Southern Gold Coast News

Turning Point 2011- sponsors and hosts- Gold Coast Bulletin and Griffith University, Southport.

Readers will have read about this initiative in The Gold Coast Bulletin, which culminated in a half-day meeting of 120 of the City’s business leaders at Griffith University, Southport on Thursday 21 June. No elected representatives of any level of Government were invited, nor were any representatives of the Gold Coast City Council administrative departments.

The objective of the meeting was to identify a number of key strategic imperatives for our City, in order to enhance its future competitive position as Australia’s 6^th largest City.

I, and CSGC’s Chairman of the Board, Murray d’Almeida, were invited to attend, which we did. We are both residents of the SGC. Mr. d’Almeida is also Deputy Chair of the GCCC’s Economic Development-sponsored Business Gold Coast.

I thought that Southern Gold Coast businesses and interested parties would like to receive a personal update on the apparent ‘consensus outcomes’ of the meeting (not all reflect CSGC’s position). They were that the City and all levels of Government need to focus on serious planning for, and future funding of, the following for our City, in order of priority:

1. City Leadership and Corporate Governance: more power to the Mayor who should be the City’s leader along with a strengthened CEO’s position.

2. Infrastructure Projects: Big and Bold to reinvigorate the City; make it more attractive and competitive as a destination; and increase employment and investment

• Cultural: the City Heart Cultural Precinct (around Bundall GCCC Chambers) with outliers connecting other precincts in the City;
• Free Space: Broadwater and Wave Break Island;
• Transport: projects to connect the city across its length and breadth and increase its sustainability, including consideration of the extension of light rail to Coolangatta airport and Coolangatta township.

3. City’s Brand/Image/PR:

• A smart city focusing on education and Universities;
• Zero tolerance for crime and strengthened policing on a national and international-benchmarked basis;
• Gold Coast- a great City to Visit, Learn and Live;
• Continue to emphasize tourism, but actively seek out other industries/businesses to move here; and
• Appoint an national/international roving ambassador for the City to “sell” it.

4. Business and Community Participation in City Governance and Direction on an Ongoing Basis (a Legacy Body):

• Like other cities around the World, form a Peoples’ Senate or Gold Coast City Committee made up of all interested groups from business to culture to community-related groups, to liaise with the GCCC and to help promote the City; and
• Regular meetings of the Committee and communication to residents and businesses.

Light Rail:

I spoke strongly in the general forum about CSGC’s belief in the City’s overall, strategic  need for the light rail extension to Coolangatta. I perceived that, with the majority of the City’s population being well north and north-west, the popular emphasis may well be on satisfying their needs first. Consequently, I think all businesses and community groups in the Southern Gold Coast (SGC) will need to become more vocal on a light rail and, for that matter, a heavy rail connection.

As a community, we should all challenge any unconscious categorization of the SGC as being “that place down there- where the aerodrome is.”  We all know our beautiful region has a lot more to offer than that, and our challenge will be to convince the other regions of the City that, despite our small population, we punch well above our weight in bringing tourism and investment to our great City-hence the need for construction of World-class, light rail connectivity to Coolangatta airport and Coolangatta township.

We are excited to announce a brand spanking new event for the SGC!

Connecting Southern Gold Coast in collaboration with Surf World Gold Coast Museum with the support of Gold Coast City Council present the inaugural:

BLEACH Surfing the Fringe.

This festival is a new initiative for Connecting Southern Gold Coast and is being produced by Creative Producer, Louise Bezzina. This Festival scheduled for February 2012.

