Central Coast Business Review May 2023

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May 2023

Published monthly (except January)

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Brisbane Water Oyster Festival returns Burbank opens garden centre at Saddles Mt White Energy cost shock to business but no one interested Industrial land values jump 46% in 12 months

Focus on town centres THIS MONTH

THE ENTRANCE

Modern Manufacturing Commissioner visits Coast Page 4 – Edgar Adams’ Editorial Council needs to get message on need for industrial land

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CON T EN TS

In this issue Edgar Adams Editorial 4 Council needs to get message on need for industrial land 5 Modern Manufacturing Commissioner visits Coast’s manufacturers 6 Brisbane Water Legacy goes to market with Point Frederick property 6 Federal Government and unions on a path to destroy self employed contractors 7 icare looking to hike workers comp premiums

12 Good start to racing season for 99motorsport team 12 Kwik Kopy Gosford wins Franchisee of the Year – for the 2nd time 13 Burbank opens garden centre at Saddles 14 Paid Family Leave and Domestic Violence Leave

9 Brisbane Water Oyster Festival returns 10 NSW Government ministers and portfolios

all the time” 15 Energy and costs shock to business but no one interested 16 Focus on Umina Beach 17 Warner Business Park hot property 18 Property news – Sales and Leasings 20 Industrial land values jump 46% in

11 CCBR formalises partnership with

12 months

Industree Group Stadium

22 Funny Business

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15 “Here is one bad piece of advice I hear

8 $2.4m Visitor Information Centre opens at The Entrance

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Central Coast Business Review 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.

Phone 02 4367 0733 Email info@ccbusinessreview.com.au Web www.ccbusinessreview.com.au

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW MAY 2023

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EDITORIAL

Edgar Adams discusses local issues

Council needs to get message on need for industrial land TWO ARTICLES IN this issue of CCBR highlight the region’s chronic need for industrial zoned land which is aggravated by Council’s reluctance to get the message and support developers trying to bring land to market.

Our article on Page 17 – Warner Business Park hot property followed by a report on the recent Valuer General’s new land valuations on Page 20 – Industrial land values jump 46% in 12 months, should be all the evidence that Council needs to change their ideas.

Off the plan land sales at Warner Business Park saw almost all of 69 lots in their 89 hectare subdivision sold within 24 hours of coming on the market towards the end of last year – all undeveloped land!

And while the first stage of the development of the site is still under construction some opportunistic buyers having bought in at around $350 per sqm and are now selling at $550 to $600 per sqm.

In the case of Warner Business Park, once owned by Terrace Towers, a development approval was already in place from years earlier.

Our report on the latest valuations for Central Coast land by the Valuer General backs up what we are saying about the demand for land at Warner Business Park.

And it is the same story for residential land.

While Council continues to use every trick in the book to hold back the development of residential land, demand from people wanting to buy or rent a home is sky rocketing, and along with it the cost of land and building costs.

A recent case in the Land and Environment Court to which Council had argued the reason for not approving a residential subdivision was the need to preserve the habitat for a Squirrel Glider. The case was lost on the basis that no one could find the Squirrel Glider.

While Council wastes its resources on spurious environmental claims people are going homeless on the Central Coast.

And, while Council also pulls out all stops to develop industrial land people have to go looking for jobs in Sydney and Newcastle.

Having got their finances and staffing under control it is now time for the Administrator to focus on this issue.

More on this subject next month!!

Our lead story this month is a report on a visit by the Modern Manufacturing Commissioner’s visit to the Coast to meet some of our manufacturers.

We are fortunate to have an organisation such as Central Coast Industry Connect to represent our manufacturing industry in the region.

The Central Coast has a highly diverse manufacturing industry made up of some 1,014 businesses employing almost 9,000 people.

While some think that manufacturing in Australia is dead, manufacturers in our region are showing that it is very much alive and worth supporting.

And that goes for the rest of NSW and Australia.

The Modern Manufacturing Commissioner

was only appointed in September last year following the report of the Modern Manufacturing Taskforce.

As this was obviously an initiative of the previous State Government it is to be hoped that the new Minns Government sees the merit in this and retains her position.

Continuing our new series focussing on Town Centre in our region, this month we Focus on Umina Beach.

As we say, Umina Beach is a thriving Town Centre.

It didn’t just happen. Twenty years ago NSW the state government had what was known as a Main Street Programme initiative where businesses in town centres were encouraged to look at how they could reinvent themselves.

The Umina Beach Main Street Programme has proved to be one of the most successful.

It took vision, hard work and passion on behalf of the businesses in Umina Beach along with strong leadership.

As with all government initiatives just as they get going they are dropped. Main Street has been one of those casualties.

Edgar Adams Editor

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BUSINESS NEWS

Modern Manufacturing Commissioner visits Coast manufacturers THE NSW MODERN Manufacturing Commissioner, Lisa Emerson visited manufacturers on the Central Coast in late March hosted by Central Coast Industry Connect (CCIC).

Ms Emerson was accompanied by Alix Wright, Associate Director Modern Manufacturing and Acting Deputy Director, Regional Development Hunter and Central Coast, Marcus Hucker.

Ms Emerson was welcomed to the Central Coast by CCIC Chair Ian Hemphill and CCIC Executive Director Frank Sammut who provided her with an overview of the manufacturing industry across the region along with the activities of CCIC and highlighting the importance of manufacturing to the region’s economy.

The group visited facilities at Mars Food Australia, TrendPac, Performance Engineering and Loughlin Furniture where the latest manufacturing technologies are used.

They also learned of some of the challenges facing businesses across the region.

These included supply chain costs, skilled labour shortages and energy costs.

Ms Emerson was particularly impressed with the range of cleaning products made

by TrendPac and their packaging extrusion capabilities while at Performance Engineering she was introduced to their 2,500 tonne press and recently installed laser cutting and folding plant.

At Loughlin Furniture, owners Jessica

Visiting Star Scientific at Berkeley Vale: (l to r) Star Scientific executives Sam Kirk, Principal Investigator; Jim Murray, Chief Design Engineer and Steven Heaton, Chief Technology Officer with Lisa Emerson, Modern Manufacturing Commissioner; ; Ian Hemphill, Chair CCIC; and Marcus Hucker, A/Deputy Director Regional Development, Hunter & Central Coast and Robert Loughlin explained how they had grown their business over the past ten years based on quality and simplicity of design along with their plans for the future.

Finally the group met the team at Star Scientific who gave them a demonstration of their HERO® Technology and a site tour of their laboratories and workshop capability and received an update on the pilot project being undertaken with Mars Food.

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Manufacturing Taskforce, Ms Emerson spoke about creating a better environment for NSW manufacturers.

Her role is to identify local research and ideas that can be transformed into new opportunities, while removing barriers to support the growth of advanced manufacturing in NSW. There were 1,014 registered manufacturing businesses on the Central Coast in 2022.

