“Nest Energy’s project<br />
will also encourage other<br />
businesses to be innovative<br />
and creative.”<br />
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10 <strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />
APPOINTMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS<br />
New floral bloom<br />
after colorful past<br />
IN BRIEF<br />
Energy efficient<br />
loan scheme<br />
THE Westpac Group will be the financial<br />
partner for the <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme<br />
(TEELS), which will provide up to<br />
$10 million in the form of no-interest<br />
finance for the purchase<br />
of energy efficient products for<br />
households and small businesses.<br />
Energy efficient appliances such<br />
as heat pumps, double glazed windows,<br />
solar panels and solar hot<br />
water systems are part of the program.<br />
TEELS is a joint initiative of the<br />
<strong>Tasmanian</strong> Government and Aurora<br />
Energy.<br />
Aurora Energy acting CEO<br />
Grant Russell welcomed Westpac’s<br />
involvement and confirmed<br />
that the scheme was on track for<br />
commencement this month.<br />
“We have had strong response<br />
to our online TEELS registration<br />
process with more than 450 people<br />
already expressing an interest,”<br />
Mr Russell said.<br />
Penalty Rates<br />
rev up<br />
BRADDON Liberal MP Adam<br />
Brooks has called on the business<br />
community to “put their money<br />
where their mouth is” after the Fair<br />
Work Commission’s penalty rates<br />
decision.<br />
“The business community has<br />
long been on the record saying that<br />
high wages on Sundays were stopping<br />
them from opening longer<br />
and employing more people,” Mr<br />
Brooks said.<br />
“Now that the Fair Work Commission<br />
has accepted their argument,<br />
the ball is in their court to<br />
deliver the jobs that they have<br />
promised.”<br />
Timber talk<br />
A SYMPOSIUM promoting the<br />
opportunities for the use of <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
timber products in the construction<br />
of the University’s new<br />
buildings in Burnie and at Inveresk<br />
has been held.<br />
The government said the $90<br />
million Northern Cities Major<br />
Development Initiatives and<br />
the University’s $300 million<br />
Northern Transformation Project<br />
required the “use of <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
timber and timber products<br />
where possible during the construction<br />
and fit-out stages of<br />
infrastructure developments”.<br />
Resources Minister Guy Barnett<br />
said the new buildings<br />
should also showcase <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
wood products and help to<br />
attract further interest for construction<br />
interstate and overseas.<br />
Thanks<br />
Bruny Boost<br />
BRUNY Island will receive a<br />
$150,000 injection to upgrade infrastructure<br />
identified as priority<br />
projects by the local community.<br />
Nationally-acclaimed tourism<br />
operator Rob Pennicott will invest<br />
$50,000 in the projects, with the<br />
Kingborough Council and State<br />
Government to each match the<br />
amount.<br />
Florists Karen left, and Olivia Bugelli at their new store Florage.<br />
A MOTHER and daughter team from<br />
the Gold Coast has transformed an<br />
old Launceston cottage into a bright<br />
and beautiful new business.<br />
Interior stylist and florist Karen<br />
Bugelli, along with her florist daughter<br />
Olivia Bugelli, established Florage<br />
two months ago and are busy not<br />
only selling their floral and homewares,<br />
but the benefits of working in<br />
Tasmania as well.<br />
“When we told people we were<br />
coming to Tasmania everyone said<br />
‘why’ and we say ‘why not’,” Ms<br />
Bugelli said.<br />
“It is an amazing part of the world,<br />
a great place to have a small business<br />
where the locals love having new<br />
shops to explore and are very welcoming<br />
and the tourists love coming<br />
into quaint looking stores that are<br />
different.”<br />
The floristry family bought their<br />
George St property without an inspection<br />
and spent eight weeks transforming<br />
it into their new shop.<br />
“This old tired house had many<br />
uses over the years so the locals have<br />
told us – every tradie who came told<br />
us it used to be a brothel back in the<br />
day,” Ms Bugelli said.<br />
She said feedback about the new<br />
business, which specialises in bespoke<br />
bouquet arrangements, had<br />
been very positive.<br />
“We strive to make our store different<br />
so that shoppers can come in<br />
and find something that they won’t<br />
get in a hundred other stores,” she<br />
said.<br />
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APPOINTMENTS<br />
Parry set for<br />
take-off<br />
AFTER seven successful years<br />
transforming Hobart Airport,<br />
Chief Executive<br />
Officer<br />
Rod Parry has<br />
announced he<br />
will finish in<br />
the role at the<br />
end of July.<br />
Mr Parry<br />
Rod Parry<br />
