FNQROC Annual Report 2011

The collaborative development of the TNQREP is almost complete and the plan will be released following the final round of Community Consultations.

Advance Cairns Regional Development Officer Margaret Darveniza said the Community Consultations were an important part of the TNQREP development process.

“The TNQ Regional Economic Plan is in the final stages of development and before we launch it, we have one more vital step; we need to make sure that we have heard what people have had to say about their goals, dreams and vision for the future of our region,” Ms Darveniza explained.

“We certainly have had plenty of feedback and input to date and this has proven invaluable in the overall process.”

“Our final process will be to hold a number of public forums to give members of the community the opportunity to find out what the collective voice of TNQ has suggested as its Regional Economic Plan.”

The development of the TNQREP is considered an integral component in the overall planning processes being undertaken throughout Tropical North Queensland in the past 12 months and it is considered the economic blueprint for the region’s future.

“This is a high level strategy and we need to explain how it will be used, particularly the Action Plan and what it means to the people of TNQ now and into the future. We are hoping to attract as many people as possible to the forums to see what our collective regional voice has identified as the unified TNQ of tomorrow and the path we will take to get there,” Ms Darveniza said.

Community Consultation Forums:

CASSOWARY COAST – Tuesday 26^th July 2011

Time – 1.30pm – 3.30pm

DEEDI (SJ DPI)

Boogan Road, South Johnstone

TABLELANDS – Thursday 28^th July 2011

Time – 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Board Room, Tablelands Regional Council

Mabel Street, Atherton

COOKTOWN – Friday 29^th July 2011

Time – 9am

Cook Shire Council Offices

CAIRNS – Monday 1^st August 2011

Time – 10.30am – 12.30pm

Civil Reception Room

Cairns Regional Council

Spence Street

A copy of the draft TNQREP will be available for comment on the Advance Cairns website on Friday, July 29, 2011.

A media briefing document will also be available at the same time on the Advance Cairns website.

Public feedback on the TNQREP will close on Monday, August 15, 2011.

Further meetings may be held around the region if there is sufficient community interest.

RSVP: Margaret Darveniza on rdo@advancecairns.com.

Advance Cairns CEO Stewart Christie

Ten years ago I came to the Tropical North for a six month period.

I fell in love with the region and now can’t imagine living anywhere else.

I’m extremely proud to have been selected to lead Advance Cairns – it’s a real privilege to work on behalf of the people of Tropical North Queensland.

That said it’s also a responsibility and one I take very seriously.

Tropical North Queensland has its fair share of economic challenges but in my mind, challenges are problems waiting to be solved.

It is Advance Cairns’ role to identify regional economic issues and come up with the strategies to solve them.

Our goal is for Tropical North Queensland to have a thriving, sustainable, clean, green economy.

To achieve this goal we need to do a number of things – and we need your help.

We need to work together to make sure that our region is a positive and productive place. Advance Cairns will play its part by:

• Helping to restore business confidence

One of the key issues facing business is access to finance.

We need to work with banks, private finance organisations and local business to develop solutions that work for both business and the finance organisations.

• Providing practical support for business

Advance Cairns supports business through our Business Enterprise Centre (BEC).

The Advance Cairns BEC supports business throughout Tropical North Queensland.

• Facilitating cooperation and collaboration within and between industry and Government

Advance Cairns brings industry and government together through collaborative projects such as Study Cairns and the Super Yacht Group Great Barrier Reef and Industry Groups such as Cairns Ship Repair Services.

• Promoting our region as a great place to live, work and invest

Advance Cairns believes our region is an ideal location for business, government departments, defence and skilled workers.

We need to develop and attract industries to this region in order to build a strong and resilient economy which values, protects and contributes to enhancing the lifestyle and environment that we all prize.

• Planning for the future

Advance Cairns is the driving force behind the Tropical North Queensland Regional Economic Plan 2011 – 2031.

This is the region’s first economic plan and marks a dramatic shift in the way economic decisions will be made into the future.