The manufacturing industry on the Central Coast employs 8,971 people (2021) (Source: .id informed decisions)

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BUSINESS NEWS

Brisbane Water Legacy goes to market with Point Frederick property

Federal Government and unions on a path to destroy self employed contractors

By Ken Phillips

Aerial photo showing location of Brisbane Water Legacy property in relation to Gosford CBD BRISBANE WATER LEGACY has appointed CBRE to market Lot 2 of their Masons Parade, Point Frederick property which comprises a 100% freehold interest in Part 51-57 Masons Parade, Point Frederick.

The funds released from this sale will assist in financing the redevelopment of the remainder of the site (see below).

Known as Lot 2, the property offers investors and developers a large-scale redevelopment opportunity (STCA) with a favourable leaseback in place.

The site comprises, a regular shaped level 6,256sqm infill site with triple street access off Creighton Lane, Masons Parade and York Street with existing improvements consisting of Independent Living Units comprising 34 Bedsitter units and 9 1&1/2 Units to be occupied by Brisbane Water (NSW) Legacy Club under a 24-month leaseback arrangement.

The property is zoned B4 Mixed Use and will allow for a variety of uses including commercial, retail, and residential. The site will accommodate a maximum of 12,512sqm of permissible gross building area under the current planning controls.

Expressions of Interest close 31st May 2023.

Meanwhile the remainder Brisbane Water Legacy’s land will be redeveloped following development approval in late 2022 for a new 7-storey retirement village with 30 x 1-bedroom affordable rental units and 24 x 2 and 3-bedroom apartments.

This development will include office space for Legacy community work and a communal venue for Legacy events.

Grindley Construction will begin construction on the $28 million project in early 2023 with completion scheduled for late 2024.

For a long time, Australian unions, labour academics and their political fellow travellers have sought to cut away at the right of people to earn their income through the commercial contract. The Albanese government has committed to doing this later in 2023.

The alleged justification for this is the ‘little bit pregnant’ argument. That is, that self-employed, independent contractors are really a little bit ‘like employees’.

What defines the differences between employment and self-employment is simple.

Employees earn their income through the ‘employment contract’. But self-employed, independent contractors earn their income through the commercial contract. It’s that straightforward. The self-employed are the smallest of small business people.

The commercial contract is the contract that all of us use when we buy things—a car, a house, even a carton of milk—although in most cases the milk contract is unwritten.

As a society we assume that individuals are mature and sensible enough to spend buckets of money when they buy a house.

In Australia we acknowledge the individual’s right to use the commercial contract to engage in transactions. But for many academics it seems that this same right or capacity is one that should not be extended to the use of the commercial contract for earning an income. In other words, that individuals are not competent to make decisions in this area.

What’s being put forward by such claims is the encroachment of employment law to cover the commercial contract. This is dangerous for the operation of commercial transactions and attacks the right of individuals to use the commercial contract.

This idea of being a ‘little bit pregnant’, or ‘little bit employee’ independent contractor concept is not part of Australian law.

The Albanese government is moving in entirely the wrong direction on this issue.

It can be hoped that Parliament can look through this and ignore ideas such as ‘employee-like.’ If they do keep pushing these concepts then they should prove their CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW MAY 2023

BUSINESS NEWS

Icare looking to hike workers comp premiums by 33% A REPORT BY Adele Ferguson in the Sydney Morning Herald of 21 April that the NSW workers compensation scheme outfit icare (Insurance and Care NSW) is over a billion dollars in the red and is asking the new State Government to approve a premium hike of 33% should be a major concern to every employer in the state.

The issue was first brought to light in November last year by the SMH but ignored by the Liberal Treasurer and Finance Minister.

It says NSW Treasury has raised concerns about the financial viability of the scandalridden scheme and warning the government of a billion dollar shortfall.

Set up by New South Wales Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, in 2015 to replace the old WorkCover scheme after it had racked up $4bn in debt, icare has faced increasing scrutiny after it was found to be mismanaged and on the verge of collapse.

Mismanagement and rorting within icare, as serious as that is, is only a small part of the whole issue where workers are walking away with millions of dollars because of the incompetence of icare appointed ‘claims service provider Employers Mutual Limited (EML).

In any event the worker’s word is taken as gospel against that of the employer. Trying to get redress is close to impossible. And, there is never any attempt to get a worker back to work.

With worker’s compensation there are two issues:

The premium – which in effect an employer pays to icare just to cover the operation of icare organisation, and Recovery of the claim – which employers reimburse icare for through an increased premium where the cost is recovered over a three year period.

Employers are virtually on their own in handling claims. As one employer told CCBR “its all online and complicated, the frustration is that to speak to someone, particularly a ‘provider’, you will be on the phone for hours at a time.”

Worker’s compensation in NSW has been a running sore for over forty years. Every government whether Liberal or Labor who has tried to fix it has only made it worse.

In December last year icare announced that it had ‘reached another significant milestone in delivering an enhanced workers compensation scheme for over 326,000 businesses in NSW’ signing contracts with six Claims Service Providers.

The contracts went to; Allianz, DXC Technology, EML, Gallagher Bassett, GIO and QBE. However, for one Central Coast employer, nothing has changed.

Treasurer Perrottet turned it into a monster and now Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has it in his lap.

It isn’t going to be easy. The unions love the present system and the employer groups have proved to be totally impotent.

Federal Government and unions on a path to destroy self employed contractors CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

intellectual and political consistency by also creating legislative concepts of ‘independent employee’ and ‘independent contractor-like employees.’ But that’s an article for another day.

The legal and factual reality is that in Australia, a worker is either an employee or an independent contractor. There is no ‘bit’ in-between. This is cemented in Australia under common law court decisions and confirmed in 2022 by the most important High Court ruling on this in 50 years.

Clarity in this matter is crucial. As the High Court stated “…It is the task of the courts to promote certainty with respect to a relationship of such fundamental importance.” (Referencing the employment contract versus the independent contractor/ commercial contract.)

Likewise, the government and the Parliament of Australia have a duty, we can argue, to create and secure that clarity.

The government’s commitment to create ‘employee-like’ law does the opposite. It upends the integrity of the commercial contract and even the employment contract. That is if the government continues to push this and if Parliament supports this, it’s a leap into contractual confusion. It’s bad for everyone.

Ken Phillips is Executive Director of Self Employed Australia and publishes on Substack.

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BUSINESS NEWS

$2.4m Visitor Information Centre opens at The Entrance CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL has paid $2.4 million to build a new Visitor Information Centre at The Entrance replacing the former centre originally built in 1970 and substantially expanded and renovated in 1995 demolished to make way for the new centre.

It is the only Tourist Information Centre on the Central Coast except for a Centre at Ettalong Beach provided and funded by Ettalong Diggers Club.