The BLEACH Surfing the Fringe Program aims to:

• Complement and sit on the fringe of the annual international surfing events, Quiksilver and Roxy Pro with an indie style fringe creative arts program that has the Gold Coast’s unique Surf Culture at the heart (arguably the strongest in the world);

• To showcase the unique natural assets and destinations of the Southern Gold Coast such as SWGC with the view of extension to the whole of the Gold Coast, in future years. In showcasing these destinations environmental management and green practice will be implemented ensuring sustainability of both the Festival and the natural environment;

• To incorporate local and national artistic content, inspired by Surf Culture through Music, Fashion, Photography, Craft, Design and Film as well as provide increased capacity building and creative enterprise for the City’s creative industries;

• Provide a platform for new tourist visitors to engage with Surf Culture and the Southern Gold Coast region as an integral part of the Gold Coast City’s tourist value proposition; and

• Provide alternative artistic choices to visitors to the major surfing events by showcasing the breadth of talent of the region, as well as enticing longer visitation during this period.

This is your chance to be part of this exciting Festival.

We want to hear from you. Is your music, fashion, film, photography, design or art work inspired by surf culture? If so, email Creative Producer, Louise Bezzina louise.bezzina@southerngoldcoast.com.au by 30th August.

We want to hear your tunes, see your samples and artistic creations.

Gold Coast get ready for BLEACH Surfing the Fringe.

A new Queensland business is providing world’s best environmental and sustainability practices to Australian business and industry.

Benchmark Sustainability has established a consultancy that shows local businesses and industry how to not only be more environmentally responsible and sustainable, but also how to save money.

The duo behind Benchmark are Andy Kidd and Chris Walton who have an extensive track record in the sustainability and environmental industries.

Andy Kidd is Director of Benchmark Sustainability, with extensive hands-on experience in education and implementation of cost saving actions, whilst Chris Walton is the Managing Director of Landmatters Pty Ltd., the developer of the worlds’ most awarded environmental community, The Ecovillage at Currumbin, Queensland.

“What many people in business and industry do not yet realise is that there are thousands upon thousands of dollars to be saved just by employing some sustainable practices in the work place.

“Basically, it is just a new way to go about doing things, such as managing electricity use, water practices and waste deployment,” Andy Kidd said.

Chris Walton added: “It also about re-educating staff in some simple new techniques and habits. The results can be quite remarkable and the savings impressive,” he said.

Benchmark is also targeting the club industry specifically because it is an area where some huge environmental and cost gains can be made.

They are already working with a number of clubs and the results so far have proved to be a great investment for the organisations involved.

The club industry is looking to clubs to ’show leadership’ by adopting measures that utilise energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling and are choosing to use products that minimise their club’s environmental impact’.

There is also an annual club industry award that recognises outstanding achievement in the implementation of environmental practices and the adoption of measures that go towards reducing a club’s environmental footprint and thereby contributing to a ‘more sustainable future for our communities’.

To achieve this outcome, clubs are required to operate in such a way that they use fewer resources, minimise their waste products and, as a result, reduce greenhouse gases.

But it is not just about the club industry for Benchmark.

“We want to reach out to all businesses right across the board,” says Andy Kidd. “It doesn’t matter how big or how small, there are substantial savings to be made,” he added.

Benchmark can take business and industry to world’s best practice standard.

Benchmark Sustainability’s goal is to show businesses how to improve efficiency, increase profits by streamlining and containing resource use, making a business more environmentally conscious, and improving a business’ green credentials in the market place.

CONTACT

Benchmark Sustainability, PO Box 521, Currumbin, Queensland 4223

Telephone: 07-55987377 Fax 07-55987388

info@benchmarksustainability.com info@benchmarksustainability.com

A walking path up the grassy hill overlooking Rainbow Bay leads to Point Danger, named by Captain Cook as he sailed north along the coastline in May 1770. This steep rocky headland has spectacular views and marks the Queensland/New South Wales border. It is also the site of a historical landmark, the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse, which was the first lighthouse in the world to experiment with laser technology in the ‘70s.

This amazing location is a favourite of locals and visitors alike and overlooks one of the best surfing spots on the coast – Duranbah Beach, affectionately known as D’Bah.

Most days, you will find the car park upon the point nearly full and lots of people milling about, taking in the views, exploring the lighthouse and enjoying some Fish n Chips on the grassed area.

This is a great vantage point to spot whales and dolphins from the sure footing of land, with great elevation on the most eastern point of Queensland!