Driven by Advance Cairns, the Plan is supported by the Cairns Regional Council, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Cook Shire Council, Tablelands Regional Council and other economic stakeholders.

• Articulating regional economic goals to Government

Advance Cairns, as an apolitical peak economic development body, is the voice of Tropical North Queensland.

Guided by the Regional Economic Plan and the input of stakeholders, Advance Cairns can articulate our regional economic goals to Government.

To ensure a prosperous and health regional economy our business community needs leadership.  Advance Cairns can provide that leadership for the region.

I am committed to delivering outcomes for the region but will need your support to ensure that we have the resources and support to deliver the region’s economic agenda.

There’s a lot of work to do but together we can make a difference.

Executive Chef from the Cairns Hilton Nathan Johnson at the Taste Paradise event

Federal Tourism Minister the Hon Martin Ferguson will celebrate the success of Taste Paradise and the development of the Local Food Network at Jonsson’s Farm Market next Tuesday.

The event will see the Minister presented with a signed copy of Clare Richards’ Tropical Cuisine cookbook, a Taste Paradise ‘Paddock to Plate’ cooking demonstration featuring Jervoise organic beef by Cairns Hilton Executive Chef Nathan Johnson and Rose Wright, Advance Cairns’ Food Project partner from Southern Cross University, welcome the Local Food Network’s first Corporate Partner Jonsson’s Farm Market.

The Local Food Network is an industry driven collective which supports, connects and promotes the Tropical North Queensland food industry.

Part of the Local Food Network’s job will be to oversee the Taste Paradise accreditation process.

Producers, suppliers or restaurants who want to brand their produce Taste Paradise (a brand developed by the Advance Cairns Food Project and its partners Southern Cross University to mark quality Tropical North Queensland produce) will have to undergo a strict accreditation process.

Acting CEO of Advance Cairns Margaret Darveniza said the event was a red-letter day for the project.

“We’re extremely excited about Minister Ferguson’s visit – it will be a chance to personally thank him for his support of the Advance Cairns Food and Agritourism Project,” Ms Darveniza said.

“We genuinely believe that promoting our region’s amazing produce will add resilience to our economy, support our agricultural community and bring foodies to Tropical North Queensland. The promotion of the Tropical North Queensland food industry is the way of the future.”

“The Taste Paradise and Local Food Network initiative needs industry to get involved and to take this forward.”

“We encourage anyone who’s passionate about local food to get in touch and get involved in the Local Food Network.”

‘This is an Australian Government funded initiative under TQUAL Grants’

Read the Advance Cairns June eNewsletter

Read the Advance Cairns June Advertorial

Senator Jan McLucas recently announced the support the Federal Government was providing for small business in Tropical North Queensland.

Advice and support

Through the recently launched Adviser Finder tool, the Government is improving small business access to the $50 million a year Enterprise Connect Centres and the $42.5 million Business Enterprise Centres.

Enterprise Connect

Enterprise Connect offers comprehensive business advice and support to eligible Australian, small and medium-sized enterprises to help them transform and reach their full potential.

Enterprise Connect has now been extended to tourism businesses in Queensland. Eligible tourism businesses are able to request a comprehensive, confidential and independent Business Review, at no charge. The Tailored Advisory Services Grant gives tourism businesses the chance to engage a consultant to make the improvements recommended by the Enterprise Connect Business Adviser in the Business Review. The Grant reimburses businesses half the cost, up to a maximum of $10,000 (excl GST) of engaging the consultant/s.

The Advance Cairns Business Enterprise Centre

The BEC is recognised as the first and best point of contact for small business operators seeking quality business information, advice and guidance.

On 15 March 2011, Minister for Small Business Nick Sherry launched the Cairns Business Enterprise Centre, based at Advance Cairns, fulfilling a commitment made by the Gillard Government to provide local support for small businesses in Cairns and the region.

