Tasmanian Business Reporter February 2019

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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 12,000 M O N T H LY 2 Tasmanian Business Reporter - FEBRUARY 2019 NEWS Fires delay windfarm works BUSHFIRE in the state’s Central Highlands have halted construction of Goldwind Australia’s $300 million Cattle Hill Windfarm. Forty eight wind turbines will be built near the Waddamana power station as part of the wind farm project which will return to construction phase once the severe fire threat eases, expected as we go to print. With the project planned to be fully operational by late this year, 120 staff have been on site since last year to prepare for the arrival of key equipment. TasPorts has welcomed the first of the 68.75-metre-long blades to Bell Bay ready for transport to the site. TasPorts Acting CEO Anthony Donald said it was a major infrastructure initiative to coordinate. “This has been a complex project coordinating logistics between all involved parties,” he said. “We are expecting all turbine components to arrive across six shipments over the coming months. “The components will be The first of the 68.75-metre-long blades at Bell Bay ready for transport. stored inside the port at Bell Bay before making their way to the project site via road transport.” The Cattle Hill Wind Farm will have the capacity to power 63,500 Tasmanian homes. Goldwind Australia Managing Director John Titchen said the Cattle Hill Wind Farm project continued to have significant local benefits. “Goldwind appointed Hobart-based Hazell Brothers to undertake the full civil and electrical works for the project and Launceston-based company Gradco to undertake road upgrades to allow for the delivery of wind tur- This will be a huge economic boost for the West Coast and North West bine components and associated equipment,” he said. Up to 150 staff are expected on site during the peak of construction. Construction is also progressing on the $280 million Granville Harbour wind farm. Nearly 100 sections of wind turbine towers, each weighing almost 150 tonnes, have been transported from Burnie Port to a holding facility behind Bunnings Warehouse before they move on to their final destination. The 52-metre long, 6.1-metre high components were escorted by State Growth Transport Safety Officers in one of the largest road-based movements ever seen in Tasmania. “With Granville Harbour and Cattle Hill under construction, and Robbins Island and Jim’s Plain in the pipeline, more than 350 construction jobs have already been injected into regional communities with more than 400 construction jobs and 95 ongoing roles on the table,” Energy Minister Guy Barnett said. “This will be a huge economic boost for the West Coast and North West.” The Government’s Tasmania First energy policy aims to make our state fully renewable-energy self-sufficient and to have the lowest regulated power prices by 2022. 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 12,000 M O N T H LY e dition Tasmanian Business Reporter can now be delivered directly to your inbox. With our 30,000-strong monthly print readership, our new up-to-date digital distribution will keep Tasmanians abreast of the all latest in local business news. From this month we will distribute electronic editions of the Tasmanian Business Reporter as we go to print. To confirm your copy sign up to our mailing list via tbreditorial@fontpr.com.au 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 12,000 M O N T H LY 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 BUSINESS Managing Editor: Tom 2O’Meara 0418 135 822 Editor: Becher Townshend 0418 370 661 Advertising and Special Projects Gil Sellars 0448 901 371 gil@thetrustedmediaco.com HOBART’S Editorial BEST & Advertising RANGE OF TBReditorial@fontpr.com.au FOR THE www.tasmanianbusinessreporter.com.au HOME AND OFFICE Publisher: We specialise Tasmanian in high Chamber quality ergonomic of Commerce chairs, and Industry alternative seating 309 Liverpool and electronic St, Hobart, sit/stand TAS desks. 7000 Flair Ph: Office 6236 Furniture 3600 has Fax: been 6231 providing 1278 quality, admin@tcci.com.au affordable office furniture to homes and offices throughout the Hobart region for nearly 15 The years. Old We’re Post a locally-based, Office, 68-72 family-run Cameron business St, specialising in all types of Launceston products, so why TAS not 7250 visit us today to see our fantastic Ph: range? 6331 1144 laun@tcci.com.au Production: Phone 6234 1127 aldridge.media 260 Argyle Street, Ph: 0431 241 775 North Hobart aldridge.media@iinet.net.au Printer: Mercury www.flairofficefurniture.com.au Level 1, 2 Salamanca Square, Hobart, 7000 BUSINESS YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO SERVICES AND PRODUCTS FOR YOUR BUSINESS QUALITY ERGONOMIC FURNITURE To see your business here, call Kerri on 0419 750 267 or email kerri@thetrustedmediaco.com Poll supports council mergers From page 1 “Following the Mercury poll, we are taking a front foot approach to introduce community forums around the state and listen to the discourse of the community,” Mr Bailey said. “It’s not just the business sector calling for change but I hear all the time from ratepayers complaining about costs and wasted projects which don’t work and money goes down the drain.” Mr Bailey said the WANTED Business movers and shakers • Promotions • Appointments • Awards • Celebrating success Share the news with the Tasmanian business community Send your news snippets, with a high quality photo, to TBReditorial@ fontpr.com.au need for change was too strong from all angles not to continue pressing the State Government regardless of the promise before last year’s election that there would be no forced mergers for the term of this government. “Sometimes governments have to bite the bullet and listen to the huge community support and change direction,” he said. “I find it hard to understand that if 83 percent of the state want mergers then surely it couldn’t be looked on as a broken Your Partner in Print. www.footandplaysted.com.au Now incorporating THE CRAFT LIVES ON. promise. “After all, the days have gone when every town in Tasmania needed a local council - what’s needed is more transparency in the sector.” Mr Bailey said it was a ridiculous system of over government – with duplication of services costing the community and business tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars. Tasmania has 29 councils and 263 councilors, for a population of just over 500,000 people, ranging in size from under 1000 people on Flinders Island to more than 67,000 people in Launceston. While councils in the north, south and south east have opened up with nearby councils to reduce costs and add size and grunt to the new council, merging is yet to happen. With the Tasmanian economy at its strongest in recent history, the TCCI said it would continue to push for the support of Government and Opposition to reform local government as a major priority.
