THE NSW Government is providing $3,000 to the Tea Gardens Community Technology Centre to develop an economic development blueprint for the Hawks Nest/Tea Gardens area, the Minister for Regional Development, David Campbell said recently.
Mr Campbell said a Business Retention and Expansion Survey would be carried out to identify opportunities for business growth in Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, Pindimar and Bundabah.
"Information from the survey will help businesses work together to promote this popular area through joint marketing initiatives and projects and events," Mr Campbell said.
"This is another example of practical assistance being provided by the Iemma Government as an investment in the future of the region," he said.
200 surveys were sent out to all the businesses in the region, whether they are individual operators or larger organisations in the Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest, Bundabah and Pindimar areas.
Manager of Tea Gardens CTC, Trevor Cook, said it is important that they get a large number of completed questionnaires covering all areas of business.
"If there is anybody who has missed out, we would love to hear from you as we want to make the findings as representative as possible," said Mr Cook.
Mr Campbell urges local businesses to participate in this survey, as it will benefit the community and help create jobs in the long term.
"Information from the new survey will also help the Myall Waterways Chamber of Commerce support local businesses.
"There are 96 businesses in the area employing about 930 people.
"They include tourism, retail, light industry and services, education and services related to retirement," he added.
Tea Gardens Community Technology Centre (CTC) provides local communities with computer and Internet access, training, business services, as well as equipment and meeting room hire.
Mr Cook said the information gathered will be used to help direct the Chamber, the Council, and other organisations towards the areas that need their attention.
"This will ensure your business has the best opportunity to succeed, and in doing so, will ensure a strong and vibrant local economy," said Mr Cook.
He assured that all information gathered will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be accumulated into group tables.
"No information identifying a particular organisation will be published and all questionnaires will be destroyed after analysis," he explained.
The aim is to make completing the survey as easy as possible, so to help, around eight or nine volunteers from the CTC have divided the listed businesses up between them to 20 or so each, and will be contacting them next week to offer their assistance.
"Recognising the importance of your time, a trained CTC representative will contact you to make an appointment to come and see you in order to complete the questionnaire.
"This will require no more than 20 minutes of your time and your information is important for the future planning of the Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest area," added Mr Cook.
He pointed out that the questionnaire is the same as has been used in other communities, enabling comparisons to be made which in turn may suggest ideas for Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest.
Mr Campbell explained that the survey began this month and the findings and recommendations will be announced at a public meeting in May 2006.
NSW Government funding for this project is being provided through the Main Street/Small Towns Program.
Funding is also being provided by Great Lakes Council and Myall Waterways Chamber of Commerce.
Previous Main Street/Small Towns assistance to Tea Gardens CTC was $12,360 in 2003 to develop the Riverside Artwalk Project.
Mr Cook indicated this is a real coup for Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest as the DSRD Main Street/Small Towns program has assisted many regional communities strengthen their local economies with positive results, particularly in the areas of employment and business prosperity.
"This survey will set the foundations for the further stages of the Main Street/Small Towns program for Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest, and as with everything, strong foundations are important; hence the request for as many businesses as possible to participate," concluded Mr Cook.
Email a friend