Opened in early April in time for Easter Council Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said the centre was in need of an upgrade and improvements to make the building and its facilities more accessible.

“The Entrance is one of the Central Coast’s most popular tourist destinations and prior to the Covid-19 pandemic the former centre welcomed 27,600 visitors each year.”

A feature of the new centre is an event space to improve Council’s capacity to attract and host large-scale events and festivals.

The new centre also provides a Customer Service point for local residents to pay rates and register their cat.

Central Coast Council’s new $2.4 million Visitor Information Centre at The Entrance Council Administrator Rik Hart said the facility has been upgraded to create more accessible facilities and meet the needs of the growing community and tourism sector.

The Visitor Information Centre operated

by Central Coast Tourism Inc at Kariong, which is in effect the Gateway to the Central Coast was closed down after successfully operating for 23 years by Central Coast Council in 2017.

Central Coast Tourism Inc was forced

to close after Council withdrew funding in 2017 and gave a contract to a Western Sydney social media company to market the Central Coast, a move that proved to be a total failure and waste of money.

Central Coast Council receives over one million dollars annually from a Business and Tourism Levy on all business ratepayers in the former Gosford LGA. These funds are now used by Council to promote tourism and other projects across the whole region.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Brisbane Water Oyster Festival returns

2019 Brisbane Water Oyster Festival AFTER A THREE year absence due to COVID-19, the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival is finally coming back!

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has confirmed that the Oyster Festival will be returning to Woy Woy on Sunday 12th November to be held at Lions Park on the Brisbane Water.

Making the announcement in mid-April Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President Matthew Wales, said, “We are really excited to be able to bring the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival back to the community”.

“Due to Covid-19 and lockdowns, the Chamber did not want to take any risks holding the event last year because of the high number of visitors to the area”.

However, with life returning to normal, the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is back organising this iconic festival.

This year’s the festival is returning to Woy Woy at the Lions Park Reserve with the backing of Central Coast Council.

Mr Wales said, “This beautiful park on the waterfront is a magnificent setting for a food and wine festival and tasting the famous Sydney Rocks grown locally right here on the Brisbane Water”.

“We are heading into our 23rd year of holding the oyster festival and every year it has grown larger and more successful thanks to our Chamber members and the great expertise of our festival managers,” he said.

“This year we are fortunate to have Liz Hart of Hart Event Management on board as our event organiser with her extensive event management experience across the Central Coast. Jenifer Green from G’day Hollywood Productions has already booked the whole day with live on-stage entertainment including with country music band ‘Pure Nashville’, ‘Pub Crawl’ and much more”.

This year, the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival is sponsored by Peninsula Plaza Woy Woy who have been a big part of the Woy Woy retail centre for over thirty years”, said Mr Wales.

“The Oyster Festival promotes the Woy Woy Peninsula, our beautiful waterways and presents an opportunity to promote our local oysters and local produce. We have visitors from all over NSW and interstate who because of the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival, come to enjoy the Woy Woy Peninsula and support our local businesses.

And that’s what it’s all about, promoting our beautiful area to the rest of the world”, Mr Wales said.

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BUSINESS NEWS

NSW Government ministers and portfolios

The Hon. Christopher Minns MP – Premier THE FOLLOWING IS the complete list of ministerial appointments announced by the NSW Premier in early April and their portfolios.

The Hon. Christopher Minns MP Premier The Hon. Prudence Ann Car MP Deputy Premier Minister for Education and Early Learning Minister for Western Sydney The Hon. Penelope Sharpe MLC Minister for Climate Change Minister for Energy Minister for the Environment Minister for Heritage

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The Hon. John Graham MLC Special Minister of State Minister for Roads Minister for the Arts Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy Minister for Jobs and Tourism The Hon.Daniel Mookhey MLC Treasurer The Hon. Ryan Park MP Minister for Health Minister for Regional Health Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast The Hon. Joanna Haylen MP Minister for Transport The Hon.Paul Scully MP Minister for Planning and Public Spaces The Hon. Cotsis MP Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Work Health and Safety The Hon. Yasmin Catley MP Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism The Hon. Jihad Dib MP Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Youth Justice The Hon. Kate Washington MP Minister for Families and Communities Minister for Disability Inclusion The Hon. Michael John Daley MP Attorney General The Hon. Tara Moriarty MLC Minister for Agriculture Minister for Regional New South Wales Minister for Western New South Wales

The Hon. Ron Hoenig MP Minister for Local Government Vice-President of the Executive Council The Honourable Courtney Houssos MLC Minister for Finance Minister for Natural Resources The Hon. Stephen Kamper MP Minister for Small Business Minister for Lands and Property Minister for Multiculturalism Minister for Sport The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC Minister for Water Minister for Housing Minister for Homelessness Minister for Mental Health Minister for Youth Minister for the North Coast The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Minister for Industry and Trade Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Minister for Corrections The Hon. Timothy Crakanthorp MP Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister for the Hunter The Hon. David Harris MP Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty Minister for Gaming and Racing Minister for Veterans Minister for Medical Research Minister for the Central Coast The Hon. Jodie Harrison MP Minister for Women Minister for Seniors Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault The Hon. Jennifer Aitchison MP Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

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BUSINESS NEWS

CCBR formalises partnership with Industree Group Stadium CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS Review is delighted to have formalised a corporate partnership with Central Coast Stadium now known as Industree Group Stadium.

The exciting new partnership will see CCBR recognised and promoted as a yearround Stadium Partner with a suite of rights and benefits including advertising signage and Stadium Memberships.

“We are very pleased to welcome Central Coast Business Review as a Stadium Partner here at Industree Group Stadium,” said Stadium Manager, Kath Casey.

“Edgar and CCBR have been great supporters and promoters of the Stadium for many years, so it’s nice to now formalise that existing relationship into a corporate partnership together moving forward.

“As we continue to further enhance and attract additional high-quality content to Industree Group Stadium, we will also continue to keep everyone informed through the pages of the Central Coast Business Review.”

Whilst the Stadium remains a Central Coast Council asset, VenuesLive (the same operators of other leading Australian venues including Accor Stadium, CommBank Stadium and Optus Stadium) were appointed in July last year to take over the day-today operating rights of the venue on behalf of Council.

Over the 10 months since VenuesLive took the reigns, the Stadium has hosted over 25 events including Central Coast Mariners A-League Men home games, NRL and NRLW pre-season and Premiership matches, International women’s football matches including the Matildas twice, along with local sport and community events attracting a combined 155,000 plus people through the gates with a strong mix of both locals and visitors to the region.

Through the appointment of commercial, brand and marketing consultants Tuxco (working with Stadium Management on commercial / corporate partnerships, marketing, membership and media for the Stadium), Central Coast based national Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers and suppliers Industree Group were aligned as the new naming rights partner of Industree Group Stadium in November last year.