Small Business Support Service

On 6 April 2011, the Government announced a $3.3 million funding boost to small business support groups to help them deliver additional services to assist disaster-affected small businesses under the Small Business Advisory Services (SBAS) Program.

Not-for-profit organisations can receive grants of up to $100,000 to deliver services, including business mentoring, assistance with business and marketing plans, preparing for and accessing business finance and programs to build the business skills, in disaster declared zones.  Applications closed on 6 May and are currently being assessed.

Small Business Support Line

The Government is providing $7.1 million to continue its highly successful Small Business Support Line. The Support Line has received over 27,000 calls and over 3,000 emails, with strong regional interest.

The Small Business Support Line provides small business owners with a single point of contact to access information and referral services to improve their business sustainability and help better manage their business.

Local Employment Coordinators

The Government is providing $45 million to extend the Keep Australia Working initiative, including the Local Employment Coordinators and Jobs and Skills expos, until 30 June 2013.

Funding of $19 million over three years will also be provided to develop 34 regional education, skills and jobs plans. This will help to identify the needs of the region, and will improve coordination of local employment initiatives.

Fly-In Fly-Out Coordinator

The FIFO Coordinator will assist resources companies to attract and connect skilled workers from the Cairns region to available work on mining, construction and infrastructure projects in remote areas; establish training and employment pathways for skilled workers and unemployed job seekers; and link mining companies with airline and airport services to facilitate the engagement of FIFO workers.

Supporting small business

The Government is already introducing lower and simpler small business taxes by allowing instant write off for all assets costing less than $5,000 from 2012‑13. Simpler depreciation will apply to long‑life assets as well.

The Government is also introducing, from 2012‑13, an early reduction in the company tax rate to 29 per cent to allow small business companies to reinvest and grow.

Additional taxation benefits

The Government will allow small businesses to claim up to $5,000 as an immediate deduction for motor vehicles acquired from 2012‑13. The remaining cost is depreciated at 30 per cent (15 per cent in the purchase year), which was the previous treatment for the entire cost of the motor vehicle.

Cars and vans are often a small business’s main asset, so an immediate write‑off on motor vehicle purchases will assist with this significant cost.

The Government will also reduce Pay As You Go installments for 2011‑12 for the majority of small businesses providing a $700 million cash flow benefit.

Tax Assistance for Small Businesses

On 1 June 2009, the Australian Taxation Office introduced measures to help small businesses that are struggling to manage their tax payment obligations. These measures have been extended for a further 12 months, until 30 June 2011.

If a business has an annual turnover of less than $2 million and an activity statement debt, it can apply to enter into a General Interest Charge-free payment arrangement with the ATO from now until 30 June 2011.

Liveable Regions

The Budget provides new funding to support the sustainability of growing regional centres including:

• $29.2 million over four years to improve strategic planning for regional and coastal high growth centres, reducing red tape for business and fast‑tracking investment
• $11.5 million over four years to support regional cities to promote the benefits and opportunities of living away from the capital cities
• $10.1 million to develop a set of sustainability indicators to develop a stronger understanding and enable closer monitoring of sustainability issues.

It is no doubt a pretty tough budget.

Our plan is a responsible one, which is needed to return the budget back to surplus in 2012-13.

This has been challenging in light of the natural disasters we’ve experienced and as we continue to recover after the global recession.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has framed a budget that acknowledges Australia has a two speed economy – that many areas are not in the mining boom fast lane and their small businesses in particular are doing it tough.

The Treasurer spent a number of days in the lead up to the federal budget in Cairns and it is clear he has understood our local economic circumstances in preparation of the budget.

It is positive to see a number of measures in the budget that will deliver relief to our local businesses including tax write-offs and a reduction in company tax.

While the budget is tight, the government’s reforms to ensure we are well equipped to benefit from the future mining boom is also critical to our region.

The Australian Government is extending the role of the Cairns Local Employment Coordinator and delivering a fly-in fly-out mining coordinator to be based in Cairns which will complement these measures and help to diversify our local economy and reduce our too high unemployment.

