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ISSUE 65, Thursday 12 November, 2009

www.portchamber.com.au

Have your say on CBD Parking and People Movement

A reminder that the Chamber’s survey on Parking and People Movement in the CBD will close on 12th November. If you haven’t had your say on that matter yet, we’d encourage you to do so by following this link. "The Chamber is very keen to see the Port Macquarie CBD continue to develop as a thriving and busy centre that attracts locals and tourists alike. One of the keys to this vitality is ensuring there is plenty of parking that caters for the different needs of workers, shoppers and tourists. Chamber is very pleased to help facilitate this process which is very important in ensuring better access to the CBD."

Lord Howe Business Links Update

The Greater Port Macquarie-> Lord Howe Island Business Directory has been finalised and distributed to all residents and businesses on the Island. You can view an electronic copy of the directory on the Chamber of Commerce Website here. (Please note the web pdf has been compressed to a manageable size and is not print quality in resolution).

Thanks must be extended to Adam Roberts, Digital Signs and Printing for his huge efforts with the design, layout and printing, and also to Trevor Sergeant at Council for working with us on the initiative. Thank you to all businesses who provided input and Chamber wishes you well in exploring the Lord Howe market.

For those who may not have been involved, Tanya Newman Bennetts Steel, organised a Business Expo on Lord Howe which took place on Monday 2nd November. By all accounts it was a very successful day in establishing new and cementing some existing relationships! Well done, Tanya.

Industrial Sub-Committee update

The Industrial Sub-Committee continues to meet on a monthly basis and explore issues and opportunities for businesses in our regional industrial zones. At its November meeting, committee members were provided with a tour of the Newman Senior Technical College. A number of members of the committee have hosted work placement students from the College and all were impressed by the quality of the facility and training and development offered to students. In addition, the committee met with Cliff Toms, Technical Services Manager at the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, to discuss traffic issues on Lake Road. Cliff briefed the committee on current traffic volumes, potential future issues and Council plans for the Lake Road upgrade, as the main east-west link road.

Upcoming events:

November Information and Networking Evening
Join us on Tues 24th November, 6 for 6:30pm at Quality Resort Sails, for the second evening of CBD discussions. Robert Baker, from the University of New England, will be providing insights into retail precinct development and sustaining vital and vibrant CBDs. We’ll also be updating you on the results of the parking and people movement survey. You can register your attendance by e-mailing info@portchamber.com.au. The evening is proudly sponsored by Rydges Port Macquarie.

KC Logo

Industrial Open Forum:
The Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce Industrial Sub-Committee invites you to an open forum to discuss issues and opportunities for business and property owners in our region’s industrial areas.
When: Wed 25th November, 4pm
Where: Jumbos Playland, 17 Merrigal Rd
Please register your attendance: info@portchamber.com.au or tel: 6583 4412.

This forum provides you the opportunity to present your ideas, concerns, issues and solutions so we can continue to make a positive contribution to the business community and, in particular, strengthen opportunities for industry in our region.

Issues already raised for the forum include:

Access and vehicle movement into and through industrial areas

Cost of Council Services

Zoning issues in industrial areas and DA approval processes

For further information please contact: Liesa Davies (T:6583 4412) or Kellon Beard (T:6584 0910).

Know your awards and pay scales

Recent investigations by the Fair Work Ombudsman have highlighted the importance of understanding your legal obligations, as an employer, in terms of Awards and pay scales. The investigations have resulted in dozens of underpaid workers in central NSW being reimbursed more than $320,000.

Orange-based inspectors unearthed significant underpayments in the transport, retail, manufacturing and social services industries. In one case, a 457 visa-holder employed at a manufacturing business near Orange was back-paid $15,600. The employer had been making unlawful deductions from the worker’s pay and short-changing his minimum hourly rate and annual leave entitlements. Fair Work inspectors helped the company to understand its obligations and it voluntarily complied without the need for further action.

Other recent recoveries include:

$16,000 for a social services industry worker in Orange who had been underpaid long service leave entitlements and severance pay,

$13,900 for a manager at a Dubbo business who had been underpaid wages and annual and long service leave entitlements on termination,

$12,500 for a transport industry worker near Gulgong who had been underpaid the minimum hourly rate and penalty rates,

$10,100 for an administrative worker at a Cobar business who had been underpaid the minimum hourly rate,

$8800 for a Forbes retail worker who had been underpaid the minimum hourly rate,

$7000 for a Dubbo professional who had been underpaid annual leave and other entitlements on termination,

$6800 for a blue collar 457 visa-holder in Dubbo who was not paid for some hours worked or paid in lieu of notice on termination, and

$5200 for a transport industry worker near Gulgong who had been underpaid the minimum hourly rate, allowances and penalty rates.

NSW Department of Planning brings back the music

The Department of Planning has recently introduced changes to reduce the red tape and cost associated with clubs, pubs, cafés and restaurants hosting live music. Venues will no longer need a special licence to play live music, helping to enliven NSW’s music scene and put live music on a level playing field with other types of entertainment. These reforms will not impact on existing requirements for venues to respect the rights of the local community with regard to noise and safety. Read More.

Chamber Board

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Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce
Suite 5, Level 1 Garrison Building
Cnr Hay & Clarence Streets, Port Macquarie 2444
Ph: (02) 6583 4412 F: (02) 6583 2766
Email: executive@portchamber.com.au Web: www.portchamber.com.au

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