Liberal Party promises a backto-basics approach Stevens Group finalists at this year’s UDIA Excellence Awards 4id Solutions appoints new CEO looks to expand into US UDIA outlines critical issues of focus in upcoming local election Major sporting events deliver economic windfall for Coast THE CENTRAL COAST‘S MOST TRUSTED NEWS SOURCE FOR OVER 30 YEARS Print Post Approved – PP100001854 Published monthly (except January) September 2024 1990 EST Page 4 – Edgar Adams’ Editorial Administrator leaves behind disfunctional council
PHONE 4365 4566 www.commercialhq.com.au Nicole Barr 0418 230044 e: nicole@commercialhq.com.au FOR LEASE SHOP 4 ERINA PLAZA ERINA 133M2 $42,436 + OG+ GST Well positioned suite, mostly open plan with polished concrete floors, blacked out exposed ceiling, ducted A/C and LED lighting, Disabled WC and Kitchenette with water availability to other parts of the tenancy. Existing tenants include: Chemist Outlet / My Physio Advantage / New Leaf Dental / Aubrey Brown Lawyers / Dr Ansari Cosmetics / Baker Built / Ampey Disability / Aussie Home Loans / Bike Worx / Strategiq / @ Pilates / Air Locker / Milk Dance Studio. FOR LEASE SUITE 18 FOUNTAIN CORPORATE ERINA 118m2 $44,840 + OG + GST Situated within this two storey retail & executive office block which offers lift access and is surrounded by quality tenants including a medical centre, the suite comes with 2 dedicated car spaces. Offering a flexible floor plan and shared amenities, this is sure to impress. FOR LEASE UNIT 2 255 THE ENTRANCE RD ERINA 110m2 $700 p/week gross + GST Situated along The Entrance Road with good exposure is this neat and tidy space which would suit a consultancy style business, retail or service industry. Currently fitted for a hair/beauty salon the ground floor is 66m2, has a W.C, kitchenette, water & drainage points for two shampoo lounges (currently installed), reception counter and mirrors. FOR LEASE SUITE 10 PARK PLAZA GOSFORD 441m2 $125,000 + OG + GST Elevate your work environment to new heights with this expansive office space boasting 280 degree views of Gosford cityscape and bushland. Just 5 mins to Gosford Station the suite includes 9 private offices, 2 separate entries, large kitchen/breakout area, 6 dedicated parking spaces and access to high speed broadband. FOR LEASE OFFICE 1 FOUNTAIN PLAZA ERINA 267m2 $112,140 + OUTS + GST Outstanding corner suite with modern fit out in place, ample natural light and views. Currently ANZ business banking, this level 1 suite is positioned in one of the most sought after office positions in Erina. Currently configured with formal secure entry, meeting room, fully equipped boardroom, open office workstations, breakout area, kitchen & private bathrooms. The suite overlooks the busy Central Coast Highway at the Karalta intersection. FOR LEASE SUITE 4.15 ELEMENT ERINA 18M2 $16,000 + OG + GST Rarely offered are the exterior suites of this quality building and business centre. Offering views of Erina and loads of light this fantastic suite is suitable for many uses. Directly adjacent is a waiting area and the large meeting/boardroom making it ideal for a consult room or satellite office.
3 4 Edgar Adams’ Editorial Administrator leaves behind disfunctional council 5 Liberal Party promises a back-to-basics approach 6 Stevens Group finalists at this year’s UDIA Excellence Awards 7 4id Solutions appoints CEO looks to expand into US 8 UDIA outlines critical issues of focus in upcoming local election 9 Major sporting events deliver economic windfall for Coast 10 Six Strings new brewery getting closer 10 Please stop talking to me: Australian workers NEW Right to Disconnect 11 Solving the housing crisis – one room at a time 12 Mariners appoint new CEO 12 Central Coast Basketball appoints General Manager 13 Love for fine food brings restaurant and butcher together at Erina Heights 13 Changes in Radio Land 14 CCBR Business Book Review 15 Phantom orchid kills infrastructure extensions to unlock land at Halloran 16 Central Coast Council ends Administration period in strong financial position 17 How to Value a Business – In Divorce 18 Kibbleplex owners’ plans for revised Gosford Alive development 18 CBRE lists shovel ready residential subdivision at Hamlyn Terrace 19 Recent property sales and leases 23 Funny Business CONTENTS Phone 02 4367 0733 Email info@ccbusinessreview.com.au Web www.ccbusinessreview.com.au CONTACT In this issue Central Coast Business Review is a Registered Trade Mark of Adams Business Publications Pty Ltd P.O. Box 3259, Erina, NSW 2250 Phone: (02) 4367 0733 Fax: (02) 4367 0744 Email: info@ccbusinessreview.com.au Typesetting by Graphic by Design ph (02) 4365 6777 Print & Distribution by Bromley Direct ph 0412 439 773 © Adams Business Publications 1994. All rights reserved. Reproductions in any part prohibited. While every effort has been made to ensure all information in this magazine is accurate, no responsibility will be accepted by the publisher, Adams Business Publications. The producer accepts no responsibility for illustrations or photographs supplied by organisations or individuals and/or typographical errors. Central Coast Business Review Readership 20,000+ DISTRIBUTION GUARANTEED VIA AUSTRALIA POST CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
4 tials to turn this Council around encouraging investment and getting our economy on track again. Of course the good intentions of these groups will depend on them having control after September14. We note that Jane Smith has had the temerity to stand in West Gosford Ward denying she had any part in the demise of the council she led. And while it was expected that Labor would field candidates no one expected that they would be so shameless as to nominate a candidate from the previous failed council. The Labor Team will be led by former high profile MP and Gosford Councillor Belinda Neal. Let’s not forget that it was Labor and CEN people that wrecked the last council. Finally, to every business owner and manager on the Central Coast, this will be the most important election our region has ever had to contend with. Doing business at present is hard enough, lets not make it any harder by voting the wrong people in. AS YOU READ this Editorial, once again criticising our Central Coast Council let’s hope that our October issue will be full of hope for the future of our region. Administrator Rik Hart held his last meeting on 27th August and complemented himself and Council’s staff for the ‘achievements Council has made to develop and implement Council’s Long-Term Financial Recovery Plan’. He made no mention of the fact that under his Administration and that of the former Council the Central Coast economy has gone backwards. For the past eight years investment in the region has been seen by staff from top to bottom as a dirty word. Investors have turned their backs on us and for good reason. Right now there are over 40 rejected Development Applications before the Land and Environment