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Newsletter, Econmic Development,
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ISSUE 1 2013 VOL 1
Economic focus THE LATEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MATTERS FROM
GRIFF ITH C ITY COUNCIL ’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UN IT
2013 Business Audit –Steady growth….
Griffith City Council’s Economic
Development Unit recently conducted
a business audit which has revealed
steady growth for the past 12 months
and less vacant shops and 8% more
businesses in operation than in 2011.
Just under 1000 bricks and
mortar businesses were recorded with
30 new businesses as well as less
migration in and out of the city.
Strong performance from
Mooreville Industrial, Wickham Hill
and Wakaden street has fared
remarkably well.
“The last 12 months have been a
testing time but we need to be
congratulating our business
community on their
resilience, diversification
and innovation and we need
to drive this home so that
we can continue to move
forward,” said Nicola James
Economic Development
Coordinator, “if we can
continue to grow 30 new
businesses each year, that
would be phenomenal.”
How to become a preferred provider Griffith City Council is introducing a new procurement policy to ensure workers are entering a safe
work environment. Service providers, trades people and retailers wishing to become a preferred
provider with Council can apply through an expression of interest form on our website.
Providers will be asked to supply certain information (insurance, evidence of tickets and other
related information) which will allow Council to look up its preferred provider list of suppliers /
providers to see who to call. Go to www.griffith.nsw.gov.au
Businesses are taking pride in their shop fronts with
numerous stores receiving a face lift.
Visitor numbers show opportunities to grow…. The Griffith Visitor Information Centre is an
important portal for visitors entering Griffith.
Statistics show that the Griffith
Visitors Centre is usually the
first port of call for tourists and
visitors to the City.
Over the past 12 months the VIC
receives up to 3000 enquiries a
month ranging from face to
face, telephone, email and
social media.
The peak time for touring
according to statistics is in May /
June where 84% and 64% of
enquiries were from people
Touring. However, the
busiest holiday making
period is in March and
October.
For overseas
visitation or the
backpacker
market, it
seems that
Australia is the
country of choice, particularly
for those people in Europe and
New Zealand. The promise of
work shows that Griffith is a
popular destination
consistently all year round.
Our largest domestic market is
NSW and many of our visitors
are from Sydney, the south
coast as well the Riverina
region.
The number of
coach groups is
increasing with 15
recorded for
October in line with
the Festival of the
Gardens.
While assisting visitors, the
Griffith Visitor Information
Centre can also assist in the
promotion of local events
through the website Calendar
of Events , to contact the VIC
call 1800681141 or 69624 145.
We need local jobs to
entice people from the
city, industrial land and
other opportunities
SALM EMPLOY-MENT RATE FALLS
Griffith’s small labour force
market rate has fallen by a full
per cent to 5% which is now
lower than the national average.
This is in sharp contrast to this
time last year when we were
above the national average at
6.6%.
Griffith had 13, 895 in the labour
force in September 2012.
Airport upgrade on schedule Griffith City Council’s airport expansion
and refurbishment is on schedule and on
budget for an April / May completion.
Stage 1 has been completed with works
now starting on stage 2 which is the area
between the existing terminal and the apron.
Works will continue on this stage for a
further 6 weeks.
Stage 3 will see the existing terminal
being completely gutted and the erection of
a big awning on the eastern side of the
building closest to the car park.
Whilst staff are trying to minimise
disruptions to passengers it is challenging
during a major construction project.
“We would like to apologise to patrons
during this time, however, it really is for the
greater good of Griffith and when complete
will become a much better gateway to the
City of Griffith and the Riverina generally,”
said Airport Coordinator Bob Campbell.
Census data Reveals…..
Census data can paint an interesting
picture but can help with the allocation of
funding & resources.
The 2011 census results
are trickling in with some new
categories providing an
interesting snap shot.
The most recent census
was the first time questions
relating to help in the home,
year of arrival and disability
were posed to the Australian
population. The data allows us
to explore whether the Griffith
community is adequately
resourced for our ageing
population, to identify changes
in our population and how we
can best support growth and
resources to infrastructure and
lobby for more services.
Our population increased
slightly to 25,200. The biggest
change was our
youth, which
has the highest
portion of
people in the
under 15 age
group
compared with
the region.
Griffith’s
households are predominantly
made up of couples with
children (33%) which is larger
than the in regional NSW.
