lls Bay & Districts Community Bk® Project • media release Bonnells Bay & Disommuomj

Bonnells Bay Community Bank® Project reaches

$500,000 milestone

Friday, 12 March 2010: The Bonnells Bay Community Bank® campaign has reached a significant milestone, obtaining $500,000 pledges of support.

Committee spokesman, Col Roach, said this achievement moves the community a step closer to opening the Bonnells Bay Community Bank® Branch.

“We have now hit a major milestone of more than $500,000 pledges and we are fast approaching the next step, a feasibility study.  On the satisfactory completion of the feasibility study a prospectus will be issued and those who have pledged will have first chance to buy the shares in the public company set up to run the franchise” he said.

Mr Roach is encouraging more people to get behind the campaign and pledge now.

 “A minimum pledge of $500 is considered satisfactory, however the money is not required at this early stage.  The voluntary committee also urges those who would like to register their support for the campaign but are unable to pledge at this time to also make contact to help build a business case going forward”

The committee will hold a public information session at Bonnells Bay Youth & Community Centre, Wednesday 24 March, at 7.30pm.  This will be a great opportunity for local businesses and residents to hear about the potential benefits on offer. 

Committee spokesman, Col Roach, said the proposed Bonnells Bay Community Bank® Branch will create a significant income stream for local community projects and local shareholders.

“There are more than 250 Community Bank® Branches all around Australia,” he said.

“So far the Community Bank®  network has returned more than $37 million to local groups and projects, with a further $12 million in dividends paid to more than 60,000 local shareholders.”

In addition to keeping revenue local, the Bonnells Bay Community Bank® Branch will also provide a full range of products and services including business banking, industry leading customer service levels and longer opening hours including Saturday mornings.

People who bank with Bonnells Bay Community Bank® Branch will have access to over 530 customer service outlets, approximately 800 ATM’s, and 10,000 Eftpos devices in locations right around Australia.

We need your support today to enable us to take the next step.”

ENQUIRIES:   Col Roach 0412 401 533 or Natalie Lett 4973 3177

*************************************************************

DUNSDON BOYS TRUST FUND.

There was a tragic house fire in Silverwater in late July that claimed the life of Mark Dunsdon – a single father of four young boys under 10 years of age.

The Bonnells Bay Progress Association Inc. and the Sunshine Progress Association Inc. have joined to-gether to set up a Trust Fund for the boys.

Donations can be made at the following places, and donations over $2.00 will be tax deductible:

• Through the Salvation Army, Bonnells Bay bank account ,Westpac Bank Morisset, Branch – BSB 032 524, Account No. 811206;
• Phone donations via Newcastle Salvation Army Office on 4929 5273 – business hours, Monday to Friday;
• Southlakes Community Services, Morisset Multipurpose Centre, 143 Dora Street, Morisset;
• Bonnells Bay Hotel – collection tins available;
• Dora Creek Workers Club – collection tins available;
• Lake Macquarie Hotel and Bottle Mart Shop – collection tins available;
• Morisset Country Club – collection tins available;
• Morisset Golf Club Pro Shop – collection tin available;
• Morisset Bowling Club – collection tin available.

This is a great opportunity for the community to support a family in real need.

Commercial Centre Study 2009

Morisset

In 1997, Council developed a survey for the City’s major commercial and bulky good retail centres with the intention of establishing a database of businesses in Lake Macquarie.  With the assistance of local business owners and managers, the information collected allows the Economic Development Department to monitor business mix, vacancy levels, retail leakage, and movements in employment levels for each of the town centres.  The survey was completed for a second time in 2002, and again in 2008. 

For this analysis, the 17 ANZSIC industries have been clustered into five major categories: Goods producing industries; Goods related service industries; Knowledge based service industries; Person based service industries; Government and essential services (two and one respectively) (see Figure 1).

Although anomalies in the data sets have occurred, mainly due to changes in collection boundaries and methodology, the statistics are a strong basis for analysis and planning.

Business Mix

Number of Businesses

An increase in the number of businesses has occurred in Morisset with the completion of some new business developments including the Morisset Square Shopping Centre and the new Pacific Smiles and Eye care building in Yambo Street.

Figure 1:   Number of Businesses 1997, 2002, 2008, 2009

Leasable Floor Area

The increase in leasable floor area can be attributed to new commercial developments as outlined above as well as the addition of business premises to the survey that were not previously included.  There is also a decrease that has occurred in the demolition of 103-105 Dora Street to make way for the new Woolworths and specialty shop development.  The completion of this development in 2010 will be clearly reflected in the 2010 survey.

Figure 2: Leasable Floor Area (m²) 1997 2002 2008 2009

Figure 3: Change in Leasable Floor Area (m²) 1997 to 2009

Employment

Permanent Employees

Figure 4: Permanent Employees 1997 2002 2008 2009

Figure 5: Change in Permanent Employees 1997 to 2009

Casual Employment

Figure 6: Casual Employees 1997 2002 2008 2009

Figure 7: Change in Casual Employees 1997 to 2009

Key Industry Cluster

Figure 8: Key Facts – Goods Related Service Industries

Appendix A

Major Industry Categories

Goods Producing Industries – those which grow, process, extract or manufacture goods.  Specifically Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Mining; Manufacturing.

Goods Related Service Industries – those providing services to industries that produce goods.  They move or sell goods and include employment in Transport; Storage; Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade.

Knowledge Based Service Industries – the high skill service industries that cover employment in Property and Business Services; Health and Community Services; Education Finance and Insurance; Communication Services.

Person Based Services – those which cater directly to people’s needs, including employment in Personal and Other Services; Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants; Cultural and Recreation Services; Construction.

Government and Essential Services – including Government Administration and Defence; Electricity, Gas and Water Supply.

Australia and New Zealand Standard Industry Classification 1993 (ABS)

See Appendix A