Defence
$11 million makeover for Singleton Town Centre continues
Under the Resources for Regions program in 2013 the NSW Government awarded a $9 million grant to Singleton Council for the revitalisation of the Singleton Town Centre, and Council had already committed $2 million to the project to commence planning and design. Work started on site on 19 January 2015 and its anticipated completion is September 2015.
Partnership provides girls greater access to robotics
RDA Hunter’s ME Program has announced a new partnership with University of Newcastle’s Robogals and BAE Systems to engage the Hunter’s female primary and secondary school students in engineering, robotics and programming.
Minister for the Hunter replaced by Parliamentary Secretary
Following the recent NSW election the Government has decided to drop the
Ministers for the Hunter, Central Coast, Illawarra, Western NSW and North Coast.
New sponsor for Merewether Carlton Rugby Club
Local car dealership Kloster BMW has teamed up with Merewether Carlton Rugby Club for the next two seasons as its major sponsor, giving the players a confident start as the season kicks off.
Merger creates Rethink Law
CDG Law has joined forces with Rethink Financial Group to create the Hunter Region’s newest full service legal firm, Rethink Law.
HMA Awards nominations open
The launch of the 2015 Nomination period was opened on 29 April on the premises of the 2014 Manufacturer of the Year and 2014 Excellence in Safety Award winner’s premises, Austube Mills.
Superannuation Data Standards – Are You Prepared?
Back in 2012 the Government established a framework to implement changes to employer super contributions as part of the SuperStream reforms.
Keeping communications simple
Throughout my working career I have come across the KISS principle many times.
Hummingbird to be powered by REDARC
Local business Hummingbird Electronics have been acquired by South Australian company REDARC Electronics.
HVTC Excellence Award
Australia’s oldest Group Training Organisation Hunter Valley Training Company (HVTC) celebrated the exceptional achievements of apprentices, trainees and host businesses at a gala presentation on 15 April.
Simply put, the brand of printer you choose does make a difference
Not all printer and multifunction devices are created equal.
Technology Products
NEW MACBOOK Apple has released all-new MacBook, a new line of notebooks reinvented to deliver the thinnest and lightest Macs ever. Weighing just 920 g and 13.1 mm thick, the new MacBook features a 12-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2304 x 1440, an Apple-designed full-size keyboard, the all-new Force Touch trackpad, a compact…
Approval for function centre overturned
Approval for a function centre and kiosk at the former Newcastle Bowling Club site in King Edward Park has been overturned by the Land and Environment Court.
Increased building heights for Warners Bay
Lake Macquarie City Council has approved new planning guidelines for the Warners Bay town centre which permit increased building heights.
SOLD
Toronto property realises $2.6 million A property at 67-73 The Boulevarde, Toronto recently changes hands for $2.6 million at auction. The property comprises a fully leased investment opportunity encompassing eight current tenants, together with a roof top level car park providing in excess of 50 car spaces. The property comprises a balanced tenancy mix including…
Property industry confidence reaches record highs
Optimism about the prospects for economic growth has seen confidence among the NSW property industry reach record highs, according to a new survey.
Construction edges ahead
The national construction industry moved slightly into growth territory in March, with the Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI) increasing by 6.2 points to 50.1 (index readings above 50 points indicate an expansion in activity, with the distance from 50 indicating the rate of the expansion). The improvement in…
Compass Housing receives international award
Hunter-based Compass Housing Services has been announced as the recipient of the Greentree International Don Bowman Initiative Award.
Target housing supply not negative gearing
Restricting access to negative gearing for residential property would reduce investment in housing, erode housing affordability and put upward pressure on rents according to the Housing Industry Association, “Independent research has found that changing residential negative gearing would reduce housing affordability, and under the current housing policy settings, would lower Australian living standards,” said Graham…
NEW APPOINTMENTS
AUSTRALASIAN MUTUALS INST. Greater Building Society Internal Communication Specialist Emma Avery has been appointed to the Board of the Australasian Mutuals (AM) Institute. Emma was one of five global customer owned financial institution staff members, was the only Australian to be awarded a World Council Young Credit Union People scholarship in 2014 and was named…
Maintaining privacy in an open plan office
Open plan offices have had some bad press lately. Staff mainly complain about the lack of privacy and the noise from other employees.
Make this new financial year your best in business
With the end of financial year just around the corner, it’s a great time to consider the results for this year and what you want to achieve next year.
FUNNY BUSINESS
Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother. The first said, “I built a big house for our mother.” The second said, “I sent her a Mercedes with a driver.” The third smiled and said, “I’ve got…
Awards to highlight the safety champions of the Hunter
WHS is the backbone of any business, in any industry, across any sector.
Enviropacific Services continual improvement reaps the benefits
Enviropacific has celebrated yet another successful year in business and in safety achievement.
Proactive spill management
Spill Management is often something people think of after they have an incident onsite.
Why WH&S systems can give you a competitive edge
Apart from ensuring their workplace is a safe operating environment for staff, what drives smart organisations to ensure their WH&S systems are up to scratch?
Revolution Business opens new office
Two independent businesses, Ultimate CFO and Revolution Business Services merged together in February 2015 to form Revolution Business.
Cloud saves Hunter businesses during storms
Pinpoint Computers has a world class cloud service in a data centre based in Sydney’s CBD
Australia still failing tech startups
StartupAUS released the Crossroads 2015 report in April, which reveals that, despite positive developments over the past 12 months, Australia continues to under-invest in catalysing high-impact entrepreneurship and supporting its startup ecosystem.
IT solution saves the day for architecture firm
Newcastle-based Regional IT has solved a huge problem for architecture firm dwp|suters.
2015 Newi Awards entries open
The Lunaticks Society is inviting regional digital innovators to submit entries in 13 award categories and one nomination for an achievement award in the 2015 NEWi Awards for Digital Creativity.
The NBN & SMEs
No, not the TV station, the new broadband network that is currently under construction across Australia.
Digitising critical paper documents the best disaster-recovery plan
Hunter businesses have become accustomed to the unfortunate reality of natural disasters — including that they strike with little warning.
Is a Cloud Hosted Server the right solution for your business?
The Cloud has the capabilities to provide great benefits to your business.
Former NSW Governor to be guest speaker at Salvos Hunter Red Shield Appeal Official Opening
NSW’s first female Governor will be the keynote speaker at next month’s launch of The Salvation Army’s Hunter Red Shield Appeal.
Hunter Future Directions – May 14
Newcastle and Hunter people have the opportunity to hear from the irrepressible entrepreneur, raconteur and local “mad Irishman” Will Creedon thanks to Greater Building Society and the Hunter Chapter of the Property Council.
New local chairman urges business to support Salvos Red Shield Appeal Official Opening
Newly appointed Chairman of The Salvation Army’s Hunter Red Shield Appeal, Don Magin, is urging Hunter business people to get behind the corporate luncheon and official opening for the Appeal to be held in Newcastle on May 7