Being such a prominent and iconic part of the NSW Central Coast region, the Stadium naming rights opportunity attracted strong interest from a range of different brands, but Industree Group was eventually deemed the best suited partner both commercially and given the strong local community connection.

CCBR Publisher / Editor Edgar Adams with Industree Group Stadium Manager Kath Casey One of a number of new initiatives introduced at the Stadium is new year-round Stadium Memberships, providing locals with their very own guaranteed premium reserved seat and a range of other great benefits including a Membership pack, VIP entry and 10% discount on food and beverage purchases for all events at Industree Group Stadium. That’s all sport, entertainment and community events, all year round.

Members can sign-up at any time online at industreegroupstadium.com.au/membership The Roosters v Bulldogs NRL Round 14 Premiership match on Sunday 4 June (kick-

off at the family-friendly time of 2pm) is already shaping as a sell-out crowd, which will once again demonstrate how well supported events at Industree Group Stadium always are.

For tickets, corporate hospitality and to keep up to date with what’s happening at our local Stadium, visit industreegroupstadium.com.au.

For Stadium partnership opportunities including year-round advertising signage for your business from as low as just $250 per month, contact Luke Tucker at Tuxco on 0415 773 995 or luke@tuxco.com.au.

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Kwik Kopy Gosford wins Franchisee of the Year – for the 2nd time

Good start to racing season for 99motorsport team

99motorsport owner and driver, Marcus LaDelle

Peter Clarke, Kwik Kopy Franchisee with the Kwik Kopy Gosford Team Gosford Kwik Kopy franchise owner Peter Clarke has been announced as the winner of Kwik Kopy Australia’s Franchisee of The Year 2023 award at its 2023 Sales and Marketing Summit.

It was the second time around for Peter Clarke and his team having won the prestigious annual prize in 2021.

Mr Clarke has been with Kwik Kopy Australia for over 16 years, building the Gosford franchise from the ground up, and has built a profitable business with seven-figure sales turnover by following Kwik Kopy Australia’s Sales System of building enduring relationships of trust with his customers.

The award recognises Kwik Kopy Australia’s franchisees who exceed financial performance targets, have strong business acumen, present exceptional leadership skills, and those who demonstrate excellent relationships with their communities in line with the organisation’s values.

Mr Clarke established the Kwik Kopy business in Gosford in 2006. He is a Charter Member of the Gosford City Rotary Club and is 2022-23 Club President.

Mr Clarke also owned the Tuggerah Kwik Kopy franchise which he acquired in 2011 and sold to Wendy Mulholland in 2018. She went on to win the 2022 Award under Mr Clarke’s guidance.

Charmhaven based motor sport company 99motorsport, owned by former Supercar driver Marcus LaDelle has had an incredible start to the Toyota Gazoo Racing season with LaDelle winning the opening round of the 2023 racing season at Sydney Motorsport Park.

99motorsport was set up by LaDelle in 2021 and in late 2022 moved into a new workshop that also accommodates their 3-car fully equipped Transporter and Toyota86 racing cars.

The Toyota Australia Toyota 86 race series is a support category for the Supercars Championship Marcus LaDelle is one of Australia’s most experienced race car drivers having competed for Dick Johnson Racing n V8 Supercars, Formula 3, GT Racing and now in the national Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 category.

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Burbank opens garden centre at Saddles Mount White produce from farmers on the Plateau,” she said.

The garden centre and restaurant form part of Mr Singleton’s vision for the 10-hectare Mt White precinct that will eventually include a luxury boutique hotel.

Saddles Garden Centre Mt White Gary and Vickey Taylor who operate Burbank House & Garden Centre at Erina Heights have opened a new garden centre at Mt White adjacent to John Singleton’s Saddles Restaurant.

Located in a building built by the John Singleton Group to replicate the same rich, rustic look in keeping with Saddles Restaurant access is via a pathway from the restaurant, around the dam and includes a specially built car park.

The next stage will be construction of a takeaway kiosk to enable the garden centre to operate as a its own destination for people coming out of Sydney, particularly the North Shore or locals wanting a day out.

The business is Managed

by Donna Galea 3H 180x100 Mar23 Final V2.pdf 1

with two staff and is open 7-days from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Mrs Taylor said that the offering will differ from the Erina Heights garden centre with boutique homewares, gifts and plants.

“We have some garden clubs coming to the Centre for plant talks and we will regularly be hosting a range of workshops,” she said.

“Of course we are looking to capture patrons to the restaurant and we are looking at doing cross promotions with Saddles.

“We have recently held our first Market Day with Saddles Restaurant owner Haley Hardcastle which was a great success and will continue to run these on the 3rd Wednesday of pm each month showcasing 28/3/2023 4:05

Saddles Garden Centre Director Donna Galea with owner Vickey Taylor

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BUSINESS TIPS

Paid Family and Domestic Violence leave

By Warwick Ryan, Partner, Hicksons Lawyers

THE WIDELY REPORTED issue of sexual harassment in the workplace has been brought to public attention through campaigns such as the global #MeToo movement and the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Respect@Work report. In response to this groundswell, policies and laws have been further developed with a view to addressing and eliminating sexual harassment from Australian workplaces.

More recently, efforts to support victims of domestic and family violence have also altered Australian workplace laws. While not commonly associated with the work environment, this offence can affect all aspects of a victim’s life including their earning ability, and has a disproportionately harmful impact on women. This had led to changes for Australian workplaces which business owners and managers need to be aware of.

Research released by the Champions of Change Coalition in late 2021 found that intimate partner violence was the leading preventable contributor to death and illness in Australian women aged 25 to44. Importantly, having a job, and the financial security which accompanies it, is seen as a key pathway for women seeking to escape from a family and

domestic violence situation. This is especially the case for women with children.

For some time, Australian workers experiencing family and domestic violence have been entitled to take five days unpaid leave as part of the National Employment Standards. As of February 2023, employees of businesses with 15 or more employees are now entitled to 10 days of paid family domestic violence leave. This right to paid leave will extend to employees of small businesses with less than 15 employees from August 2023.

The 10 days leave is available to all employees, including part time workers and casuals. It allows employees to take time to deal with the impact of family and domestic violence, such as engaging with the police, going to counselling or making arrangements for the safety of a close relative. Employees will need to inform their employers of the need to take leave as soon as possible (which may in fact be after the leave period has started). Employees must also advise how long they expect the leave to last.

Evidence and Confidentiality Requirements Employers are entitled to ask for evidence (such as a police statement, a stat dec or documentation from a family violence support service) that the employee has taken leave for the reason provided. Once this evidence has been provided, certain obligations are placed on the Employer. The evidence must be kept confidential unless disclosure is required by law or disclosure is necessary to protect the life, health or safety of the employee or another person.

