CCBR Business Review

11 NEW PATIENTS Comprehensive checkup & clean Includes up to 5 x-rays No Gap (with health insurance) or $290 OFFERS (all patients) Free orthodontic consultation Free dental implant consultation Free cosmetic makeover consultation FINANCE We bulk bill the Medicare CDBS Zip Pay & Zip Money payment plans We partner with SuperCare General Dentistry | Emergency Care | Cosmetic Dentistry Orthodontics & Invisalign | Sleep Dentistry IV Sedation | Oral Surgery Wisdom Teeth Removal | Dental Implants | 3D CT Scanning 02 4323 1933 | www.vcdental.com.au Suite 10, 36-40 Victoria Street, East Gosford NSW 2250 OPEN 7 DAYS 40 YEARS LOCAL THE MOUNTIES GROUP is in discussions with Breakers Country Club at Wamberal regarding a potential amalgamation. The news follows an expression of inter- est released in late 2020, to engage clubs that were interested in merging with the successful club giant. Mounties Group CEO, Dale Hunt, said Breakers is one of the larger clubs on the Central Coast with possibly the most poten- tial to unlock. “Just like Halekulani Bowling Club, Breakers is not a struggling club. It has been very successful and is a popular choice of venue amongst locals, but they want to do so much more,” Hunt said. “Our unique intergenerational approach to club venues and our profit-for-purpose business model continues to intrigue and excite other clubs to join us and it is this ethos that attracted Breakers.” Breakers President, Lance Harrigan, said “We have completed the Memorandum of Understanding which is available for members to view on our website and an Extraordinary Ordinary Meeting will be held on the 1st August 2021 at 2pm for members to vote on the proposed amalgamation.” In a letter to members Mr Harrigan said, “Over the past few weeks many members have asked me about the proposed part- nership/amalgamation with the Mounties Group and where I stand with this. I fully support the move and see this as a means of ensuring the future of Breakers for its members not only in the short term but for many years to come.” “At a recent seminar an address by the Russell Corporate Advisory group presented the following facts: 1993 – 1700+ clubs existed in NSW, 2021 – there are now 1100 clubs. It is anticipated that this number may further fall over coming years to about 900. It was emphasised that clubs need to ensure their survival by being proactive in their planning and that one of the biggest threats was coming from hotels. (2017 – 30% of Poker Machine market was in hotels but by 2020 this had risen to 42%).” Mr Harrigan said, “The message is that for clubs to survive they need to diversify. Over the past few months, I have become aware of at least 10 clubs within a short distance from here that have sought amalgamation partners. A media report from May 2021 indicated that 249 clubs have closed since the 1980’s and 154 clubs have amalgamat- ed and survived.” “Breakers has just celebrated our 50-year anniversary – we must now ensure we are able to meet member needs and those of our community for another 50 years,” he said. Breakers would mark the third Central Coast venue to join Mounties Group in less than 12 months with Halekulani Bowling Club and Club Wyong having recently completed the process in March and April this year. Mounties and Breakers in amalgamation talks B U S I N E S S N E W S Breakers Country ClubWamberal A federally funded Central Coast Training Hub will be located in Gosford in the coming weeks. The contract for delivering the hub was awarded to the NSW Business Chamber, which has nominated Michael Brolly to deliver Industry Training Hub services in Gosford and the surrounding areas. Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said young people can face longer periods of unemployment than other age groups, and in regional areas are particularly at risk of falling into the trap of long-term welfare dependency. “Regardless of which path they choose, we are committed to assisting young people across the Central Coast to build skills today that help them get into the jobs of tomorrow. “Importantly, the Gosford Training Hub will help promote the many opportunities in the vocational edu- cation and training sector as a first- choice career option that may have been overlooked in the past.” Each training hub is managed by a full-time Career Facilitator, who will help create better linkages between schools and local industry and encour- age students to focus on developing skills for occupations most relevant to their region. Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the Career Facilitator will engage with local employers who are experiencing difficulty finding people with the skills they need and advise sen- ior high school students to help them develop right skills for the right jobs. Industry Training Hub for Gosford CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW AUGUST 2021