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 12,000 M O N T H LY Tasmanian Business Reporter - FEBRUARY 2019 3 Tourism flying high TOURISM in Tasmania is booming and the associated financial spin off is pushing the state’s business economy into record breaking territory. Tills are ringing right across the state, with small businesses on the verge of turning over a billion dollars in a single year for the first time. Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania figures show that since September 2015, spending in Tasmania’s 2000 or so tourism businesses has increased 23 per cent to nearly a billion dollars in the 12 months to September 2018. Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania Chairman Daniel Leesong said accommodation and transport services accounted for the majority of tourism spending in Tasmania (about $1.5 billion of the nearly $2.5 billion expenditure. But, hundreds of unique producers, providores, tour guides and venues, among others, are also seeing the benefits of a buoyant sector. “It’s exciting to see that the more retail-orientated tourism businesses are in the midst of a billion dollar boom of their own,” he said. “This shows the tourism industry is absolutely fun- Support grows for bold waterfront vision A LOOMING Federal Election could ensure Hobart gets its chance for a “once in a generation Sydney Opera House” moment. Momentum is building as industry leaders promote the re-imagining of Castray Esplande and the CSIRO site. The tourism industry last year released its bold vision to relocate the CSIRO to Macquarie Point - with pressure now ramping up Above and Beyond’s seaplane flies over the Derwent River and Wrest Point. damental to the economic fabric of Tasmania. “It’s bigger than the value of salmon and forestry industry exports combined.” New ventures are literally flying high. Above and Beyond’s seaplane hit the skies above Hobart early in summer, offering passengers scenic flights over Hobart and to hot spots like Three Capes, Stewart’s Bay, Bruny Is, Pumphouse Point at Lake St Clair and Saffire at Freycinet. Gerald and Henry Ellis started Above and Beyond to bring something unique to the Derwent and the skies of Tasmania. More destinations are already being added and there for political support ahead of the Federal Election, due within months. The development of the area includes visions of a maritime museum, water-edge swimming pool and improved spectator infrastructure for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. “We have an opportunity to capture the energy and vibrancy of the Taste of Tasmania and the summer festival period year-round by activating the wateredge of Castray Esplanade,” TICT CEO Luke Martin said. “There is no better place in Australia than the Hobart waterfront over this one week of the year, and it makes zero sense why these areas are left largely dormant for the remaining 51 weeks of the year.” Hobart alderman Simon Behrakis is backing the Castray Point push, tabling a motion for the Hobart City Council to back the plan. are plans to add more aircraft to the fleet. “We have just been given approval to operate into Bathurst Harbour, Port Davey and Lake Pedder, we are waiting on similar approval to come through for Lake St Clair, Maria Island and Freycinet Peninsula,” Henry said. “We are hoping this will come through within the next three to four weeks,” he said. TICT CEO Luke Martin said there were many opportunities for new businesses in the state. “It’s important that we continue to look for innovative ways to develop and diversify our industry and share what is really special about Tasmania,” Mr Martin said. Destination Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys said the new service was just the latest in a wave of new developments coming on line that were aimed at high-value, high-yielding customers. “There are other new examples on the market that are aimed at this type of customer – the Tas Walking Company’s Three Capes Lodge Walk and the incredible Evolve Spirit Bar at MACq01 hotel, to name two,” he said. “In the year ending September 2018, we welcomed 1.3 million visitors who stayed more nights and spent a record $2.4 billion in our communities, up 4 per cent from previous year.” The industry is set to be even further enhanced, with the eyes of the nation’s tourism leaders to be focused on the state when Launceston’s Cataract Gorge hosts 800 at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards on March 1. An artist’s impression of the Castray Point precinct. NEWS Bell Bay mill planned A $50 million hardwood rotary peel and engineered timber mill is being planned for Bell Bay. Patriarch Resources Pty Ltd, a subsidiary company of Patriarch and Sons Pty Ltd, is seeking to establish the forestry business on the site of the former Southern Aluminium Wheel Plant site in the industrial zone. Director Allen Wong said work was under way to obtain the appropriate development and environmental statutory approvals before a three-stage building process. “The construction of stage one and two is worth more than $28 million, covering site purchase, adaption of the factory and plant and equipment,” Mr Wong said. “More than $4 million in local building and electrical work will be required and will be directed to local firms as much as possible. “It is estimated that the project will create 30 to 40 jobs during construction, while the operation of the facility will create up to 80 positions. “A third stage – proposed engineered timber – will involve an additional investment of more than $22 million and will create further training and employment opportunities.” Mr Wong said Patriarch planned to purchase wood from existing public and private sources, comprising certified wood from plantations and native forests that was currently wood chipped. “The proposed veneer mill will provide opportunities for wood currently planned to be harvested to benefit from an additional value-adding process,” he said. “We will engage with a range of local experts, including the University of Tasmania to extend research into value-adding of plantation timber.” WANTED Business movers and shakers • Promotions • Appointments • Awards • Celebrating success Share the news with the Tasmanian business community Send your news snippets, with a high quality photo, to TBReditorial@ fontpr.com.au
Page 1: FEBRUARY 2019 T A S M A N I A’ S
Page 5 and 6: Tasmanian Business Reporter - FEBRU

Tasmanian Business Reporter February 2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?