WHY BUSINESS OWNERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST CHOOSE CCBR TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS ✓ They can reach over 20,000 business readers every month. ✓ Most widely read and trusted business publication on the Central Coast. ✓ The repetition of your ad every month means readers will get to know you and remember you. ✓ Independent surveys show 94% of readers will use the CCBR for reference when looking for suppliers. ✓ The quality of the publication and the content means readers retain the CCBR for future reference.

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This obligation of confidentiality extends to the preparation and provision of pay slips. Employers will need to keep a record of leave balances and any leave taken by employees, however, a pay slip must not mention family and domestic violence leave, including any leave taken or leave balances.

Although previous legislation suggested that time taken as family and domestic violence leave by employees could be recorded as “miscellaneous leave” or “other leave”, this was later considered as potentially placing victims in jeopardy, should a perpetrator have access to a payslip. This has been addressed by the new regulations. Now, unless an employee has specifically requested otherwise, paid family and domestic violence leave must be reported on a pay slip as ordinary time worked, overtime or an allowance depending on the employee’s individual entitlements.

The legislative changes mean that a pay slip will not be regarded as false or misleading merely because it complies with this new requirement. There is a four-month grace period, from 4 February 2023, for these changes to be implemented in payroll systems by employers. Following this period, employers may face penalties if payslips are not in line with the amended regulations.

These changes may present challenges for businesses, and non compliance is not an option. Hicksons experienced Workplace Relations team are able to provide practical guidance on what these changes mean for employers and how best to respond to them. You can contact our team on (02) 4907 5600.

BUSINESS TIPS

Energy and costs shock to business but no one interested While governments focus on alleviating the cost of electricity and gas to families and households a huge burden is falling on industry which is being totally ignored.

In this respect government and environmentalists are hiding behind the mask that business is the culprit behind global warming by claiming that their need for

base-load and peak load power can be provided from wind and solar.

Each time a new wind farm is announced its benefits are measured in the hundreds of thousands of households, never the number of manufacturers or businesses such as hotels, clubs or restaurants and fast food shops.

Many manufacturers use huge amounts of electricity to power machinery and gas for cooking, heating and a wide range of heavy manufacturing processes and to say that wind and solar are suitable substitutes shows a total ignorance of how things are made and what is involved in providing the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

“Here is one bad piece of advice I hear all the time”

By Troy Marchant, Director, Adviceco Chartered Accountants

SHOW ME AN accountant who says, ‘lets assume your business grows at 10% next year’, and I will show you an accountant who doesn’t understand business growth!

I actually don’t know where this so called, 10% figure actually came from – its like someone said, ‘hey this is easy to calculate, let’s go with that’. But I do hear it a lot when new clients come to me.

Whereas in essence, when you ‘look under the bonnet’, there are 7 ever changing dials, levers, or drivers at play and constantly interacting with the market.

If you have wondered exactly what is

happening in a business – keep reading.

1. Number of customers: Knowing exactly how many customers you have at any given time is important because this is the basis for calculating your potential revenue. If you don’t know how to work this out, XERO or other live Cloud software is a great place to start.

2. Average revenue per customer: Again, think of this as ‘basket size’ or number of interactions you have. But better still, are all your customers buying every single product and service you sell?

Probably not, but should they be, or at least be educated on everything you do?

3. Number of customers you lose each year: Do you know that on average it is 6x more expensive to get a new customer, as opposed to servicing an existing one.

The message here is: What strategies are you doing to retain customers?

4. Number of leads generated: This one is self explanatory, but the methods are not. When was the last time you looked at your marketing to see how effective it was and then measured the results?

5. Sales conversion rate: A sales process is not handing over a quote to a potential customer or client.

The amount of poor salespeople I see do this makes me shudder – what are the steps you have in place to move your customers along the sales pipeline.

6. Gross Profit Margin: This is one of the most important pressure points your business. Can you calculate Gross Profit by product? If you can then you are on the right track – from here you can test and measure your pricing strategies – both buy and sell – to determine if you are appropriately priced.

7. Level of overhead expenses: Find the ‘dead money!’ When it comes to overheads there is always wastage – when was the last time you did a cost audit – think IT, insurances, phones, office costs etc.

I can’t stress enough what is truly possible when you employ this level of focus and discipline in your business.

If you would like me to show you how this works, email me at troy.m@adviceco.com.au

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW MAY 2023

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FOCUS ON UMINA BEACH

Umina Beach – A thriving business community UMINA BEACH, ALONG with Woy Woy and Ettalong Beach forms what is known as The Peninsula an area with a population in 2021 of 38,321 people – up from 33,675 in 2011.

Surrounded by Brisbane Water on one side and national park on the other with two entry points, one via Gosford and the other from Kariong.

It is one of the mostly densely populated parts of the Central Coast with about 23% of residents over the age of 65 and about the same under the age of 20 years.

Median household income in 2021 was $1,421 compared to $917 in 2011 indicating an upward change in the socioeconomic profile of the area which also translates across The Peninsula.

Going back to the years prior to 2010 the centre of The Peninsula was Woy Woy with Umina Beach being mostly a tourist destination anchored by the popular Umina Beach Caravan Park, now known as the NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort.

Since its acquisition of the caravan park in 2015 the NRMA has invested millions of dollars turning it into one of the best in NSW, pumping in over $20 million annually to the regional economy.

The tourist trade which takes in Ettalong Beach and Pearl Beach continues to be an important contributor to the economy of the town.

However much of Umina Beach Town Centre’s success goes back to 2004 with the Main Street Programme instigated by Town Centre Manager Debra Wales saw a future for the town and the need to attract investors. It also meant cleaning up the street-scape, putting the power lines underground and also making the beach more attractive to visitors.

The first signs of success came in 2010 when Woolworths opened a new concept supermarket in West Street, opening 7-days and bringing in customers from as far as Empire Bay and Kariong. Business responded by improving their offer and also opening 7-days.

Within a few years, responding to the competition, Coles converted their Bi-Lo supermarket into a full Coles supermarket with Aldi and Bunnings following soon after.

The West Street shopping strip had a new life with smaller boutique businesses, coffee shops and fashion stores creating a vibrancy attracting a new demographic with money in their pockets.

In 2015 the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce under President Matthew Wales sponsored a CCBR Investment Prospectus that could be used by real estate agents and other businesses to attract residential investors and developers.

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW MAY 2023

A very business West Street, Umina Beach Long established real estate agents Tom Tregent from Raine & Horne and Madeleine Stephenson from Stephenson’s Real Estate and other business leaders in the town are passionate about promoting the place which is now seeing a new wave of investment.

Late last year a Sydney property developer paid $10 million for two adjoining West Street retail properties covering two-thirds of the block between Oscar and Alfred Streets. While it may be a while before their plans are announced it shows that Umina Beach is being seen as a safe market to invest in.