Court. The past few years has seen Council’s legal costs go through the roof and there’s more to come. Activist environmental staff take pride in finding any spurious reason to stop any development no matter how small or large. The finding of the so called Warnervale Orchid in recent times has to be the most nefarious of all to find a reason to say “no”. Refusal of the expansion of Woolworths’ Distribution Centre at Warnervale, a $60 million investment, earlier this year and now the refusal of the extension of water and sewer infrastructure intended to unlock land in the Mountain Road Precinct at Halloran on the basis of the Wyong Sun Orchid and Midge Orchid, neither of which existed a year or so ago, has to be the most diabolical of all. Meanwhile, across the whole Council the culture is seen as toxic and anyone with any ability left ages ago. This is less to do with the Administrator than it is to do with the CEO who has allowed the situation to fester resulting in a totally disfunctional organisation. However this didn’t stop Administrator Hart giving Mr Farmer a five year extension to his contract late last year effectively hogtying the new Councillors to more of the same. Of course all of this was put in place by the first elected Central Coast Council under former Coastal Environment Network CEO Mayor Jane Smith. She was backed up by other activists and Labor councillors whose actions created what has become known as the worst financial crisis in the history of New South Wales local government. A new Council In our August issue we announced those Candidates who had already declared their intentions with Lawrie McKinna’s Team Central Coast, Independents former Wyong Mayor Doug Eaton in Budgewoi Ward and Kevin Brooks in West Gosford Ward. This month we highlight the Liberal Party Team all of whom have excellent credenEDITORIAL Edgar Adams discusses local issues We’ll handle it from here • Major supplier of architectural hardware to the residential and commercial market • Door locks, handles, security and more • Consultation service available • Working closely with direct clients, builders, architects and interior designers • Visit our showroom today! Avoca Beach Architectural Hardware & Locksmiths www.avocaarchitectural.com.au 4382 1286 0412 437 327 177 Avoca Dr, Avoca Beach info@avocaarchitectural.com.au Edgar Adams Editor Administrator leaves behind disfunctional council CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
5 BUSINESS NEWS THE NSW LIBERAL Party has announced their candidates for the upcoming Central Coast Council September 14th elections, with a team of experienced professionals committed to fighting for a back-to-basics approach to help get the Central Coast back on track. • Gosford East Ward will be led by Jared Wright, an Avoca Beach local and financial services consultant at Australian based firm Honner. • Leading The Entrance Ward is Rachel Stanton, a Berkeley Vale local and major projects and construction lawyer at Clayton Utz. Ms Stanton has extensive experience delivering significant transport, commercial and residential infrastructure projects in the public and private sectors. • Prominent small business owner and East Gosford resident, Trent McWaide, will be leading the team in Gosford West Ward. Mr McWaide operates three commercial and retail automotive businesses across the region, employing more than 20 staff. He is also a former NSW Police Officer within the State Crime Command, with a focus on intelligence and investigations. • John McNamara will be leading the team in Wyong Ward. Mr McNamara has strong local government experience as a former Deputy Mayor of Wyong Council between 2008 and 2012, prior to amalgamation. He has also served as Global Telecommunications Director at AT&T, with a focus on business growth and expansion. The Liberal Central Coast team said their priority is getting the Council focused on the needs of local residents – with road repairs, stemming rate increases, repairing the Council debt, revitalising community spaces and ensuring responsible development. Mr McNamara said he is seeking to shape the future of the Central Coast through experience, integrity, accountability and ethical representation, and will fight to ensure our region gets its fair share. “Council must stop doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. We will examine the Operational Plan line by line and make Big enough to deliver yet small enough to care, our team of accredited, experienced senior lawyers are true experts in their fields of law. Professional, practical and passionate, we’ve been trusted by the Central Coast for generations. YOUR LEGAL LIFE PARTNERS AUBREYBROWN.COM.AU CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 changes where necessary, while also maximising funding and grant opportunities from the state and federal governments,” he said. Mr McWaide will maximise his small business and leadership background, along with his passion for community, by delivering real leadership and strong ethical governance. “I am committed to making a positive impact on our community, by ensuring that Council operates with efficiency and integrity and it all starts with leadership,” Mr McWaide said. Ms Stanton brings an informed perLiberal Party promises a back-to-basics approach Central Coast Council Liberals Team: (L TO R) Jared Wright, Trent McWaide, Rachel Stanton and John McNamara CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
6 LOCAL SERVICE - DELIVERED GLOBALLY www.dysonlogistics.com Phone: 02 4322 2246 LOCAL SERVICE - DELIVERED GLOBALLY THE STEVENS GROUP’S recently completed Hunter Valley residential development, The Residence Apartments at The Vintage has been recognised as a Finalist by the Urban Development Institute of NSW (UDIA NSW), in the 2024 Awards For Excellence in both the Boutique and Regional Development NSW categories. Commenting on the project Stevens Group Chairman John Stevens said, “The Residence Apartments comprise 24 spacious apartments offering expansive Hunter Valley views, with the comfort and convenience of level access and private parking and have been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers.” “We offered the project in January 2022 to an exclusive list of VIP clients, where 22 apartments were sold prior to going to market, with the last two offered and sold on completion” said Mr Stevens. “Working with our outstanding consultants; EJE Architecture and Indesco Engineers, has seen us streamline this project to deliver an exceptional residential building. Our builder, Scipio, were passionate and professional from inception to completion, and on behalf of my team and consultants we are proud to be finalists.” said Mr Stevens. The awards are designed to highlight innovation, sustainability, industry leadership and excellence in urban development across NSW and the ACT. property development companies. development awards for The Vintage tourism and residential development