has overseen<br />
Tasmania’s<br />
major airport<br />
through significant<br />
change and growth, with an<br />
additional 500,000 passengers<br />
now travelling through the airport<br />
each year.<br />
This has been supported by<br />
capital expenditure of over $60<br />
million on projects including a<br />
new arrivals area in the terminal,<br />
resurfacing of the runway, and<br />
significantly expanded retail, car<br />
rental and parking facilities.<br />
Mr Parry said commencement<br />
of the 500m extension of the<br />
WANTED<br />
<strong>Business</strong><br />
movers and<br />
shakers<br />
• Promotions<br />
• Appointments<br />
• Awards<br />
• Celebrating<br />
success<br />
Share the news<br />
with the<br />
<strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
business<br />
community<br />
airport’s runway to allow direct<br />
flights to Asia and improved<br />
access to the Antarctic is a key<br />
achievement and one which has<br />
the potential to change the future<br />
of Hobart Airport and open up<br />
new opportunities for Tasmania.<br />
“I am proud of the achievements<br />
of the Hobart Airport team<br />
over the past seven years. The<br />
next 12<br />
months will see the completion of<br />
the runway extension project and<br />
the commencement of the<br />
second phase of the terminal redevelopment,<br />
with a further $60<br />
million investment planned,” Mr<br />
Parry said.<br />
Mr Parry said given the<br />
achievements during his seven<br />
years at the airport and the projected<br />
completion of the runway<br />
extension in March 2018, it was<br />
an appropriate time for someone<br />
else to lead in the next stage of the<br />
airport’s growth.<br />
An International search is<br />
underway for Mr Parry’s replacement<br />
and he will stay on during<br />
the five month appointment process.<br />
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Thirty three staff will now be<br />
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The airline has made some $6m<br />
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<strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 11<br />
EVENTS NEWS<br />
EVENT:<br />
Clifford Craig International<br />
Women’s Day luncheon<br />
featuring specialist breast<br />
cancer surgeon<br />
Dr Chantel Thornton<br />
LOCATION:<br />
Grand Chancellor Hotel,<br />
Launceston.<br />
DATE:<br />
March 10, <strong>2017</strong><br />
ABOVE: Anne Forrest, left, Peter Milne, Marg Milne and Jean Montauban.<br />
LEFT: Guest<br />
speaker –<br />
specialist<br />
breast cancer<br />
surgeon<br />
Dr Chantel<br />
Thornton.<br />
ABOVE: Mary Johnson, left, and Pam Watkins.<br />
LEFT:<br />
Carrie Twine<br />
and Kirsty<br />
Dunphey<br />
ABOVE: MC Sara Redman interviews “local hero” State MP<br />
Sarah Courtney.<br />
Part of the huge turnout for the International Women’s Day<br />
luncheon at the Grand Chancellor Hotel.
<strong>Tasmanian</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> - APRIL <strong>2017</strong> 12<br />
PROPERTY MATTERS<br />
North West outlook strong<br />
Scott Newton<br />
Property Matters with<br />
Knight Frank<br />
In this month’s article, Knight Frank’s<br />
Commercial Sales and Leasing specialist, Nicholas<br />
Bond, shares his insights into the North West Coast<br />
commercial property market and his outlook for the<br />
future<br />
THE Cities of Devonport and<br />
Burnie are benefitting from the continual<br />
compression of yields in commercial<br />
markets both nationally and<br />
within Tasmania.<br />
The Hobart market continues to<br />
strengthen and as a result investors<br />
are now looking towards regional<br />
Tasmania for better priced opportunities<br />
in the market.<br />
In July 2016 the <strong>Tasmanian</strong><br />
Chamber of Commerce and Industry<br />
reported that there was a significant<br />
loss of business confidence in<br />
the North West where businesses<br />
had reported a negative view of the<br />
<strong>Tasmanian</strong> economy.<br />
With traditional North West Coast<br />
industries such as mining, manufacturing,<br />
and dairy under pressure,<br />
these changes in confidence were<br />
expected.<br />
What has been interesting is that<br />
the commercial property sector in<br />
Burnie and Devonport seems to<br />
have bucked the trend, with investors<br />
seeing the region as an exciting<br />
opportunity in which to invest.<br />
A number of recent retail leasing<br />
deals in Burnie and Devonport, on<br />
the back of statewide growth in the<br />
retail sector, are seen as signs of positive<br />
momentum for the overall commercial<br />
property market throughout<br />
the North West.<br />
Investment in the Devonport Living<br />
City urban renewal project is<br />
clearly on the minds of investors<br />
looking at this market.<br />
Investment in the re-development<br />
of the new Hill Street Grocer Shopping<br />
Centre is further evidence of<br />
confidence in these markets with the<br />
project – comprising a supermarket<br />
Opportunities are opening up in Devonport.<br />
