State hospitality rescue package given the tick of approval by Business Hunter

BY JARROD MELMETH

Hunter residents are set to receive two more Dine and Discover vouchers in time for Summer.

The $250 million dollar announcement, as part of a hospitality rescue package, from the state government is expected to inject $500 million back into the economy.

Hospitality businesses will also have the chance to apply for $5,000 grants to establish outdoor dining and entertainment precincts as part of a $66 million Alfresco Restart initiative. These grants will be available to 5,000 businesses and will be offered on first in, first served basis.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean says the program will allow businesses to open up to more customers in a safe way.

"Alfresco dining is not only a great way to dine, it’s a safe way to socialise as we open up. That’s why we are supporting new outdoor entertainment and dining precincts to pop up right across the state," Mr Kean said.

The move is being welcomed by the Business Hunter who agree the initiative will support businesses through the warmer months.

Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes says the programs will have substantial flow on effects for business and the economy.

"The hospitality and entertainment sectors have suffered immensely over the past two years, and this support will encourage people to get out and about during the Summer months and enjoy what their local venues and businesses have to offer.

"Businesses are enthusiastic about the coming months as people return to their favourite cafes and restaurants, and this support will help a number of smaller businesses get back on their feet and boost employment opportunities," Mr Hawes said.

Business Hunter calling on the NSW Government to provide certainty to businesses

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Hunters peak business group is calling on the NSW Government to provide certainty to Hunter residents around whether restrictions will extend past Thursday.

On Wednesday the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told journalists it's not likely the Hunter will come out of lockdown on Thursday.

Business Hunter says by not providing the region with clarity on the lockdown, businesses are less able to focus their concerns on things they can control and will now have growing anxiety over issues that they can't control.

CEO Bob Hawes says business are hurting and they need certainty.

"Business wants to be able submit orders, renew staff rosters, pivot the business to the restrictions; and making decisions that will keep their business afloat. 

"They can’t do this under the cloud of ‘what will the advice tell us’; when will things return to normal and at what increment; what the vaccination uptake is and how to protect their businesses from a lack of compliance by individuals still breaching orders. 

“People breaking the rules need to be acutely aware that their actions pose unnecessary risk to businesses and communities and the consequences should be absolutely clear. 

“I don’t see any issue with places of business reporting breaches in movement in our regions because some people are putting our community at risk," Mr Hawes said.

The Hunter recorded 14 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday with three cases under investigation by health authorities

The Hunters accommodation and tourism services, entertainment and arts sectors have been decimated by the restrictions. On Wednesday, it was announced the New Annual Festival in Newcastle is being postponed to 2022 due to the ongoing uncertainty around COVID restrictions. The event was set to include 500 artists, 250 event crew and 30 ticketed events. It's another blow to an industry already suffering.

Image: Forbes

Georgetown and Waratah local centres set to receive upgrades

BY JAMES CARTER    

Newcastle Council passed a motion confirming future streetscape works to Georgetown Road and Station Street in Waratah.

The upgrades are part of the Local Centres Works program which has completed similar projects in Beresfield, Carrington, Kotara, Mereweather and Stockton in recent years. 

The projects require community consultation and concept design planning but are expected to attract more customers to the business strips. 

Station Street in Waratah was included in the motion after an amendment by Councilor Andrea Rufo. 

A number of issues were raised in the meeting by Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz about tired and dated public domain in the areas. 

"Infrastructure like footpaths, roads, street furniture, garden beds, street-tree selection and signage could be improved. There are also some pedestrian and cycling connectivity issues."

"Parking, of course, will always be at a premium at our popular local centres, so I really look forward to hearing the ideas of locals and local businesses about how we can maximise turnover." she said

Assistance for shopkeepers to improve their street appeal and shopfronts was raised at the meeting and supported by the councilors. 

The Georgetown Road local area
Image: Google Maps

The closer light rail construction comes, the more worried businesses get.

BY JESSICA ROUSE

There are renewed concerns for Hunter Street businesses as light rail construction looms in the Newcastle CBD.

Sections of Hunter Street will start to be closed off in September when work begins which is when most businesses say they're worried they'll feel the pinch.

Newcastle isn't the first city to go through the business upset with the plight mirroring some retailers on George Street in Sydney which has been a construction zone for around two years.

The government say they're prepared to adapt their plans if things go awry, but MP Tim Crakanthorp says even then a lot of small businesses just won't be able to survive.

Image www.newcastlenow.org.au

With up to 1,000 car parks disappearing and essentially one lane of traffic being taken away as well, Tim Crakanthorp just can't see it working for everyone.