and Grand Mercure at The Vintage in the Hunter Valley, The Residence Apartments at The Vintage, The Glen Group Retirement Villages, Headlands Hotel at Austinmer and the recently completed Foreshore Lake Macquarie Development at Toronto. One of their many current development projects is a masterplanned, mixed use urban redevelopment The Regrowth project at Kurri Kurri spanning 2000ha. The site will see the positive incorporation of 1000ha of environmental conservation land and over 2,000 new residential homesites. The Residence Apartments at The Vintage broke ground in August 2022 and after 16 months of construction owners, primarily local buyers who bought in this prestigious development, have moved in and are enjoying the luxury of their new homes. The Residences Apartments range from two to three-bedroom apartments and Penthouses, many featuring spanning balconies with idyllic views of the Hunter Valley and its surrounding mountain ranges. Founded in 1982 by John Stevens the Erina based Stevens Group have delivered over 250 quality landmark developments throughout NSW. They are regarded as one of the state’s leading private and diversified BUSINESS NEWS Stevens Group finalists at this year’s UDIA Excellence Awards Stevens Group’s residential development, The Residence Apartments at The Vintage CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
7 Areyoua Central Coast based Hospitality Business? We can help you protect your company. CONTACTUS centralcoast@oraclegroup.com.au Fountain Plaza, Erina NSW 2250 02 4322 7856 Oracle Group (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 75 131 025 600 AFSL 363610 CONTINUED ON PAGE 17 BUSINESS NEWS 4id Solutions appoints new CEO looks to expand into US through education or marketing by embedding product education or shopping card features into a tap location on a single product or creating an automated checkout process in a physical store. At the same time these systems have the capability to lock down the full lifecycle of a product to trace origins, location and data for regulatory compliance, manufacturing process efficiency or proving up the environmental circular economy. The use cases are as wide as can be imagined embedding tracking and tracing into tags or labels. US expansion 4id Solutions is currently exploring options for a manufacturing facility to be estab4ID SOLUTIONS HAS announced the appointment of Christian Broadhurst as CEO. Mr Broadhurst joins 4id Solutions after a banking career spanning seventeen years, most recently with the Commonwealth Bank as Relationship Executive specialising in corporate finance. In making the announcement Bruce Heenan, 4id Solutions Founder and Manager Director said, “Christian’s expertise in leading specialised transaction teams for financing acquisitions and major strategic changes has consistently driven growth and innovation across various industries and will play a pivotal role in our strategic direction.’ An expert in corporate finance, concentrating on the Technology and Manufacturing sectors, he has worked with both small corporates and listed businesses, leading teams to create unique solutions and providing strategic advice. Tracking and Tracing Technology has seen significant progression with the wider adoption of Artificial Intelligence making the raw data of tracking and tracing physical items more valuable. Arguably the largest uptake is related to waste prevention via inventory management solutions. By embedding paper thin RFID tags and reader systems, businesses can prevent loss of misplaced/disposed/stolen equipment and products to save significant cost and prevent potential environmental impact. The same systems can further enhance the consumer experience beyond cost 4id Solutions Head Office and manufacturing facility at Wyong 4id Solutions CEO Christian Broadhurst lished on the east coast of the US. This has been driven by 4id’s world leading reputation for quality and accuracy, built from over 20 years’ experience and CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
8 UDIA NSW HAS released its Central Coast 2024 Local Election Platform, calling on candidates for Council to commit to delivering on affordable housing and jobs for the growing region. The Platform was released at the UDIA Central Coast Chapter’s Developers Forum held at the Gosford RSL in mid August with Chair Allison Basford saying, “as a key stakeholder in the growth and prosperity of the Central Coast, UDIA NSW and the local development industry highly value a functional and committed elected Council to foster thriving communities across our region.”. “Our vision is rooted in promoting housing options that are affordable and sustainable, enhancing infrastructure, and supporting economic opportunities to provide more jobs locally for our growing region,” Ms Basford said UDIA is committed to working collaboratively with the elected Council to achieve these priorities on behalf of the residents of the Central Coast. By focusing on housing, planning, governance and infrastructure, we can create a thriving, sustainable, and prosperous Central Coast. In this upcoming local election, the UDIA Central Coast Local Election Platform outlines four key pillars, each of which highlight the critical issues facing our industry and the broader community. • Housing • Planning • Councillors/Governance • Infrastructure Commenting on the UDIA’s Election Platform and how they see the future of the region, UDIA NSW CEO Stuart Ayres said, “we are very optimistic about the future of the Central Coast and the election of a new council, post a period of administration is an opportunity to build critical momentum.” “Our Election Platform is a blueprint for success. It’s up to the Central Coast to take control of its own future under strong, focused and determined local leadership. “Home buyers and renters on the Central Coast are feeling the pinch of the housing crisis and will be watching closely how the new council tracks against its target of 9,400 homes by 2029,” he said. UDIA calls on candidates to commit to BUSINESS NEWS working with industry on these priorities for the benefit of all residents. The Developers Forum also heard from a Panel of developers who outlined their current projects and the difficulties they were having in getting approvals from Council. Tom Copping from Vivacity Group said that their proposed Wyong Village redevelopment at Kanwal will help tackle this housing crisis by building 675 new homes for people living and working on the Central Coast. The redevelopment is currently being assessed by the NSW Planning Department after the Oasis caravan park was selected for priority redevelopment under the NSW government’s Rezoning Pathways Programme. Wyong Village Kanwal will comprise 675 apartments, including 102 designated for affordable rental housing, and 200 apartments for independent living for seniors. Mr Norris outlined the current projects that the John Singleton Group has planned. They include a joint venture with the Alceon Group to develop 16 luxury residences on the waterfront at 49 Caroline Bay East Gosford, a new 60-room motel behind the Elanora Hotel at East Gosford and a luxury 17-suite boutique hotel and day spa adjoining their Mt White Saddles Restaurant property. Mr Norris said that these projects off the ground have been delayed because of difficulties in negotiating with Central Coast Council. UDIA outlines critical issues of focus in upcoming local election David Norris, CEO, John Singleton Group, Angus Witherby, Darkinjung LALC and Tom Copping, Vivacity Group and Allison Basford Chair UDIA NSW Central Coast Chapter CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