Meanwhile, on Ocean Beach Road leading into Umina Beach well known publicans, the Laundy Hotels Group are about to open a $10 million retail complex, Lone Pine Plaza, that will comprise a mix of retailers anchored by an IGA Supermarket, drivethru bottle shop and 92 car parking spaces.

One indicator of Umina Beach’s success is how it has emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic.

As Chamber President Matthew Wales points out, there has been a demonstrable change in that people discovered that with the Internet it is possible to work-fromhome at least two or days each week giving them a new life-work balance. The result is that younger families are moving into the area, displacing an older demographic evidenced by the 2021 Census. Almost 51% of the population is under the age of 44 years.

This is being reflected in the stability of the residential housing market which has seen prices ease off by 10% to 12% over the past year.

Umina Beach is being seen as a desirable place to live as well as a profitable place to do business.

Opening of Woolworths Supermarket in 2010 was the catalyst that saw other major retailers move in The bonus is the thousands of tourists who stay in the area from Ettalong Beach to Pearl Beach each year.

In the final analysis Umina Beach Town Centre is a thriving retail and commercial shopping strip the result of a vision put in place 20 years ago supported by strong leadership. the business community and the former Gosford Council. It is a text book example of the whole community working together.

Commenting on Umina Beach’s success former Town Centre Manager, Debra Wales said, ‘The most important starting point for revitalising a town centre is identifying its strengths and building on them.’

“Through numerous workshops with businesses and locals we identified Woy Woy as commercial/retail, Ettalong Beach as the tourist destination and Umina Beach as a major retail centre. Once the Umina Beach town centre upgrade was underway, we went out and targeted national brands.

And it worked. Umina Beach retail centre has never looked back.”

PROPERT Y

Warner Business Park hot property

Aerial image showing Warner Business Park and stages of development CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL Administrator Rik Hart may have copped some flak for flogging off their Jilliby land for a bit under $30 million, even though he made a profit of $20 million, but one thing is for certain, it has shown the colossal demand there is for industrial land on the Central Coast, pushing property values through the roof (see Page 18).

Acquired by Newcastle property developer Winarch Capital in July 2021, Warner

Business Park, the 89-hectare industrial block at 671-811 Hue Hue Road and 225 Sparks Road Jilliby is the largest industrial and business development site on the Central Coast, and it has been a sell-out.

Winarch acquired the site with Development Approval for an industrial sub-division to be developed in 4 stages comprising 69 lots.

Sales Agent for the project, Colliers Newcastle’s Ben Curran told CCBR that

FOR SALE

Locksmith and Architectural Hardware – Avoca Beach PRICE ON APPLICATION This quality locally owned and managed business has been successfully operated by the same owner for over 36 years and is offered for sale for the first time as the owner wishes to retire.

The business enjoys an enviable reputation for locking systems and door furniture and is a major supplier of residential and commercial architectural hardware across the Central Coast and throughout Australia working with architects, builders and the general public.

Turnover $900,000+ including Online turnover The current owner will continue to support the new owner Contact: Derek – 0412 437 327

Stage 1 with 25 lots sold out in 24 hours, Stage 2 (12 lots also sold out in 24 hours) and stage 4 (with 13 lots sold in 48hrs) The entire Stage 3 was sold to a waste management company.

Prices for Stage 1 were at $380 per sqm, Stage 2 $400 to $440 per sqm and for Stage 4 $500 to $525 per sqm.

Since then resales are achieving $550 to $600 per sqm with only a few lots available for sale or lease.

Meanwhile, earthworks and infrastructure construction is now well advanced with completion of Stage 1 set down for August 2023.

Mr Curran said that 63% of buyers came from Sydney and 23% from the Central Coast and comprised occupiers from construction, auto and engineering industries.

He also commented that the uptake and subsequent re-sales illustrates that demand for industrial land on the Central Coast is rapidly outstripping supply.

“The Central Coast Council has an opportunity to expedite further Industrial land supply along Sparks Rd which will reduce debt, whilst providing 1000’s of jobs and large scale investment for the area,” he said.

Meanwhile, Council continues to bury its head in the sand in respect to land availability.

The latest land values on the Central Coast issued in late January by the NSW Valuer General reveal that Industrial land values have increased by 46.1% between 1 July 2021 and I July 2022.

In Somersby the value increased by 86.6%!

See Page 20 - Industrial land values jump 46% in 12 months

Central Coast For Sale

7 Hely Street, Wyong • Shovel Ready Development Site • 1073m2 of DA approved land for a 1876m2 commercial building over 3 levels • Zoned B3 Commercial Core • Within 400m of major transport interchange • Perfect site for Day Care Centre, Serviced offices or affordable housing.

Mark Davies 0422 442 858

Commercial Central Coast rhc.com.au/centralcoast

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW MAY 2023

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PROPERT Y NEWS

SALES Investor buys Tuggerah industrial unit

Ben Purdue from LJ Hooker Commercial Terrigal negotiated the sale.

Sydney developer buys vacant Bateau Bay site with DA A Sydney developer has paid $500,000 (GST not applicable) for a 145 sqm vacant residential zoned lot at 680 Coleridge Road, Bateau Bay. Ben Purdue from LJ Hooker Commercial Terrigal negotiated the sale.

Construction contractor buys new industrial unit at Wyong

A local investor has paid $649,000 (GST not applicable) for Unit 1, 55 Gavenlock Road, Tuggerah.

The 227sqm unit comprises a 24 sqm office and 24 sqm mezzanine plus amenities.

The property was bought with a 6 month lease in place at a rental of $30,000 per annum gross plus GST. The property was on the market for 68 days.

Ty Blanch and Brett Dowling from LJ Hooker Commercial Central Coast negotiated the sale.

Owner occupier buys pizza shop at Berkeley Vale An owner occupier has purchased Shop 1, 152-154 Lakedge Avenue, Berkeley Vale with the intention of re-launching the former woodfire pizza business.

Price paid for the 74sqm shop is $485,000 (GST not applicable). Included in the sale is a pizza oven, cooking equipment, fridges and counter.

Ty Blanch and Brett Dowling from LJ Hooker Commercial Central Coast negotiated the sale.

Tuggerah unit purchased for storage An owner occupier has paid $485,000 plus GST for Unit 22, 4 Colony Close, Tuggerah for use as storage.

The 208sqm unit is part of a 31 unit complex completed in early 2022.

Ty Blanch and Brett Dowling from LJ Hooker Commercial Central Coast negotiated the sale.

Investor buys Niagara Park café A local investor has paid $495,000 (GST not applicable) for a 144 sqm café in the strata titled Niagara Park Shopping Centre.