Griffith’s household
incomes increased with 9.9% of
households earning a higher
income compared
with the region and
state, but 24% of
households were
low income
households.
The number of
people who
provided unpaid
care increased by
378 people. Griffith has 1,196
people or 4% of the population
with a disability who needs
assistance in their day to day
lives.
Griffith volunteers
increased by 38 people
between 2006 and 2011
but we have a lower
portion of people
volunteering in Griffith
compared with the
region.
JOIN THE ICN
NETWORK
Businesses can sign up to the
Industry Capability Regional
Gateway to find out what
projects you can tender for and
to promote your services and
experience.
It’s a free state government
initiative that helps to put
suppliers in touch with a myriad
of projects on offer, nationally,
state wide and regionally, sign
up on http://regional.icn.org.au/
Red Tape taskforce The State Government in their
2012 budget speech announced a
program to “roll up the red tape”
The program , dubbed the “Red
Tape Trouble Shooter Taskforce” is a
partnership between the Office of the
Small Business Commissioner and the
NSW Business Chamber to develop
practical solutions to streamline
services and identify blatant red tape
which often is the blocker for enabling
small business to grow.
The Office of the Small Business
commissioner is keen to hear from
small business about what kind of red
tape is preventing them from getting
on with the job of running a business
or expansion growth. This could be
from a local government level, state
or even federal level.
“It’s an opportunity for local
small business to have their say and to
enact change. The NSW Small
Business Commissioner is keen to
interact one on one with small
business to hear some solutions to red
tape, this could be a real game
changer for small business and I
encourage you to have your say,” said
Manager of Tourism and Economic
Development, Greg Lawrence.
Top : The NSW Small Business Commissioner,
Yasmin King.
NSW Small Business Commissioner visits Griffith
The NSW Small Business
Commissioner Yasmin King was
in Griffith on January 30 to
engage with small business
operators and to launch the
Small Biz Connect Program.
The Small Biz Connect
program is a subsidized
program allowing face to face
Business Advisors from the BEC
(Business Enterprise Centre) to
provide confidential advice and
practical assistance to small
business.
Ms King was keen to meet
with local business operators
and to promote the Small Biz
Connect
program and
bus outside the
NAB bank.
Yasmin
met with ft
technologies
and A & G as
well as the Griffith Business
Chamber.
The BEC business
advisors can help people to
become fully business ready, to
build better businesses, to
prepare for growth, to plan to
employ and
become ready to
exit.
The success of the
program will be
linked with demand
for the service. The
more people who
access the program the more
likely more resources will be
allocated to Small Biz Connect
in the future.
Yasmin is keen to hear
from businesses who are
being ham strung from
growth due to
government red tape.
VALUE OF DA’S FOR 2012
The value of development
applications for the 2011-
2012 financial year was in
excess of $33 million for
Griffith local government
area.
This is down from previous
financial years but still shows
activity in the residential and
commercial sectors is
steady.
Tourism & Economic Development
Griffith City Council's Economic
Development, Marketing and Tourism team
play an important role in encouraging
growth and efficiency within
existing businesses, attracting
complimentary business investment and
encouraging new enterprise to the region.
Economic Development, Marketing
and Tourism are more than creating jobs; it
is about harnessing opportunities, fostering
entrepreneurship and building community
capacity.
The ethos that the Economic
Development, Marketing and Tourism team
adhere to is built on the following Three
Pillars -
Pillar One….assist current business
operators to grow
Pillar Two…source complimentary
businesses
Pillar Three….source new businessbe
ready for public consultation in which your
business may wish to get involved, to
provide feedback on the strategies and to
ensure your voice is heard in this process.
Feel free to contact the team by calling
Council on 69628 100 and ask for Greg
Lawrence Manager Tourism and Economic
Development, Nicola James Economic
Development Coordinator, Paige Campbell
Marketing and Promotions or Mirella
Guidolin Manager Visitor Information
Centre.
Griffith City Council is
working closely with the BEC
and hosts BEC Business Advisor
Paul Crack at the main Council
office in Griffith two days a week.
Businesses or people
considering starting a business
can contact Paul on
0409 494 492 or email
Pictured left is Kon Gryllakis ft
technologies CEO, Yasmin King, ft
technologies Paul Smith, Leon Skaliotis and
Graeme Sayer Riverin / Murray BEC.