9 A RUN OF four major sporting events at Industree Group Stadium from May to July this year drew 74,590 fans to Industree Group Stadium that has set new attendance records and delivered a $9.75 million boost in economic revenue for the Central Coast region. Additionally, thousands more were drawn into Gosford to watch the Grand Final on a Live Site set up by Central Coast Council on Leagues Club Park. A Stadium Data Analysis conducted by Central Coast Council – plus game-day ticketing report data – have revealed the true value of major sporting events at Industree Group Stadium, the Home of Live Sport, Entertainment and Community Events on the Central Coast. The Council report estimates that the A-League Grand Final showpiece alone was worth $3 million in total economic activity on the Central Coast, with a total visitor spend of around $2 million. The first A-League Grand Final ever held on the Central Coast on Saturday 25 May smashed the all-time attendance record at Industree Group Stadium, with additional seating required to host 21,379 fans. Thousands more watched the Grand Final from a Live Site, set up outside the Stadium by Central Coast Council and supported by Destination NSW, so fans could be part of the historic Grand Final event. More than 7,700 visitors stayed on the Central Coast on Grand Final weekend – driving a hotel occupancy rate above 90 per cent. The hotel occupancy rate reached 63.1 per cent for the Mariners v Sydney FC event (May 18) and soared to 79.4 per cent for the Roosters v Bulldogs NRL game (June 22). The Council report estimates the Mariners’ Semi-Final was worth $3 million in total economic revenue and the Roosters v Bulldogs game was worth $2 million. All three of these events were sell-outs at Industree Group Stadium, with the Mariners’ Semi-Final attracting 20,059 fans and a weather-hit Sydney Roosters game drawing 16,868 fans through the gates. It was the first time the Central Coast stadium has staged three consecutive soldout events. A fourth bumper sporting event – the South Sydney Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers NRL game on Saturday 20 July – drew a crowd of 16,284 and delivered another impressive boost to the Central Coast visitor economy. Industree Group Stadium Venue Manager BUSINESS NEWS Major sporting events deliver economic windfall for Coast Energy savings are now officially through the roof With 20% off all Solaverse solar panels throughout August, now is the perfect time to go solar and save plenty on your business power bills. Solaverse will create a bespoke solar solution designed to maximise your site’s savings. Custom design. Expert Installation. Ongoing Maintenance. Call us now and quote this ad for a free consultation. 20% off solar panels in August solaverse.com.au PH: 1300 672 635 Servicing the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley GBD 24-MOW1195 The atmosphere at Grand Final night at Industree Group Stadium was electric Kath Casey said a total of 1250 local people were employed directly at Industree Group Stadium for the four major sporting events. She said that stadium operator VenuesLive had been responsible for bringing more events and more diversified content to the local stadium since being engaged by Central Coast Council in July 2022. “When we bring quality events to the Central Coast, everyone in our community benefits and this new data from Council and ticketing demonstrate the extent of the benefits,” said Ms Casey. “Visitation numbers increase, hotel beds are filled, and money is spent in the local community, bringing prosperity to the region and creating local jobs. “Looking forward, I can reveal there are some very exciting family events to be announced for the summer months.” CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
10 Six Strings new brewery getting closer HAVING RAISED MORE than $1.95 million from local investors to expand their brewing operations local brewer, Six String Brewing Co are aiming to open their new taproom, brewery and retail area at The Sawmill in Erina in late October this year. The new facility will increase capacity from 390,000L per annum to over 1,000,000L per annum. Six Strings current manufacturing facility in Erina where they first commenced operations in 2012 will remain operational. Financing of the new facility will see investors enjoy franked dividends, capital appreciation via a potential buyout by a multinational brewer in 5 to 8 years is expected to see an estimated market capitalisation of around $14.1 million. The remaining $1m equity will be sold to investors in September. The Six Strings brand can now be found in over 400 venues across NSW and the recent success of their distributor in Queensland gaining over 50 venues, management are now setting their sights on further expansion into Victoria. This growth also supports the development of their local taproom and manufacturing facilities. Commenting on their success to date, Chris Benson, Founder and CEO of Six String Brewing Co said, “Our growth has meant we can no longer stay under the radar. Our loyal customer base continues to grow across the state and our exclusive beer partnership with Industree Group Stadium and now The Central Coast Mariners are recent examples of many accolades that have helped our growth.” Discussing the company’s growth strategy, General Manager, Brent Adams said, “the breadth of our beer portfolio as well as the inclusion of Hard Lemonade, Hard Ginger Beer and our Soda range has broadened our target market ensuring we have a product for every person, occasion and age bracket” The recent equity raising was led by Brett Hunter of DiJones Commercial in partnership with John Swaine from Smith&Swaine Accounting and Peggie Pantsos from PBL lawyers. Consistent Revenue Growth Six String Brewing Co’s July revenue numbers are up 37% year on year, as projected. “In fact every month this year has tracked almost for dollar with our cash flow forecasts, which gives our investors confidence in the growth of the business and confidence in the cash flow forecasts,” said Mr Adams. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 BUSINESS NEWS Brett Hunter, Chris Benson and Brent Adams Please stop talking to me: Australian Workers NEW Right to Disconnect The Federal Government has moved to further regulate the relationship between work and home with new Right to Disconnect laws. The laws mean that employees have more control over when and how they choose to respond to communication from their employer outside business hours. What’s Changing? The new Right to Disconnect is part of the Closing the Loophole changes, and will apply to all employers, except small employers, from 26 August 2024. Small employers get an extra year, to 26 August 2025, before the changes impact them. The Right to Disconnect is a designated workplace right under the Fair Work Act. This means that an employer is prevented from taking adverse action (for example, performance management, discipline process or termination) against an employee because they exercised or proposed to exercise their right to disconnect. By Warwick Ryan, Partner, Hicksons Lawyers CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