"I think if you can stick it out for that period of time and only perhaps the bigger businesses can do that, there will be benefits at the end of it but then again they're also deeply concerned about the parking."

On the other hand, Program Director of Revitalising Newcastle Michael Cassel says they're doing as much as they can to ensure businesses don't lose out.

"We're doing a lot with businesses, we've employed precinct managers, we're working very hard to make sure businesses thrive through this period. We've got lots of activities, we're bringing more people back to the city during that period of disruption and we will pop out the other end with a much-improved transport system."

Worker skills, or lack there of, deterring employers

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The NSW Business Chamber's inaugural Workforce Skills Survey has found employers in the Hunter are reporting high levels of skill shortages holding them back from employing new workers.

The survey measures business attitudes on employment, education and training issues and provides a comprehensive baseline for tracking future sentiment.

There appears to be an increasing inconsistency between what employers expect from their workers and the training they're getting through the education system.

"Businesses have indicated that the main reasons for reluctance sometimes relates to the cost, but also time factors of having key personnel in their organisations available to train the people and also some of the time it takes for some of the training programs and apprenticeships to be completed," said Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes.

Businesses in the Hunter are also urging the government to take a serious look into how employees are trained, as there's an increasing lack of skills in new workers and a huge administrative burden on businesses to pick up the slack.

"There's a real need to look at how the pilot programs work, what apprenticeship models are around and whether they are effective and also being able to engage not only just with the young people looking at  the pathways but also the employers, parents and carers, the advisors and the educational institutions so that they can better understand the system of how it works and so we can get it working in practice," said Bob Hawes.

Bob Hawes says the latest Hunter Research Foundation report on the Hunter's economy shows businesses are looking for new ways to better their business, rather than employ new workers.

"It (businesses in the Hunter) had a big increase in its uptake of innovation and that in itself might express that people are now looking at other ways to push their business forward other than employing people which aren't necessarily a good thing in one respect but it is good in another in that hopefully the uptake in innovation will create alternative opportunities."

Local councillor wants to bring Google to Cessnock

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT and JESSICA ROUSE

Cessnock Councillor Jay Suvaal is hoping Googe's search for a new location will bring them to Cessnock.

Business giant Google announced they're shifting its Australian headquarters and with Amazon's imminent arrival to Australian shores there are calls to coax both heavyweights to the Hunter.

Jay Suvaal believes if one or both of the business giants move into Cessnock the unemployment rate would disappear and the economy would increase.

"In the past, we've had to diversify from the mining industry and we continue to do that so the opportunity for locals to gain employment is great and gives them the chance to look at other areas where they can focus their expertise."

Unemployment and the economy aren't the only draw cards, the councillor says not only is housing in a great position, there's plenty of land and plenty of access to the area.

"With the Hunter Expressway, we are relatively close to both Newcastle and Sydney. In terms of housing prices for workers, the prices are fantastic at the moment. The opportunities to build and to develop are there and for associated industries to come along as well because we've got land particularly in the Kurri area," said Jay Suvaal.

Cessnock councillor Jay Suvaal and Cessnock Chamber of Commerce
president Geoff Walker Image Cessnock Advertiser

Union Hopes to Secure 80 Jobs for Ingham's Workers

BY GARY LYSAGHT

Workers at the soon to be closed Ingham’s processing site at Cardiff have been thrown a lifeline by rival Baiada Poultry.

Baiada has struck a deal with the Meat Workers Union to hold discussions over taking up to 80 of the workers who aren’t seeking redundancies.

Ingham’s is set to close the Cardiff site in August, citing the need to reduce expenditure as the main reason.

Baiada are set to employ 80 of its rivals staff [Source: Newcastle Herald]

Meat Workers Union Newcastle branch secretary Grant Courtney says the highly skilled workforce is being courted by many employers.

“We’ve also been contacted by JBS, which is the biggest meat processor in the world, based at Scone.  They’ve said if there’s any skilled workers that would like to apply out there, by all means,” he said.

Courtney says workers are also being asked to apply at another Baiada site at Tamworth, while other workers have asked for transfers to Ingham’s Sydney site.

“It’s one of our principle policies about employers having a moral obligation to employ locals first,” says Courtney who believes Baiada are doing just that.

“The company has always said we haven’t got enough skilled workers.  Well now we’ve got a fully skilled workforce that is available,” he said.

Around 360 full time and casual staff work at the Cardiff site and while Courtney admits he doesn’t know when they’ll move on to their new positions, he’s still overwhelmed with the outcome.

“I’m very, very happy and supportive of Baiada [for] taking the high moral ground on this issue and hopefully offering employment to the Cardiff/Novacastrian workforce,” he said.