Thank you Uralla!

Uralla, NSW 02 6778 3325 office@urallabusinesschamber.org.au

The awards night went off with a bang!

Uralla Shire Business Chamber shared a post.

2 weeks ago

"Non-farm businesses are the forgotten casualties of the worst drought in living memory, a business survey with very strong participation in the Northern Inland region of NSW is revealing, according to Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) Chair Russell Stewart.

“We welcome the Federal Government’s drought assistance package announced today but sadly, it is lacking genuine understanding. It shows that the economic realities in drought affected communities are not understood in Canberra. Today’s package includes loans of questionable value for what the Government has referred to as farm-dependent businesses. This refers to agricultural sub-contractors and rural suppliers. The definition must be broadened to cover all non-farm businesses in acutely drought affected communities,” Mr. Stewart said. “Our CBDs are in decline. Drought assistance is largely focused on farm enterprises and the latest drought package proves that the devastating economic impacts that the drought has had on other regional businesses remains unrecognised and undervalued,” Mr. Stewart said.

For RDANI Senior Project Officer David Thompson, the incomplete picture of the economic impacts of the drought became apparent after broad engagement with businesses throughout the region. “During the course of our work we meet business owners across all sectors of our local economies, not just the farmers,” he said. “Media coverage picks up on the obvious images of desolate paddocks, dry dams and hand-fed stock, yet the flow-on impacts to our other regional businesses is far less visual or newsworthy, but just as important. We decided to survey non-farm businesses to see how they are faring in the drought and what type of assistance they said would be most beneficial to them”.

So far, 305 non-farm businesses have responded to the survey, answering questions about changes in turnover and staffing levels, and the types of government policy actions which would help them survive this and future droughts. Feedback came from all sectors of the economy, with particularly high responses from retail businesses, businesses which support agriculture and food and accommodation providers.

“The survey will close on November 15th, and we have commenced collating the results” said Mr. Thompson. “To date, we have looked at the impacts of the drought on non-farm business performance, and shortly we will examine what types of assistance these businesses would like provided by all tiers of government”.

Continued here: www.rdani.org.au/…/nonfarm-businesses-the-forgotten-…

Respond to the survey for non-farm businesses here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/DroughtImpactOnBusinesses"Non-farm businesses are the forgotten casualties of the worst drought in living memory, a business survey with very strong participation in the Northern Inland region of NSW is revealing, according to Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) Chair Russell Stewart.

“We welcome the Federal Government’s drought assistance package announced today but sadly, it is lacking genuine understanding. It shows that the economic realities in drought affected communities are not understood in Canberra. Today’s package includes loans of questionable value for what the Government has referred to as farm-dependent businesses. This refers to agricultural sub-contractors and rural suppliers. The definition must be broadened to cover all non-farm businesses in acutely drought affected communities,” Mr. Stewart said. “Our CBDs are in decline. Drought assistance is largely focused on farm enterprises and the latest drought package proves that the devastating economic impacts that the drought has had on other regional businesses remains unrecognised and undervalued,” Mr. Stewart said.

For RDANI Senior Project Officer David Thompson, the incomplete picture of the economic impacts of the drought became apparent after broad engagement with businesses throughout the region. “During the course of our work we meet business owners across all sectors of our local economies, not just the farmers,” he said. “Media coverage picks up on the obvious images of desolate paddocks, dry dams and hand-fed stock, yet the flow-on impacts to our other regional businesses is far less visual or newsworthy, but just as important. We decided to survey non-farm businesses to see how they are faring in the drought and what type of assistance they said would be most beneficial to them”.

So far, 305 non-farm businesses have responded to the survey, answering questions about changes in turnover and staffing levels, and the types of government policy actions which would help them survive this and future droughts. Feedback came from all sectors of the economy, with particularly high responses from retail businesses, businesses which support agriculture and food and accommodation providers.

“The survey will close on November 15th, and we have commenced collating the results” said Mr. Thompson. “To date, we have looked at the impacts of the drought on non-farm business performance, and shortly we will examine what types of assistance these businesses would like provided by all tiers of government”.

Continued here: www.rdani.org.au/news-events/nonfarm-businesses-the-forgotten-drought-casualties-07-11-2019.php

Respond to the survey for non-farm businesses here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/DroughtImpactOnBusinesses ...

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Uralla Shire Business Chamber shared a post.

2 weeks ago

with thanks from the Inverell Chamber of Commerce & Industry:
"A summary of today’s announcement with details of existing Drought Funding aswell. A lot to take in - it is great that small business has been recognised with options now available for support.

The success of this new announcement will be based on what the finer details say re access and spend and, how quickly they can get it implemented.

📸 Fiona Willan" ...

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Uralla Shire Business Chamber shared a post.

4 weeks ago

A way to have your voice heard“The worst drought in modern record books isn’t just hurting farmers. Businesses in our regional towns are really doing it tough too. We are currently undertaking a survey to get the data to show just how much the big dry has impacted on the business sector, and what might be done to help. We are getting practical insights into how drought assistance could be more effective from the frontline,” Narrabri-based Chair of Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI) Russell Stewart said.

If you're a Non-Farming Business in the region please fill out the survey so that we can gather evidence for a call to action. It'll only take five minutes and can be completely anonymous.”

The survey can be accessed through RDANI social media or directly, at:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/DroughtImpactOnBusinesses ...

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Uralla Shire Business Chamber

2 months ago

Hi all,

Welcome to October!
This month we have a guest speaker, Russell Stewart, Chair of Regional Development Australia Northern Inland who has offered to have a discussion with us of next year's awards process and options. Russell generously committed to sponsor a new Award for Innovation to the tune of $1,000 which is fantastic.

We found him fascinating and enjoyable to chat with at the Awards night, so are looking forward to a great discussion this month. Come along and be part of it this Thursday night at the Bowling Club at 5.30pm.

And now for something different.
Next month we will be having a breakfast meeting instead of an afternoon/evening meeting. We will let you know the details after this month's meeting as to the venue.

Minutes from the general meeting held at the start of August and Agenda for this month's meeting being held this Thursday can be found at the link below.

We am looking forward to seeing you all then!

Next General Meeting, All welcome!
5.30 pm Thursday 3rd October
Uralla Bowling Club

urallabusinesschamber.org.au/2019/09/30/october-monthly-meeting/ ...

October Monthly Meeting – Uralla Shire Business Chamber

urallabusinesschamber.org.au

News30 September 2019 Teresa French October Monthly Meeting Hi all, Welcome to October! This month we have a guest speaker, Russell Stewart, Chair of Regional Development Australia Northern Inland who has offered to have a discussion with us of next year’s awards process and options. Russell gener...

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Uralla Shire Business Chamber

2 months ago

My Community Project results are in - we were not successful this time sadly. Congratulations to the two projects that were. (Go to the link below and click on Northern tablelands electorate)
mycommunityproject.service.nsw.gov.au/projects ...

My Community Project

mycommunityproject.service.nsw.gov.au

My Community Project will fund projects in each NSW electorate to help improve the wellbeing of the people and communities that live there.

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