11 AFTER SELLING THEIR party hire events business in 2021 Lynn and Matthew Crow had planned to retire. However things took a turn when Mrs Crow saw an compelling need to help women in crisis who were sleeping rough because affordable accommodation to get them through difficult times was impossible to find. Her husband, Matthew and his family had been home builders on the Central Coast for some forty years prior to going into the event business. He knew that in the present climate not enough homes were being built and building costs were rising. In today’s economic and social environment people are struggling and homelessness has become widespread. They saw that people in these hopeless situations simply wanted a roof over their head and a safe place to live. They set out to design a basic accommodation unit that was easily transported, easy to locate and above all affordable. A ‘plug n play’ concept with modular ensuite and kitchenette that would fit on a trailer and delivered to a spot where it could be easily installed. Also, being portable there would be no need for any council approvals. Their intention was to build a portable room that was comfortable, safe and affordable. Initially with the intention of hiring them out to people in need. They would not be a ‘granny flat’. Once the prototype was built the Crows’ marketed these portable rooms on social media through Facebook and the idea took off. Demand was such that they soon had to manufactured in a factory which they set up at Somersby. The rooms are built to the highest standards to meet the Australian Building Code and are made mostly from Australian building materials and fittings and come with 7-year warranty. While the original plan was to hire the rooms to people in distress it soon became apparent that there was a wider use and people wanted to buy them for a home office, extra bedroom, computer room, teenage retreat and more. Today 75% of production is sold while 25% goes into the hire fleet to a market across NSW. Rooms range in size from 9 to 18 sqm and cost from $16,000 to $30,000. The Crows have found that their business, Portable Room Hire & Sales has touched a niche market where their original idea to support homeless people has expanded with them now getting enquiries and orders for uses such as; home office, hobby room, kids playroom, building site sheds, teenage retreats. “Their uses seem to be endless,” Mr Crow said. “ Solving the housing crisis - one room at a time 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 p: 4340 0984 e: info@ccwsomersby.com.au centralcoastwarehousing.com.au YOUR STORAGE SOLUTION AT SOMERSBY MANUFACTURING NEWS Typical portable room manufactured by Portable Room Hire and Sales Lynn and Matthew Crow CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
12 BUSINESS BRIEFS Creating beautiful green spaces on the Central Coast Since 1982 Call: 02 9119 1280 Visit: greendesign.com.au Argyle Estates Buying or selling a quality business, contact the experts on the Central Coast 024332 6555 EST. OVER 40YEARS Business Brokers Argyle Estates argyle@argyleestates.com.au Graham McMullen – Licensee F.A.I.B.B. 0419326555 Mariners appoint new CEO Alyssar Narey Central Coast Mariners Football Club (CCMFC) has announced the appointment of Alyssar Narey as Chief Executive Officer. Her appointment will see her become the first female CEO of the Mariners in the Australian Professional Football Leagues (APL) competition. Ms Narey brings a wealth of experience from her extensive career in sports administration, business development and agency management. Having most recently joined the Mariners from the APL. Her commitment to the Mariners’ identity as “the community club” will see an increased focus on local engagement, developing talent and ensuring that the Central Coast remains at the heart of all the club’s endeavours. Ms Narey succeeds Adam Thomson, who has served as Interim CEO for the past six months. The club also announced that Chairman Richard Peil will be stepping back from his day-to-day involvement with the Mariners as he focuses on his other business ventures. His business partner of many years, Jordan Smith, will be taking over as Executive Chairman. Central Coast Basketball appoints General Manager Mark Ramsdale`` Central Coast Basketball has announced the appointment of Mark Ramsdale as General Manager. He succeeds Matt Tredrea who was GM for the past two years. Mr Ramsdale and his family moved to Australia five years ago from the UK subsequently settling on the Central Coast at North Avoca. Over the past sixteen years he has held several senior executive positions, in particular CEO of the Commonwealth Communications Organisation and Executive Secretary of the UK Public Affairs Council. He was Founder and Director of Cambridge Policy Network and a Director of the Oxford Rugby League Football Club. Mr Ramsdale has had a lifetime experience promoting various sports from rugby league to rowing. He said that he sees a number of opportunities to take the CCB forward and make more use of the Stadium. “The stadium lends itself to introducing Pickleball which is a fast growing sporting activity. We will be introducing this in early October,” he said. Based at the Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium Terrigal Central Coast Basketball has over 7,000 members and employs 50 staff of which ten are full-time. Central Coast Basketball Board of Directors comprises: Chair – Michael Griffiths Deputy Chair – Damien Sims Treasurer – Mark Holton Secretary – Kellie Hassab Directors – Suzy Miller and Lana King. CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
