July 20, 2016
Kingaroy businesses are keen to see more growth in the region.
That was the main message from the Kingaroy Chamber Of Commerce and Industry’s Meet’n’Greet on Monday night.
The latest six-weekly event was hosted by Graham and Lisa Wilson at Kingaroy’s Satellite Cinema.
Graham and Lisa took over the business in February and since then have made several improvements to the complex, and plan more in the future.
Graham told the meeting that in his experience, most South Burnett businesses were was in favour of growth because it was good for the community they served, as well as themselves.
“Growth means more jobs for our children, rising house prices, better facilities and lower rates because there will be more people to share the costs,” Graham said.
“So it’s in everyone’s interests to see our region go ahead – and as Paul Keating once said, in a two-horse race you should always back self-interest because at least you know it’s trying.”
He then outlined a plan to create an app that would explain the features and benefits of the region to potential investors and new residents.
Graham said he believed an app similar to one he described would help raise awareness of the region.
He agreed the development of such an app was beyond the ability of any single individual, but thought it might be a worthwhile project for South Burnett Directions to look into.
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Mayor Keith Campbell agreed with Graham that the app he’d suggested might be a good idea, and told the meeting he was definitely in favour of growth, too.
He believed one way to achieve it was to focus on increasing the value of the region’s agriculture.
He told the meeting most of the region’s best agricultural land was growing low-profit crops at the moment because farmers had limited choices due to a lack of water.
He believed the path forward was to get irrigation introduced into the region.
This would allow agricultural producers to switch to high-profit horticulture, and the benefits of this would quickly flow through to all other sectors of the local economy.
The Mayor said South Burnett Directions would be preparing a business case for irrigation that the Council can present to the State and Federal Governments.
But he cautioned this was likely to take some time to assemble because it was a complex issue that required detailed research.
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The KCCI will look into the possibility of running a Home Expo after several members said previous Home Expos had been very successful and they’d like to see another one.
Members heard the last Home and Lifestyle Expo, which was run at Kingaroy State High School in November 2010 by CROW-FM, had been popular with the public and successful for exhibitors.
But there had not been any held since.
KCCI President Tim Harris said the Chamber would discuss the idea at its next executive meeting.
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TAFE Queensland South West will be holding a Careers Market from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Thursday, July 28, at the Kingaroy TAFE college in Geritz Road.
More than 30 education, training and employment providers will be exhibiting at the event including the South Burnett Regional Council, Queensland Police, the Downer group, Stanwell, Swickers, Ken Mills Toyota and Defence Force Recruiting.
The day will also give visitors the chance to talk with TAFE teachers about courses, career pathways and – for high school students – TAFE at School study options.
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Karen Miller, from Sarina Russo Job Access, reminded the meeting that the State Government’s new “Regional Back To Work” program – which began on July 1 – is offering employers incentives of between $10,000 and $15,000 to hire jobseekers full time.
The program also offers incentives to hire part-timers, and Mrs Miller said she and her staff would be holding a free afternoon tea information session for South Burnett businesses on Thursday, August 4 to explain the new program.
The session will be held at Job Access’ office at 65 Haly Street in Kingaroy at 2:00pm.
For catering purposes, an RSVP would be appreciated by Tuesday, August 2, on (07) 4172-8500 or by email
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CTC will be running a free bus tour of all their South Burnett facilities on Thursday, July 21 for interested KCCI members.
CEO Nina Temperton said the tour was designed to familiarise local businesses with the organisation.
CTC currently employs more than 180 people and turns over $13-$15 million a year, she said.
And since CTC has a policy of buying as much as possible locally, most of the money it turns over each year flows back into the region.
The bus tour will leave Kingaroy at 8:30am and is expected to return by 3:00pm.
Anyone who’d like to join it should phone CTC on (07) 4162-9000 to reserve a seat.
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Southern Cross Austereo will be running a series of free marketing seminars for small businesses on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 16-17.
Jamie Ferguson, from Austereo, said the seminars had previously been run in Toowoomba, and were informative and fun.
“Everyone walks away ideas for their business moving forward,” she said.
The seminars are being run by Paul O’Connor from Mackay and will be held at the Pioneer Room Restaurant at 100 Kingaroy Street, Kingaroy.
There will be four sessions available: an evening session at 5:30pm on Tuesday, August 16, and three day sessions (at 8:00am, 9:30am and 11:00am) on Wednesday, August 17.
Each session runs for about 40 minutes, but because places are limited bookings are necessary: (07) 4162-4888 or 0400-732-250.