The property is leased to Cake & Plate on a 5 year lease + 3 year option at a rental of $32,000 per annum plus Outgoings and GST.

CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW MAY 2023

A civil construction contractor has paid $915,000 plus GST for Unit 2 in a new industrial complex at 21 Donaldson Street, Wyong.

The 7-unit complex was completed in December 2022.

Mark Davies from Raine & Horne Commercial Central Coast negotiated the sale.

LEASINGS International college leases in Gosford

Rockford International College, a Registered Training Organisation offering courses in management, hospitality, accounting and information technology have leased a 106 sqm ground floor commercial space at Park Plaza, 131 Henry Parry Drive, Gosford.

Terms of lease for the 106 sqm space is 3 years with 3 year option at a rental of $52,000 per annum plus Outgoings and GST. Late 2021 acquired 19-21 Watt Street, Gosford with the aim of establishing a college and Brad Rogers and Michael Hanson from Raine & Horne Commercial Central Coast negotiated the lease.

Adult store leases at Erina Flirt Adult Store operators JRO Group Pty Ltd have leased Shop 3 at 202-204 The Entrance Road, Erina.

Terms for the 117sqm space is 5 years with 5 year option at a rental of $48,000 per annum plus Outgoings and GST. Brad Rogers from Raine & Horne Commercial Central Coast negotiated the lease.

Ladies fashion business leases at Erina Heights Cinta Collections, a ladies fashion business, has leased a retail space at 484a The Entrance Road, Erina Heights.

Terms of lease are 3 years + 1 year option at a rental of $35,000 per annum net plus GST. Ben Purdue from LJ Hooker Commercial Terrigal negotiated the sale.

Petcare business leases at Charmhaven Furbaby Pet Care has leased two retail spaces at 213-215 Pacific Highway, Charmhaven.

Shop 3 comprises 42 sqm and Shop 4 comprising 50 sqm and form part of the Charmhaven shopping strip.

Terms of lease are 3 years with 3 year option at a rental of $37,000 per annum plus Outgoings and GST. Rio Williams from LJ Hooker Commercial Central Coast negotiated the lease.

Online clothing business leases West Gosford unit An online clothing business has leased Unit 2, 14 Enterprise Close, West Gosford.

The 535sqm unit comprises 458 ground floor space plus 57sqm mezzanine.

Construction is of concrete tilt panel with glass shopfront.

The lease is an assignment of an earlier tenant expiring 31 October 2024. Rent is $77,000 per annum plus Outgoings and GST. Karen Aubrey from LJ Hooker Commercial Central Coast negotiated the lease.

Cosmetic injectable clinic leases at Long Jetty TWEAK Cosmetic Injectable Clinic has leased Shop 3, a 85sqm retail shop at 381 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty.

Terms of lease are 3 years with not options at a rental of $26,000 including Outgoings plus GST. Ben Purdue from LJ Hooker Commercial Terrigal negotiated the lease.

PROPERT Y NEWS

40 Mann Street, Gosford fully leased

40 Mann Street, Gosford IN RECENT MONTHS two new tenants have moved into the commercial office building at 40 Mann Street, Gosford and along with one tenant expanding their business the property is again fully leased.

A few months ago Adelaide based Wakefield International College leased all of Level 2 comprising 760sqm paying $260 per sqm per annum with a term of 5 + 5 years.

Rio Williams Focus Marketing Area Specialist Toukley, Charmhaven & Long Jetty

Suite 401/1 Bryant Drive, TUGGERAH NSW 2259

They have completed a class room style fit out and it is understood that student enrolments have commenced.

On Level 3 market research company, The Human Network has relocated from offices in East Gosford leasing 350sqm at a similar rental and term.

Also on Level 3 Beda Chartered Accountants who moved into the building

two years ago have extended their space of 211sqm adding 100sqm also at $265 per sqm.

Meanwhile long-term tenants on Level 1 include Interrelate, Vision Australia and a medical specialist.

Built around 1970, 40 Mann Street is one of the few larger commercial office buildings built in Gosford over the past 50 years The Kensman Building was built in 1990 and five yeas ago the NSW Financial Services building was built as the first stage of St Hilliers’ Central Coast Quarter development.

Sydney investor Philip Pollicina bought the property through his company Fesen Pty Ltd, paying $2,903,000. At the time the property was around half vacant and did not fit the owners, AMP investment profile.

David Tawyer of LJ Hooker Commercial, SAID the new owner committed to a long term renovation plan and over the years has seen.

Since acquiring the building Mr Pollicina has undertaken a number of substantial interior refurbishment projects to create a high quality office environment. He is now planning on upgrading the building exterior.

Begin with the No. 1 TOP OFFICE INTERNATIONALLY NUMBER OF SALES 2021 – 2022

Central Coast (02) 4353 7700

87 Mann Street, GOSFORD NSW 2250 CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW MAY 2023

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PROPERT Y NEWS

Industrial land values jump 46% in 12 months THE LATEST LAND values on the Central Coast issued in late January by the NSW Valuer General reveal that Industrial land values have increased by 46.1% between 1 July 2021 and I July 2022.

Acknowledging the opening of the NorthConnex linking the M1 Motorway and shortening of travel times from the region into Sydney metropolitan area the VG attributes the rise in values to permanent migration and business relocations.

The land value trends for properties over the period were: Property Zone % change Residential +15.5% Commercial +24.7% Industrial +46.1% Rural +22.2% Other +20.4% In respect to Residential the VG says demand for the Central Coast is generally broad-based being closely located to Sydney and continued migration based upon lifestyle and affordability considerations.

Future residential development land (Englobo) showed the highest growth the drivers being a chronic shortage of new residential land coming to market.

Commercial overview The strong increase in commercial land values was broadly consistent across most commercial zones.

The VG says, ‘Enterprise Corridor and Business Park zoned lands on the Central Coast allow many similar permissible uses to industrial zoned land, including light industries and warehouse and distribution centres.

As such, demand for this land is heavily influenced by the industrial market segment which has shown unprecedented growth in value over the past 12 months.

Land in Tuggerah and Wyong, which largely has industrial type uses such as warehousing and light industries, has shown increases similar in magnitude to that of well-located industrial zoned land in the area. Overall the Enterprise Corridor and Business Park zoned land showed a very strong increase for 2022.’

Indicative areas that showed the highest increases for commercial zoned land were: Pioneer Avenue, Tuggerah 53.9% Amsterdam Circuit, Wyong 54.6% The Entrance Road, Erina 23.3% Mann Street, Gosford 32.1% Victoria Avenue, The Entrance 39.6% Main Road, Toukley 13.0% Oscar Street, Umina Beach 14.4% Industrial overview The VG says that industrial land values across all of NSW have been increasing since 2020 through an accelerating transition of traditional retail business towards e-commerce operations and online retailing

factors driving strong demand for industrial land. This is most evident in increased demand for medium to large sized industrial lots close to main roads.