13 Saratoga Quality Meats (SQM) in the Kincumber Shopping Village has been serving the finest quality meats on the Central Coast for over 25 years. They are recognised as one of the most successful butchers on the Coast. Founders Rob and Bruce Kay sold the business to Tony Palmer in 2020 and with Head Butcher Jason Bowden have grown the business and its reputation beyond the Central Coast. Last year they opened a pop-up butcher shop in the Erina Heights shopping precinct selling pre-packaged meat and ready to cook products prepared in their Kincumber shop. Five years ago Nico and Alex Coccia who had come to Australia, Nico from Naples and Alex from the South of France and worked in some of Sydney’s renowned restaurants set up Osteria il Coccia restaurant at Ettalong. Firstly in the Galleria and then in the new Atlantis development opposite the Mantra. They had become famous for their menu cooked entirely over flames. Last year the Coccia’s started sourcing their meat from SQM and a new collaboration started which has resulted in the two businesses joining together creating a new concept and now known as Carne & Cucina (Butcher and Restaurant) at Erina Heights. The 45-seat restaurant also showcases a full range of SQM freshly packaged premium meats and related products including ready-to-cook products. BUSINESS BRIEFS C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 3H 180x100 Mar23 Newest Finalest Final For s 4.pdf 1 21/8/2023 11:18 am Changes in Radio Land Veteran broadcaster, Pete Little has moved along the FM radio dial to become Sales & Marketing Manager of community station FM93.3. His new task is to re-brand FM93.3 and build a wider audience. Mr Little is responsible for the resurgence of CoastFM963 after landing there in 2006. He first came to the Central Coast in production at 2GO. There he learned from the best, like Bob Scott and Keith Graham who founded 2GO and who went on to open 2WS. Mr Little left 2GO in 1998 and was contracted by Central Coast Leagues Club to devise a marketing strategy for the impending arrival of the Bears at the new stadium in Gosford. All ancient history now. Stay tuned for plenty of action on the local radio scene. “I’m passionate about local media. We’ve lost our daily newspapers, Television is all networked, and commercial radio is in a state of flux. That leaves community radio which is locally owned and operated and a part of our daily lives. It has a great future.” he says. Peter Little Love for fine food brings restaurant and butcher together at Erina Heights Alex and Nico Coccio with Jason Bowden and Tony Palmer in their Erina Heights restaurant and butcher shop CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
14 CCBR BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW Welcome to the new monthly CCBR book review. Each month, Leanne Faulkner from online business bookstore Rereadable will select a book to review so you can decide if it’s a title you need to add to your collection. What is it about? Have you ever caught yourself giving the same advice to different clients several times over? Maybe you have to schedule the same in-person training for staff or customers every month? If so, you need to grab a copy of Kate Toon’s new book, Six Figures While You Sleep. This book teaches you how to transform time-intensive activities into low-effort digital products. Kate Toon is a local entrepreneur (based at Umina) and online marketing guru. Starting her career as a copywriter, Ms Toon is now a successful author, keynote speaker and founder of the popular online Digital Marketing Community. She is a master at transitioning labour intensive work activities to online opportunities for business owners. Six Figures While You Sleep teaches the reader how to develop digital products like eBooks, pdf guides and online courses that may generate ongoing passive income streams whilst streamlining work practices. It covers topics like creating digital downloads, establishing online membership communities and developing sales funnels to attract prospective customers. The most valuable part of the book is the numerous case studies provided throughout to show how the ideas can be applied in a small business. Who should read it? A business owner looking to develop an online, engaged community of customers would benefit from reading this book. Businesses who offer training services would also find this book valuable because it provides ideas about shifting the learning to an online space. I also think it’s a great book to read if you find yourself providing the same information to several different clients throughout the work week. Can you turn that information into an online, paid resource for your clients to access? Is it easy to read? Yes, Ms Toon writes in a conversational style, sprinkled with personal anecdotes, examples and business case studies. My copy of the book is highlighted throughout and very well read. It’s almost 300 pages and could be easily read over a weekend. Highly recommended. Six Figures While You Sleep is available at www.rereadable.com.au Six Figures While You Sleep by Kate Toon spective to the decision-making process. Together with her proven leadership and teamwork skills, she will help ensure our community’s growth and improvement. “We need to deliver the essential infrastructure that our local residents deserve and expect, starting with fixing our roads. With sound decision making, we can reduce the debt and provide for our community,” Ms Stanton said. Mr Wright is a staunch advocate for budget repair and housing reform, noting that Council debt remains too high and is hamstrung by prolonged and unacceptable development approval timelines. “Repairing the debt must be the number one priority of the next Council. We must also look at how we can unlock our region’s housing market and generate additional revenue, so that we can stimulate our local economy to fund the infrastructure, services and facilities we desperately need,” Mr Wright said. Liberal Party promises a back-to-basics approach CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
15 CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL NEWS THE LAST ACT of economic vandalism to be carried out by Central Coast Council at its 23rd August meeting was the refusal of the extension of water and sewer infrastructure intended to ‘unlock’ land in the Mountain Road Precinct at Halloran. The reason given was that in Council’s assessment report it states that the Applicant failed to provide adequate and additional information, particularly in relation to the Wyong Sun Orchid & Midge Orchid. The proposal sought to extend sewer services from an existing sewer pump station at the southern end of Jack Grant Avenue, to 92 Mountain Rd, Halloran, a distance of approximately 3 km. The proposal also included upgrades to existing water services in Mountain Rd (See image). • The proposal is consistent with Council’s water and sewer Development Servicing Plan, adopted by Council in 2019. • The subject land is located in the Wyong Employment Zone (WEZ), rezoned as a State Significant Site in 2008 by the State Government, after the Department took over this rezoning from the former Wyong Shire Council. • The WEZ has been slow to take off, only really starting to move when Council sold significant portion in 2021 