Chairman's Report
The last 12 months have been significant for Business at Bacchus Marsh.
Members have reformed the constitution and formally registered changes
to our Model Rules. We have affiliated with VECCI, aiming to provide
members access to current business information and opportunities. A
local office has been utilized - with appreciation to Keemin Electricals
- to give members a Main Street presence and to confirm the identity of
the group, and we had an official opening performed by the Mayor of
Moorabool. The organization has continued to give members every
opportunity to make decisions that are delegated to the board for
implementation. Business at Bacchus Marsh has established quarterly
meetings with the Shire of Moorabool and continues to convey our wish to
work cooperatively for the benefit of Bacchus Marsh and its businesses.
This annual report reflects the current status of our operations, and
each section identifies challenges and opportunities. As Chairman of
the board, I see two major challenges: (1) to achieve a unified voice
for all businesses in Bacchus Marsh, - Darley, Maddingley, the Avenue
of Honour, rural businesses, as well as the Mains Street traders, and
(2) to resource our operations on a sustainable basis. There is no
shortage of strategic and practical ideas,: the gap is our capacity to
implement them. This means that we must grow, we must locate and
attract new members and to welcome and support and promote their business
endeavours. It will be members who take these challenges up - not the
board, not voluntary executive support. On behalf of the board, I would
like to thank each and every one of their members for their commitment
to have the voice of businesses in Bacchus Marsh heard and respected at
all levels.
Business @ Bacchus Marsh is open to all businesses - and therefore
all sectors - retail, transport, service providers, primary production,
manufacturing-industrial and tourism. There are approximately 2500
business in Bacchus Marsh (we can't get the statistics on this) so we
are a minor voice, our strength diminished. There are two groups in
Bacchus Marsh working with businesses: ourselves (40 members) and
Bacchus Marsh Town Centre Revitalisation Group Incorporated (unknown
membership). We have advised the Minister for Small Business, the Hon.
Andre Haermeyer MP, that its government funded program, "Streetlife" is
potentially divisive regarding business advocacy at municipality level.
We see Business @ Bacchus Marsh as the umbrella group (i.e., all
businesses in Bacchus Marsh ) and the Streetlife program as focused on a
sector of businesses in Bacchus Marsh: the Main Street retail traders.
(Graph: membership sector profile (retail, primary production,
transport, services, tourism, industrial) We have developed a Membership
Growth Strategy that basically relies on word-of-mouth by current members.
We have sought funding support through the office of Small Business,
and researched alternative sources of funding at federal and state levels.
To date, we have been unsuccessful. We need manpower to serve member
needs; we need finances to maintain our operations; we would like to
have funds and sponsorship support to encourage and acknowledge business
innovation, customer services, and business achievement in Bacchus Marsh,
we would like to organize events and activities relevant to the business
community. Without government funding support, Business @ Bacchus Marsh
has to rely on its voluntary subscriptions.
Stakeholders and Relationships
We have received solid support from VECCI. Phill Crone, the former
Regional Manager, has taken a personal role in supporting the group, has
held discussions with us in reforming our focus and structure, and has
attended our last AGM. We wish him every success in his new role with
the Ballarat University. As indicated previously, the Shire of
Moorabool has agreed to meet with us on a quarterly basis, and
discussions are increasingly taking a partnership perspective. We have
used our monthly meetings to build our networks and knowledge - from
Port Phillip City Council, from Moorabool Council. We've made approaches
to the Ballan business community, and participated on behalf of
businesses in Shire consultations about the Civic Centre, Gateways
Strategy, Branding and Image. Future challenges include closer
communications with our local member, Don Nardella MP, with state
government bodies and their support services, and with our counterparts
in the immediate region.
Bacchus Marsh
We each have a knowledge of our own business: what we don't have is
a collective understanding of our employee numbers, strengths, skill g
aps to use for advocacy purposes, and to attract businesses into the
town to strengthen local sales. The Shire advises that a number of
facilities are being established in a growing community - retail outlets
as part of the Civic Centre, and residential facilities and services
for the elderly. These represent business opportunities that have not
been discussed and utilized. Consultants have been employed to formulate
a community consultation strategy and to formulate a gateways strategy
for each of the five entrances into the town. Business @ Bacchus Marsh
has contributed to these initiatives with submissions: the outcomes are
unknown. We have attended briefings where possible, particularly in
relation to the availability and management of water resources - a
crucial business issue for members engaged in vegetable and fruit
produce. Our challenges are (1) to continue to keep our members informed
of proposed and possible developments e.g., concerning traffic
management and adjustments under consideration by VicRoads regarding
Anthony's Cutting and (2) to use statistics to the advantage of our
members when making submissions and representations elsewhere.
Business @ Bacchus Marsh is an association of businesses in the Shire
of Moorabool formed for the purpose by them of arranging reciprocal
commercial benefit through networking, promotion of business issues,
develop cost savings strategies for business operations, promotion of
tourism, and acknowledgement of the contribution of businesses as
members of the Bacchus Marsh community.
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MOORABOOL EXPORT NETWORK
Business @ Bacchus Marsh has been successful in a funding application to the State Government for $10,000 to establish and run a series of export initiatives across the Moorabool Shire in 2007.
Mr Peter Crotty, Chairman of Business @ Bacchus Marsh, said “the program will develop a range of initiatives aimed to assist those businesses that are currently exporting and provide detailed insights to those businesses with the potential to consider export markets”.
“The program will also involve the establishment of a mentoring program that will run throughout the year”.
The program will be launched at a dinner on Monday 28 May 2007 at 6:30pm by James Hodges of the Export Development Department of the State Government. James will also be guest speaker at the dinner who will discuss export opportunities, grants, services, and assistance on the benefits of exporting and being export ready.
Businesses @ Bacchus Marsh is a local business association established in 2002 comprising members from a range of industry sectors. The group has identified this opportunity to provide assistance and support to local businesses in their export endeavours. It is anticipated that the network will generate economic activity, increase business sales and generate local employment opportunities.
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