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April 2009 BUSINESS CONFIDENCE SURVEY Please complete the anonymous quick five question survey and help us get a snapshot of the region's business confidence. In this month's edition:
Got a small business and think the Federal Government’s carbon pollution reduction scheme won’t affect you? Think again!
The Queensland Water Commission's (QWC) medium level water restrictions for businesses on the Sunshine Coast came into effect on 30 March. Non-residential customers that use in excess of 10 megalitres (ML) each year, or have a cooling tower, or operate a nursery, turf farm or market garden must complete a Water Efficiency Management Plan (WEMP). Plans must be submitted to council for approval Businesses must also install sub-meters and monitor processes and equipment that use a significant portion of the site’s water. Quarterly reports must be provided to council on progress in implementing WEMP water saving projects. Non-residential customers that use between 1 ML and 10 ML per year are required to retrofit their premises with water efficient devices, including low-flow shower roses, tap aerators etc before 31 March 2010. As a service to the Sunshine Coast business community, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) has developed an obligation and cost-free Water Restrictions Exposure Test. By following the link below and answering a few simple questions, CCIQ's Business Sustainability advisers will assess the specific impacts of the restrictions on your business and advise what steps (if any) you need to take. The survey consists of six simple questions and should take no more than a couple of minutes to complete. Complete the survey at www.cciq.com.au/sunshinecoastwater
The ecoBiz program does just that by helping your business to achieve cost savings through reduced energy and water consumption and a more productive use of materials. ecoBiz is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) signature partnership program. By taking closer account of the energy, water and materials used to produce goods and service, ecoBiz participants are showing it is possible to do more with less. For more information visit our website.
Grants are available to support Australian small businesses to implement practices that help employees balance their work and family obligations as well as improve employee retention and productivity. The program is administered in funding rounds by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). The program provides grants of $5,000 to $15,000 (GST inclusive) to small businesses to help meet the set-up costs of family friendly arrangements that suit the individual needs of the business. In addition, the program supports small businesses through:
Further information on family friendly work arrangements, work-life balance and the program is available from the DEEWR Website.
Think of all of the things you couldn’t do without your central server that contains your accounting software data or losing access to your e-mail. Take into consideration how much it is costing to have the server running in a place that is not suited to house sensitive IT equipment in terms of power and cooling. Is your business running an air-conditioner designed to cool a room 24 hours a day, 7 days a week just to keep IT equipment cool?
The festival has smashed the record books again with a massive 30 per cent growth to 5500 competitors this year, making it the biggest since the USM Events, the organisers of the event estimate that over 25,000 spectators were in attendance over the three day festival. Thank you for taking the time to read our eNewsletter. We would appreciate any feedback you may have. Please email us at ecdev.nambour@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
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When it comes down to running a profitable business, it all comes down to the dollars in the bank. How great would it be to put in place systems that will save you money while reducing your carbon footprint? 
On 12 March 2009, the Connecting the Coast Project was presented a Highly Commended for the Government Award category at The Australian Telecommunications User Group (ATUG) 2009 National Awards for Effective Use of Broadband. 
Wild weather and heavy rain were not enough to dampen the competitor’s spirits at this year’s Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival held from 27 – 29 March.