to Winarch Capital. Sites in Mountain Rd have been hampered by lack of services and biodiversity concerns. The services DA lodged by Mountain Road Projects Pty Ltd, is the closest this Precinct has got to being unlocked, but Council’s decision has put a stop to that; • This DA for services is linked to 2 separate DA’s for industrial subdivision, the fate of which is now uncertain; • 108 Mountain Rd (Ref DA/1498/2021), lodged in October 2021, and • 128 Mountain Rd (DA/1363/2023), lodged in October 2023 0415 601 591 yvette.zocher@bloomtools.com REVOLUTIONISE YOUR DIGITAL PRESENCE Elevate with AI-Powered Websites – Where Innovation Meets Impeccable Design www.bloomtools.com • The services DA was initially intended to be processed in conjunction with DA/1498/2021, under the provisions of SEPP (Transport & Infrastructure) 2021, but Council insisted that a separate DA be lodged, thus capturing the project under the provisions of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, and requiring a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR). CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 Phantom orchid kills infrastructure extension to unlock land at Halloran Photo showing proposed water (blue) and sewer (red) lines. Central Coast Airport and Mountain Road Precinct top of photo CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
16 CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL NEWS Central Coast Council ends Administration period in strong financial position What’s Does This Mean for Australian Businesses? Employees will now have the right to not respond to contact from their employer outside of their working hours, unless doing so is unreasonable. This means that managers will need to reconsider their expectations regarding contact with workers outside of their usual hours of business. To be clear, the changes don’t necessarily stop employers from contacting staff after hours. Instead, the focus of the changes is to provide a pathway for employees to choose not to respond to, or even check, communications. For some employees, this may mean (for example) not checking emails, while for others it could mean that they turn off a work phone altogether outside of their usual working day. Does this mean no employee will ever check their work messages out of hours again? In short – no. Firstly, the changes allow individual employees to make the decisions about how contactable they will or won’t be, but it is not a blanket right for employees to ignore out-of-hours contact in all circumstances. There is also a test of reasonableness which applies to the changes. The following are some of the factors managers should consider when thinking about contacting employees outside their paid hours: • the reason for the contact or attempted contact (can it wait until tomorrow/usual working hours?) • the method of contact and level of disruption it causes the employee • whether the employee is being compensated to remain available or perform additional work outside ordinary hours • the nature of the employee’s role and the employee’s level of responsibility • the employee’s personal circumstances (including family or caring responsibilities) What this tells us is that the workplace context and arrangements are critical to determining what is reasonable. What may be unreasonable to expect of an employee in a junior role, may be commonplace for a high level manager who is adequately compensated for the expectation of being available out of hours. What do Businesses need to do about these new laws? Depending on the nature of the business, and factors such as workplace culture, for some employers the new right to disconnect will have little to no impact, while for others, it may fundamentally shift how employers interact with their employees outside of working hours. Businesses should be considering their current work practices and business requirements, and the policies which guide them, and making updates accordingly. Line managers also need to be clear with workers about business and role expectations by communicating upfront with employees about working hours and organisational culture. For example, if it is considered necessary for an employee to be available for out of hours contact, you might consider negotiating a modest pay increase or allowance to compensate for this. The Hicksons Workplace Relations team has experience in reviewing, drafting, and implementing practical and sensible policies in response to these changes in the law, and are ready to answer any questions you may have CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 • Industry has consistently said that the proposed infrastructure could have been approved under SEPP (Transport & Infrastructure), for works carried out by or on behalf of a public authority. • It’s reminiscent of the “tree trimming” saga, north of Warnervale Airport, where Council staff initially ‘opted in’ to the BCAct provisions thus requiring ecocredits, but when Council realised credits would exceed $500K for the tree trimming, they ‘opted out’ (the default position for SEPP projects) and avoided the eco-credit liability. • In Council’s assessment report it states that the Applicant failed to provide adequate and additional information, particularly in relation to the Wyong Sun Orchid & Midge Orchid. The Applicant has been working with Council’s ecologist and is surprised by this recent planning decision; • Mountain Road Projects Pty Ltd is currently assessing its options – Most likely seeking a Review of Determination, lodged back to Council. Phantom orchid kills infrastructure extension to unlock land at Halloran Please Stop Talking to Me: Australian Workers NEW Right to Disconnect PRESENTING HIS FINAL Report as Administrator of Central Coast Council, Rik Hart said that Council is now in a strong financial position, with a reduction in debt of $150 million from when it was put under administration. Council’s debt at the commencement of the administration period was just under $350M, due to having to take out two emergency loans, it now sits at less than $200M. With CEO David Farmer on leave until October, Acting CEO, Marissa Racomelara said Central Coast Council was put in administration because of inadequate financial management leading to a financial crisis. As well as delivering the Financial Recovery Plan, over the last two financial years Council has significantly improved its financial processes and delivered financial statements that satisfied audits undertaken by the NSW Audit Office and were completed within the legislated timeframe. “Council has progressively turned annual operating losses into appropriate surpluses. This means that Council ‘s performance favourably exceeds one of the most important indicators of Council’s financial health,” Ms Racomelara said. During 2023-2024, Council contained expenditure within the income that was available, whilst delivering services and projects to the community and ensuring that the organisation was able to absorb any adverse financial impact that arose during the year. “As a result of this prudency, Council has achieved an operating surplus of $38.6M. Over the last three financial years we have accumulated surpluses totalling $114M. While this is still short of the more than $160M in losses accumulated over the three preceding financial years, our focus going forward is achieving sufficient surplus to make up the gap, and to remain sustainable into the future.” Ms Racomelara noted that in addition to achieving a good operating result, Council has also managed its cashflow well. “During the year we have repaid more than $100M of borrowings, including one of the emergency loans taken out during the financial crisis. At the same time, we were able to draw down the first $10M to deliver the upgrade of the Mardi Water Treatment Plant project. Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart said he is very pleased that Council’s financial position is a positive one. CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
17 BUSINESS TIPS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 By Troy Marchant, Director, Adviceco Chartered Accountants How to Value a Business……In Divorce I WAS A asked this question by a client this month, so I thought I would share some insights – separating from a partner does happen and it is hard enough to do, let alone the finance part of it. The “worth” of anything is a very subjective concept as it depends who you are asking at the time. A set of reading glasses made for Mr Smith are worth a lot to him, but not worth much to Mr Jones, as it’s unlikely he has the same prescription (or perspective) as Mr Smith. The common objective of most business valuation assignments is to estimate the “Fair Market Value” of the business, which is usually a hypothetical price that might be agreed between a knowledgeable, willing but not anxious seller and a knowledgeable, willing but not anxious buyer. Sounds good in theory but what does it really mean? How is a business valued in divorce? What is a business worth, and how do we prove it? This is the key dilemma for every valuation ever undertaken of any unlisted business! But there’s one thing that is for sure in a divorce…each party will have a very different opinion on the value of the business…depending on how they might stand to benefit. But don’t despair, despite the apparent difficulties in calculating the value of an unlisted or family business, it’s actually quite easy, it’s called the “discounted cash flow” method. All you need to know is the dollar values and transaction dates of every single cash inflow and cash outflow for the business between now and infinity with certainty. Once you know all of those you can apply a risk-adjusted interest rate (called the discount rate) to each cash inflow and outflow and add them all together to get the valuation figure. Can you see a problem with this method? So you don’t have a crystal ball? Ok well the next best method is to look at the profitability of the business over the last few years and make an educated guess of the likely “recurring” profitability going forward. You then make an assumption that this exact amount of profit will continue between now and infinity, we call this the “Future Maintainable Earnings” method. Whilst this method isn’t technically as valid as the discounted cash flows method it’s still the method used by most business valuers most of the time, especially in this day and age when crystal balls are hard to come by. But this is where the fun really begins. How do you prove the Future Maintainable Earnings? The reality is that it can’t be proven because it’s only ever going to be an estimate of a likely scenario based on probabilities. True, it’s an estimate initially based on factual historical data and best-practice assumptions, but it can never be proven because it is still only an estimate by definition. And for some strange reason, judges aren’t too keen on referring to estimates as facts when determining the application of law. So the battle begins between the solicitors. One side saying the valuation is too high and the other side saying it’s too low. The solicitor arguing the valuation is too high will often argue that there is no “fair market value” as there is no evidence that anyone would want to buy the business because it relies too much on the owner to keep it afloat. They say that no market value means it’s worth nothing. The solicitor arguing the valuation is too low will often argue that the business gives “special benefits” to the existing owners that make it worth much more than the financial data or the lack of buyers would indicate. They further argue that what the market would pay for the business is irrelevant because the business is not currently up for sale and probably never will be. Both arguments appear quite reasonable so which one is right? Unfortunately there is still no clear universally accepted method to calculate the value of an unlisted business in divorce. However, a generally accepted concept has emerged that the objective of a business valuation under the Family Law Act should be to calculate the Value to the Owner (VTO), not necessarily the market value of the business. If you are part of a divorce or separation that involves a small business, the moral of the story is to engage a professional business valuer or expert witness to put together a written valuation report that transparently addresses all of the relevant matters where any subjectivity is possible. If you need help, AdviceCo has access to some great resources and professionals that can help you navigate this terrain. As always, happy to answer any questions troy.m@adviceco.com.au relationships developed by the Hegans. Mr Hegan said that partnerships in the US have presented opportunities that currently are difficult to take advantage of due to freight timeframes and costs. “It is very important to note, we still forecast our growth in the Australian market and subsequent expansion of the Wyong operation coupled with a strategy for Wyong to be the hub for innovation and development for the greater business,” he said. Compliance continues to be the greatest market demand, with the ability to trace the lineage of an item and protect it’s integrity using RFID or NFC technology. Beyond governance the Australian market is seeing a shift towards supply chain and inventory management enhancement. The efficiency gains benefit manufacturing costs, speed to market, enhanced buying experience and as such potential consumer savings. 4id Solutions appoints new CEO looks to expand into US The Coast’s No.1 way to talk to business Phone: 4367 0733 or email info@ccbusinessreview.com.au LET US HELP YOU CREATE A SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR YOUR BUSINESS CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2024
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