It is very positive to see health feature strongly in the budget for the local region. Investment in the Red Cross Health and Wellness Centre, over $12 million for a Day Treatment Centre at Cairns Base Hospital and mental health support for young people are all important projects for the Far North.

The upgrade to the southern approach to Cairns has continued to secure funding, enabling this critical development to progress.

The Federal Government’s commitment to the Cairns entertainment precinct is also strong with $40 million allocated in the coming financial year for this major infrastructure project.

Enterprise Connect has partnered with the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism to provide Tourism Business Reviews to eligible tourism businesses operating in Queensland.

The service is part of the Queensland Tourism Industry Support Package.‪ ‪

To be eligible for the Queensland Tourism Service, businesses must:

• Meet the Enterprise Connect eligibility criteria with a turnover of more than $1 million;
• Be a tourism business that derives a significant portion of its turnover from tourist accommodation, tourist attractions, wineries, the operation of tours, or travel agency services; and be operating in Queensland.‪ ‪

In addition to the Tourism Business Review, tourism businesses will be eligible for the following services for twelve months from the date the application for a Tourism Business Review is approved:‪​‪

• Tailored Advisory Service – providing matching funding of up to $10 000;
• Enterprise Learning; and
• Workshops, Industry, Intelligence and Networking (WIIN).  ‪

Apply for your review now.

Please contact Enterprise Connect Business Advisor Leslie Ring

Mobile: 0404 150 374

Email: Leslie.Ring@aigroup.asn.au

www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au

Senator Jan McLucas crunched the budget announcements and came up with a long list of what the people of Tropical North Queensland can expect from the 2011 /2012 federal budget.

• In Leichhardt, there are currently 3,951 very long term unemployed people who have been without work for 2 years or more.To help prepare them for work, the Gillard Government has provided an additional $2.7m over 2012-15 to support local employment services in Leichhardt which provide  training and work experience.
• 6100 local families in Leichhardt could be eligible for an extra $4200 per child aged between 19 and 19 years old under significant changes to Family Tax Benefit
• $41m in 2011-12 for upgrade of southern approach to Cairns (part of the $150m upgrade)
• $30m Sarina to Cairns section of Bruce Highway [National Network Maintenance Program]
• $28m Sarina to Cairns [Black Spots Program]
• $4,899,081 for local government authorities in Leichhardt [Roads to Recovery Program]
• $40m Cairns Cultural Precinct
• $1.9m for Australian Red Cross Health and Wellness Stay Centre Development in Cairns. The project includes a redeveloped low – cost accommodation facility; 51 additional beds; and amenities to house a new support worker position at the facility
• $12.1m for Day Treatment Centre at Cairns Base Hospital
• Funding of $45.2 million to extend the Priority Employment Area initiatives, including the Local Employment Coordinators and Jobs Expos until June 2013. Cairns is the Priority Employment Area
• $810,000 awarded to support the work of Endeavour Foundation (Cairns)
  Endeavour Foundation is an Australian Disability Enterprise
• $1,584,690 for services in Leichhardt in 2011-12 [Remote Air Services Subsidy Scheme]. Under this scheme, air services are contracted to provide weekly freight and passenger transport to remote communities.
• Headspace Centre for Cairns [Mental Health Centre for young people]
• Extension of Cape York Welfare Reform Trial- $16.1m over 2 years
• Broadband for Seniors Kiosks - A number of these throughout Leichhardt
• $8.1m over 3 years [Remote Aviation Infrastructure Fund] For remote airstrips – to upgrade and make safer
  **FNQ/Leichhardt expected to benefit from this program
• $28m [Remote Aviation Access Program]
  Improves aviation safety in remote communities by upgrading airstrips to ensure essential delivery including RFDS, food and other supplies
  **FNQ/Leichhardt expected to benefit from this program

Read Steve Wettenhall’s May Update here.