and four specialty shops – opening<br />
fully leased.<br />
Vendors and purchasers are looking<br />
closely at opportunities in and<br />
around Stage 1 of the Living City<br />
project bounded by Best and Oldaker<br />
Streets.<br />
A number of investment properties<br />
have been offered to the market,<br />
and the yields are certainly indicating<br />
a strong level of confidence in<br />
the North West.<br />
On the back of a compression of<br />
yields in our Hobart and Launceston<br />
markets we are seeing investors<br />
actively looking at North West<br />
Coast opportunities.<br />
Recent sales with strong leases<br />
in place have traded at attractive<br />
yields about 7.5 per cent.<br />
The freight and logistics industries<br />
continue to witness improved<br />
sentiment from continued<br />
investment by Tasports in the local<br />
ports and the investment by<br />
Searoad in a new vessel servicing<br />
Bass Strait.<br />
The enquiry level for modern<br />
warehousing has strengthened and<br />
companies are now struggling to<br />
find suitable larger format modern<br />
warehousing to satisfy their<br />
requirements.<br />
Knight Frank continues to be<br />
involved in working with these<br />
companies to secure purpose-built<br />
Knight Frank ... has<br />
recently established<br />
an office in<br />
Devonport to<br />
service the North<br />
West and West<br />
Coast regions and<br />
is experiencing a<br />
very strong<br />
level of enquiry<br />
facilities or opportunities already<br />
in the market and has recently established<br />
an office in Devonport<br />
to service the North West and<br />
West Coast regions and is experiencing<br />
a very strong level of<br />
enquiry for both investment opportunities<br />
and previously vacant<br />
space.<br />
In particular, we have witnessed<br />
a strong uptake of commercial office<br />
stock from new entrants to<br />
the market as a result of the full<br />
roll out of the National Disability<br />
Insurance scheme.<br />
We expect new opportunities to<br />
continue to present as business confidence<br />
returns.<br />
PROPERTY VIEW<br />
APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />
For lease<br />
SHIPWRIGHTS ARMS HOTEL<br />
29 Trumpeter Street, Battery Point<br />
Sold<br />
FULLY LEASED INVESTMENT<br />
23 Forbes Street, Devonport<br />
• Shippies - a Hobart institution<br />
• Hisitoric, heritage listed hotel successfully<br />
trading since c1846<br />
• Includes public bar, lounge bar, dining<br />
room, two function rooms, rear courtyard,<br />
nine rooms, manager’s flat, and offsite<br />
parking<br />
• Annual revenue around $1.87 million<br />
• Over 18 years remaining on the lease<br />
• Great location in popular Battery Point<br />
• Recently refurbished three-bedroom<br />
manager’s flat<br />
• Significant accommodation revenue<br />
SOLD<br />
• Modern, attractive, and versatile building<br />
with estimated net area of 349sqm<br />
• New 6 year lease with further 4 year option<br />
to existing long standing tenant<br />
• Annual CPI increases; market review at<br />
exercise of option<br />
• tenant pays usual outgoings<br />
• On site car parking<br />
• Net passing income: $47,500 + GST pa<br />
(approx)<br />
Sold prior to close of expressions of interest<br />
under Vendor’s instruction.<br />
Nick Bond: 0414 395 007<br />
View at KnightFrank.com.au/3294811<br />
Outline indicative only<br />
John Blacklow 0418 128 735<br />
View at KnightFrank.com.au/3405337<br />
Outline indicative only<br />
For sale by expressions of interest<br />
ICONIC SALAMANCA FREEHOLD<br />
85-87 Salamanca Place, Battery Point<br />
Sold<br />
OCCUPY, INVEST OR DEVELOP<br />
11 Oldaker Street, Devonport<br />
Very few opportunities exist to purchase freehold<br />
heritage assets in Salamanca Place — one of the<br />
most sought after locations in Australia.<br />
• Substantial c1830’s Georgian heritage<br />
property on Hobart’s waterfront<br />
• Five separate strata titles are offered for sale<br />
individually or in one line<br />
• Units 1-4 are high quality, self-contained<br />
apartments; Unit 5 is leased to the Ball &<br />
Chain, one of Hobart’s premier restaurants<br />
• Total net income is estimated at $404,236<br />
SOLD<br />
Living City<br />
Stage One<br />
• Strategically located on the northern edge<br />
of the Devonport CBD, close to the<br />
foreshore and river, and adjacent to<br />
Devonport Living City Project<br />
• Comprises extensively refurbished, modern<br />
café/bakery, covered alfresco dining area,<br />
entry ramp, large commercial kitchen with<br />
expansive storage and preparation areas<br />
• Site area: 556sqm (approx); floor area<br />
323sqm (approx)<br />
Outline indicative only<br />
Scott Newton 0409 186 261<br />
John Blacklow 0418 128 735<br />
View at KnightFrank.com.au/3530784<br />
Outline indicative only<br />
Nick Bond: 0414 395 007<br />
View at KnightFrank.com.au/3427292<br />
5 Victoria Street, Hobart 41 York Street, Launceston Shop 6a, 48-54 Oldaker Street, Devonport<br />
P: 03 6220 6999 P: 03 6333 7888 P: 03 6333 7888