NSW aproves the growing of industrial hemp
November 20, 2008
People can now apply to grow industrial hemp in NSW, with the commencement of a new licensing scheme, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald announced today.
The licensing scheme follows the introduction of new legislation in NSW Parliament, the Hemp Industry Act 2008 and Hemp Industry Regulation 2008, and was developed after extensive consultation with NSW Police and industry groups.
Aub Eardley appointed as Ballina, Byron business facilitator
November 12, 2008
The Northern Rivers Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) has announced the appointment of their Business Facilitator for the Ballina and Byron Bay regions.
Aub Eardley is now offering free, one-on-one professional business advice to help grow businesses within our region.
He brings over 35 years of high-level business experience to the role.
After successfully running large retail operations for 20 years, he founded the Business Enterprise Centre in Cessnock in the mid 1990s before going on to run the Botany BEC, which was awarded Best National BEC in 2003.
State Government not helping small business: Page
November 8, 2008
As Nathan Rees’ Labor Government lurches from crisis to crisis, many small businesses in New South Wales continue to battle to keep their heads above water in these uncertain economic times, State Shadow Minister for Small Business Don Page said.
Mr Page said that getting the message through to the Labor Government about how difficult things are out there in the real world appears to be extremely difficult.
“Take, for instance, recent claims by then Small Business Minister Tony Stewart that State Labor was delivering big benefits to the motor vehicle industry by decreasing red tape,” Mr Page said.
“The Labor Government is patting itself on the back and spruiking that it has reduced the number of forms motor dealers have to fill in from 19 to 13.
The needs and challenges of a home-run business
November 8, 2008
As more small enterprises are run from home, an understanding of the needs and challenges facing home-based businesses is essential for governments and corporations alike.
That was the message from Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) student Jim Taggart (pictured) as he presented the findings of his research into the levels of trust, commitment and reciprocity in relationships between home-based companies and their business contacts at the Doctoral Symposium at the Tweed Gold Coast campus of Southern Cross University today.
Mr Taggart, who is one of 75 doctoral candidates and academic staff attending the bi-annual symposium this weekend, said his work took a close look at activities such as networking events to determine how this sector does business.
“One of the criticisms of working from home is that it can be an isolating experience, and the research found that in particular, older home-based workers went to networking events because they provided a social stimulus,” said Mr Taggart.
“Conversely, younger age groups were present in order to do business, but the perception among the sample group was that networking events do not live up to expectations, despite the obvious opportunities they present for those working from home.
“It was thought that attendees act differently to how they really are, making it difficult to build trust and therefore meaningful business contacts.”
Mr Taggart was last week appointed President of the Association of Financial Advisors of Australia and also runs Sydney-based financial service company, the Taggart Group http://www.taggartgroup.com.au/.
Mr Taggart said that home-based businesses accounted for a significant part of economic activity.
“Many people assume that those who work from home have a healthy work/life balance, but in fact most are exceptionally tied to their business and juggle demanding work requirements with family needs,” said Mr Taggart.
“Their work is not confined to Monday to Friday, yet they are often restricted by the inflexible working hours of the people they do business with.
“Depending on which figures you look at, there are between 850,000 and 1.2 million businesses run from home in Australia.
“The more that is understood about this important segment, the better placed those who work with them will be to nurture positive and productive business relationships.”
Commercial building owners offered ‘Green’ support
November 5, 2008
Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin says local commercial building owners can take advantage of the Rudd Government’s new $90 million Green Building Fund which offers dollar-for-dollar support up to $500,000.
Ms Saffin said the fund will help businesses tackle climate change by reducing the energy consumed in the existing commercial office buildings.
“I know local people are serious about tackling greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.
“After the Government announced its Green loans and grants for households in the Budget, I had a number of people asking about green initiatives for businesses.
Allan Sams appointed as Clarence Valley Business Consultant
October 25, 2008
The Northern Rivers Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) has announced the appointment of the new Business Consultant for the Clarence Valley.
Allan Sams brings over 28 years of high-level business experience to the region, including 20 years in senior management positions for the Tourism Commission of New South Wales, Eastern Australia Airlines and Budget Rent-a-Car.
“I am thrilled to be able to work with the BEC again,” Mr Sams said.
“It’s a tremendous service that really benefits the growth of our region.”
Consider the joys of reuse and repair
October 22, 2008
A monthly column by Jeanie McKillop, Business Waste Reduction Co-ordinator with the North East waste Forum …
I thought it appropriate this month, as we consider new economic challenges, to highlight the lost joys of reuse and repair.
North Coast macadamia industry is carbon-friendly
October 21, 2008
The North Coast macadamia industry is ‘carbon friendly’ and provides significant benefits in carbon sequestration, according to a research project completed by Southern Cross University’s Centre for Regional Climate Change Studies.
The study, led by Associate Professor Graham Jones, found that macadamia trees were able to store four tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare, per year.
At the same time, preliminary research indicates the industry emits only 0.5 tonnes per hectare per year.
Across the industry, which consists of more than 900 growers who collectively farm 17,000 hectares in Queensland and northern NSW, this equates to around 68,000 tonnes of gross sequestration per year.
Far North coast gets renewable energy through sugar cane waste
October 15, 2008
The first of two renewable energy plants built under a joint venture between Delta Electricity and New South Wales sugar cane farmers has been completed at Condong on the Tweed River.
The renewable energy plant at Condong, just north of Murwillumbah, has completed performance-testing and was signed over from the contractor to the joint venture.
It is now proceeding through a further 60-day test period.
A similar plant at Broadwater, south of Ballina, is expected to be completed this month at an overall cost for the two plants of about $210 million.
The 30-megawatt power stations have been built beside existing sugar mills and will use sugar cane fibre and other certified renewable fuels to generate enough green base-load electricity for about 60,000 homes.
NSW Sugar says that by stockpiling the processed sugar cane, the renewable energy generators can operate year-round, supplying energy into the State electricity grid.
“The renewable energy generators will also see the phasing-out of the traditional sugar cane fires, as the sugar cane crop will be harvested green,” the company said.
“This will cut CO2 emissions by the equivalent of taking 80,000 cars off North Coast roads.”
An official opening is planned to mark the completion of both plants.
Local companies get COMET grants
October 12, 2008
Member for Page Janelle Saffin has congratulated two innovative local companies on each being awarded a $64,000 Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) AusIndustry grant.
“I’m delighted that South Lismore’s Axis Cranks Pty Ltd and Teven’s Metal Science Technologies Pty Ltd have on merit won these Federal Government grants to commercialise their great ideas for domestic and export markets,” she said.
“These companies typify the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Northern Rivers business, and we are so fortunate to have them and their factories located in this region.
“I have now visited both sites to better understand the technologies and their commercial potential.”