Significantly, the VG points out that ‘at the same time there has been a longer-term trend towards dwindling supply of new industrial land releases across the region.’

Undeveloped industrial englobo land in the Bushells Ridge area experienced strong increase in value this year.

Indicative areas that showed the highest increases for industrial zoned land were: Pile Road, Somersby 86.6% Burnet Road, Warnervale 43.8% Corella Close, Berkeley Vale 44.5% Railway Crescent, Lisarow 60.3% Palm Tree Road, Wyong 54.6% Mastan Close, West Gosford 32.5% Rural overview The VG says that there was a strong increase in rural land values in the region in the period under review. This growth level was broadly consistent across all rural zones and locations. The drivers in this property class are similar to other residential market segments, however these properties have a lifestyle element which is sought after.

These properties continue to be sought after in2022, however aligning more with the broader residential trend across the Central Coast.

Energy and costs shock to business but no one interested CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 consumer with their needs.

All businesses surveyed said that they are facing an increase in electricity costs of at least 100% as they come off contracts entered into in recent years. Similarly, gas has increased by 50% and more over the past year.

No one is taking into account that most businesses have been working on fine margins for many years – there is no fat! A net profit margin of less than 5% is the norm for most businesses with many reporting less than that.

In the end most items end up with the consumer in the form of food, personal and household needs, all obtained via a network of retailers that these days comprise the major supermarkets who have turned squeezing their suppliers into an artform.

Australians are more than willing to buy products imported from countries that continue to use fossil fuels to provide cheap base load power which shows the hypocrisy of those extolling the virtues of renewables.

Meanwhile the major business lobby groups such as the Business Council of Australia, Australian Industry Group, COSBOA, Business NSW and others who CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW MAY 2023

should be standing up for their members as strongly as the environment groups are for their own reasons, many of whom stretch the truth, do are failing their members.

These organisations talk in platitudes that ensure no one will be upset, least of all politicians or bureaucrats. Meanwhile they continue to hoodwink their members into thinking that they are on their side.

Not just energy While energy costs are impacting every industry, at the same time raw materials costs are almost out of control.

The cost of petroleum based materials as well as other materials derived from palm oil and coconut oil, all of which have an input into consumer products from food to detergents have risen by up to 50% in the last year.

And then there is the cost of fertilizers essential to growing crops. Urea, a low cost nitrogen fertilizer used across the whole agriculture industry sky-rocketed as a result of the Ukraine War and while only easing back in recent weeks will remain at historically high levels into the future.

As well, the cost of transportation has also gone through the roof as fuel prices and cost of tolls and taxes continue on an

upward trajectory.

For retailers, any rent assistance that was reluctantly provided during the Covid pandemic is off the table and rents in shopping centres are now being ratcheted up.

And then of course there is the issue of rising interest rates. After a decade of near zero interest rates the genie is out of the bottle and interest rates are climbing one more.

Bankruptcies on the rise Consumers have got used to a stable pricing environment over the past 30 years as inflation has been held in check and are resisting price increases.

The reality is that over the past number of years input costs have been rising and businesses have been forced to absorb them by accepting lower margins.

In calendar year 2022 the number of companies entering administration was 2,433. Pundits are now saying that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The bottom line In the end businesses are going to have to put their prices up or go broke.

For those people who haven’t experienced a world of constantly rising prices the next year and beyond will be difficult.

22

FUNNY BUSINESS

TWO MEN GOT out of their cars after they collided at an intersection. One took a flask from his pocket and said to the other, “Here, maybe you’d like a nip to calm your nerves.”

“Thanks,” he said, and took a long pull from the container. “Here, you have one, too,” he added, handing back the whiskey. “Well, I’d rather not,” said the first. “At least not until after the police have been here.”

What’s the definition of an accountant?

Someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in a way you don’t understand.

While crossing the US-Mexican border on his bicycle, the man was stopped by a guard who pointed to two sacks the man had on his shoulders. “What’s in the bags?”, asked the guard.

“Sand,” said the cyclist.

“Get them off - we’ll take a look,” said the guard.

The Cyclist did as he was told, emptied the bags, and proved they contained nothing but sand, reloaded the bags, put them on his shoulders and continued across the border.

Two weeks later, the same thing happened. Again, the guard demanded to see the two bags, which again contained nothing but sand. This went on every week for six months, until one day the cyclist with the sandbags failed to appear.

A few days later, the guard happened to meet the cyclist downtown. “Say friend, you sure had us crazy”, said the guard. “We knew you were smuggling something across the border. I won’t say a word - but what is it you were smuggling?” “Bicycles!”

On a rural road a state trooper pulled this farmer over and said: “Sir, do you realize your wife fell out of the car several miles back?” To which the farmer replied: “Thank God, I thought I had gone deaf!”

I went to the cinema the other day and in the front row was an old man and with him was his dog. It was a sad funny kind of film, you know the type. In the sad part, the dog cried his eyes out, and in the funny part, the dog laughed its head off. This happened all the way through the film. After the film had ended, I decided to go and speak to the man.

“That’s the most amazing thing I’ve seen,” I said. “That dog really seemed to enjoy the film.”

The man turned to me and said, “Yeah, it is. He hated the book.”

A man walks into a bar one day and asks, “Does anyone here own that rottweiler outside?”

“Yeah, I do!” a biker says, standing up.

“What about it?”

“Well, I think my chihuahua just killed him...”

“What are you talkin’ about?!” the biker says, disbelievingly. “How could your little runt kill my rottweiler?”

“Well, it seems he got stuck in your dog’s throat!”

His wife had been killed in an accident and the police were questioning Finnegan.

“Did she say anything before she died?” asked the sergeant.

“She spoke without interruption for about forty years,” said the Irishman.

A cop pulls up two Irish drunks, and says to the first, “What’s your name and address?”

“I’m Paddy O’Day, of no fixed address.”

The cop turns to the second drunk, and asks the same question.

“I’m Seamus O’Toole, and I live in the flat above Paddy.”

Do you believe in life after death?” the boss asked one of his employees. “Yes, sir,” the clerk replied.

“That’s good,” the boss said. “After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother’s funeral, she stopped in to see you.”

A policeman brought four boys before a judge. “They were causing an awful lot of commotion at the zoo, your Honour,” he said.

“Boys,” said the judge sternly, “I never like to hear reports of juvenile delinquency.

Now I want each of you to tell me your name and what you were doing wrong.”

“My name is George,” said the first boy, “and I threw peanuts into the elephant pen.”

“My name is Pete,” said the second boy, “and I threw peanuts into the elephant pen.”

“My name is Peanuts,” said the fourth boy.

Quote of the month “Anybody can cut prices, but it takes a brain to produce a better article.”

P. D. Armour

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