Wollombi, Pokolbin & Broke Fordwich represent our region
The Hunter Valley region was well represented at the NSW Top Tourism Town Awards with Wollombi, Pokolbin and Broke Fordwich all named as finalist of the NSW Top Tourism Town Awards for 2021. It comes as no surprise, as the Hunter Valley is home to so many amazing tourism operators who provide first class experiences,…
Changes announced for liquor laws
The NSW Government has announced changes will be implemented across a range of NSW’s liquor laws. The announcement came after key recommendations from the Joint Select Committee’s report on Sydney’s night time economy and modifications to NSW’s liquor laws were supported by the NSW Government late last year. According to the Cessnock City Liquor Accord…
Director ID
Director ID It is a requirement to have a Director Identification Number (ID) if you are a director of one of the following: a company registered Australian body registered foreign company Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation The Director ID is a unique identifier which once applied for once, will be kept forever. All existing…
Breaking down the barriers to job growth and economic recovery
Motivated to break down the barriers to job growth and support our economic recovery the Australian Government announced on 9 December 2020 the Industrial Relations Reforms. The reforms were developed after extensive consultation involving the Government and employer and employee groups to find solutions that will support struggling businesses, as well as protect and enhance…
2020-21 Budget, small business wins
The Federal Government’s 2020-21 Budget is one for the history books, following the Treasury’s announcement on Tuesday 6 October 2020. The Budget details a record spend that will help lift small businesses out of the COVID crisis and provide a much-needed boost to economic confidence. Given the number of measures that target the small business…
Tender support for small businesses
New tools will assist businesses in meeting qualification requirements and understanding the tendering for NSW Government work. Small businesses across NSW can now access free online training and an informative guide to help them become “tender ready” and bid for NSW Government contracts. The NSW Small Business Commission has collaborated with TAFE NSW to deliver…
Council facilities to reopen via staged approach
Following the announcement that NSW has reached the 70% vaccination rate milestone, Cessnock City Council has released a schedule for reopening their facilities via a staged approach (pending the approval of COVID Safety Plans). Monday 11 October saw the reopening of Kurri Kurri Library, the Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre, Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, the…
Path to freedom as NSW Roadmap revealed
The path to freedom for NSW is just weeks away with the NSW Government announcing its re-opening roadmap weeks ahead of schedule. Back to business day is likely to begin from 11 October 2021 when the state is expected to hit the 70% double vaccination target with freedoms further increasing once we hit 80%. Hospitality,…
Save the date, Great Southern Nights returns 2022
The NSW Government is amping up the State’s live music scene with the return of Great Southern Nights in March and April 2022 and local musicians and live music venues are being encouraged to get involved. Following its hugely successful debut in 2020, Great Southern Nights will again create jobs and revenue for artists, venues…
Did someone say QR Cards
Checking into venues and managing your check-in history will become easier thanks to a new COVID-19 check-in card and suite of updates to the Service NSW app. NSW residents will soon be able to register for a COVID-19 check-in card which can be presented to supermarkets and other essential retail businesses to scan. The cards…
Micro businesses eligible for funding
If you are a micro-business that has been impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions, you may be eligible for the COVID-19 Micro-business grant. Eligible small businesses, sole traders or not-for-profit organisations with aggregated annual turnover between $30,000 and $75,000 may be eligible to apply for a fortnightly payment of $1,500 to cover business expenses…
New COVID Support Package for small businesses
The NSW Government has announced a major new grants package and changes to the Dine & Discover program to help small businesses and people across NSW impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions. The package includes grants of between $5000 and $10,000 for small businesses, payroll tax deferrals for all employers, and an extension of the…