Government Subsidised Workshops for Gold Coast Small Businesses

Southern Gold Coast  local business owners and operators are encouraged to participate in the Small Business Solutions workshop Series running in September and October. Small Business Solutions mentor Dr Edward Gifford will offer his combined expertise in guiding, supporting and mentoring small business owners and operators for both these series of Workshops.

This is a wonderful opportunity for small businesses in the Southern Gold Coast to have hands on coaching and mentoring support in a particularly tough economic climate. Most small businesses can’t afford this type of support from private mentors and coaches but this is a unique chance to attain excellent government support and advice to grow their business.

Over 70 SME’s have participated in this program since last November and it has been very successful.  A major outcome of the program is that participants write or revise their business growth plan and develop an action strategy to implement this.  As well as the workshops there are 6 hours of 1:1 mentoring to help implement the plan.

For an investment of  just $320 participants will receive:

• 3hrs 1:1 mentoring during the program
• 15 hours of small group workshops
• 3 hours of follow-up support

Participants who successfully complete the Program may also receive a nationally accredited qualification (Certificate 1V in Small Business Management)

That means 21 hours of small business mentoring, coaching and support for just $320.  This is subsidised by the Qld Government, which means small businesses are making over a $1000 saving.

The dates for the Planning for Success Workshops are:

Series 1: 14/9; 15/9; 20/9; 21/9 and 22/9      4.00pm-7.00pm

Series 2: 18/10, 19/10, 25/10, 26,10, 31/10  4.00pm – 7.00pm

For further enquiries contact Edward Gifford from On-Purpose Partners 07 5502 6644; edward@on-purposepartners.com

Registration: Phone 1300 40 60 80 or email enquiries@smallbusinesssolutions.qld.gov.au

Currumbin RSL’s multi award winning function room is offering half price room hire for any style of event held between January and March 2012!

The room, situated on the first floor of Currumbin RSL with picturesque waterfront views, can accommodate up to 250 guests with absolute privacy. Whether your function is a wedding, birthday, anniversary, corporate event or social club function, the function room can be transformed effortlessly to cater to your specific needs.

Winning the coveted tri-annual Australian Bridal Industry Academy Award for Best Club Reception Venue, Australia in 2008 and runner up in 2011. Call 5534 7999 or visit www.currumbinrsl.com.au for more.

Foodoo the catering company is offering a free bottle of Moet Chandon with any bookings no matter how big or small.

Foodoo the catering company has a vision, to create a unique event and present it with style, elegance and incredible friendly service. They cater for any style of event, no matter how big or small.  Having a dinner party and don’t want the stress of cooking of cleaning, then Foodoo are the people for you. Stunning food shall complement any occasion.

Moet Chandon offer available for a limited time only. Call 0403 289 861 or visit www.foodoo.net.au for more!

ORGANISING A CHRISTMAS PARTY?

Party with Supergroup ABBA REBJORN, Saturday December 17, 2011.

If you are organising your staff Christmas Party, let us do all the work for you! Get in early and book your Christmas Party at Currumbin RSL with a 2 course candlelight dinner and show only $49 ($55 non members)

Click the link below to see this month’s short, simple and sweet but very important tip from Resident Business guru, Graham Lock!!

Ready for the ‘bers’

Click here for info about the new event for the Southern Gold Coast

Local Tugun businesses, working with Swell Sculpture Festival and Sculptors Society Gold Coast will profile sculptures in and around the Tugun Village for 10 days between the 9th-18th September this year!

Tugun will get into the spirit with street performers, musicians and bands at restaurants and cafes in the precinct, as well as master classes being held in the Tugun Progress Hall and the Beilby St Markets by The Village Markets!

In the Bin will feature a series of short films in the park that connects Tugun and Currumbin on the 17th of September and there will also be sand sculpting workshops on Tugun beach from 8am-2pm Sunday 18th September, perfect for the kids!

StreetSWELL is a collaborative project with: