Business bulletin: 17 November 2022

From outback cattle stations to metropolitan pet stores, businesses right across the Territory are tapping into the advantages of the department’s Smarter Business Solution (SBS) program.

The team out at Kurundi Station, which is a family operated cattle station located 480km’s northeast of Alice Springs, have utilised the department’s Smarter Business Solutions program to help implement environmental and cost saving measures.  The Station has a number of diesel powered water bores that require extensive travel to check and maintain. The Smarter Business Solutions program was able to assist with the cost to convert 4 of the diesel-powered bores to solar systems and install water-monitoring equipment to 9 others. These improvements are expected to reduce the business’s diesel consumption by up to 50%.

Darwin based business, Aussie Pooch, is an independent pet store stocking natural, minimally processed, chemical and toxin free pet products for dogs & cats.  The Smarter Business Solutions program assisted Aussie Pooch to replace several large freezers with a new walk-in freezer room. The program provided energy monitoring, energy savings estimates and grant funding to help the business implement its refrigeration efficiency improvements.

Post installation, a review of the business’s electricity consumption shows the new walk-in freezer room is around 39% more efficient than the stand-alone chest and cabinet freezers. The refrigeration efficiency improvement equates to an annual electricity consumption saving of around 15% (24,000, kWh), or around $7,600 a year.

These Territory businesses have benefited from the program both environmentally and in cost savings, if you’re keen to learn how your business can access the program contact your local Small Business Champion or go to Smarter Business Solutions.

If you’re an Alice Springs business or entrepreneur, come along to an innovation event being held on Thursday 24 November and learn more about what programs are available to help you develop your business ideas into commercial reality.

The session will explore the StartNT Darwin Innovation Hub program, which is aimed at early stage start-ups. It provides a “life-cycle” commercialisation pathway for companies looking to scale and become “investment ready” in the Northern Territory.  There is also the Entrepreneurs' Programme providing access to expert advice that money can’t buy, and financial support through grants and incentives.

You will also learn about the Darwin Innovation Hub’s Croc Pitch, an annual event with up to $1 million in venture capital up for grabs. Croc Pitch is looking for entrepreneurs or growing businesses that have a scalable innovation, product or technology that will provide a direct benefit to the Northern Territory.

The NT Government team will be on hand to discuss the Business Innovation Program, designed to help NT businesses to develop and commercialise innovation concepts by providing mentoring, funding, investment and networking opportunities.  Plus the department’s Small Business Champions will be at the event to discuss how they can help you identify the types of support your business can access.

Event details:

Thursday 24 November from 3pm at the Central Australia Development Office, Todd Mall, Alice Springs.

Register now via Eventbrite

Don’t miss your opportunity to go into the draw to win a Dili travel package, worth over $4,000 by completing the OBM 2022 evaluation survey.  An email has been sent to OBM event attendee inboxes with a link to the survey, simply complete this and you will automatically be entered into the draw for your chance to win a Dili Travel Package! Your feedback is vital to help us improve on OBM in the future.  We sincerely appreciate your time.

The amazing prize package* includes:

• 2 return airfares from Darwin to Dili, Timor Leste flying Airnorth
• 2 nights accommodation at the Timor Plaza Hotel
• 2 days / 1 night Compass Diving Tour to Atauro

Total prize value $4,464.18*.

Prize will be drawn and winner advised by phone on 24 November 2022.

Prize conditions apply, download a copy of the Airnorth, Compass Diving and Timor Plaza terms and conditions.

Entry to the October Business Month Evaluation Survey Giveaway are subject to the terms and conditions.

Twenty-five Northern Territory businesses have been recognised at the tourism industry’s night of nights. The 35th Brolga Awards, held in Alice Springs last weekend, celebrate individual contributions as well as the best tourism operators and products across the Northern Territory.

Full list of winners:

• Tourist Attractions: Katherine Outback Experience
• Major Festivals and Events: Darwin Festival
• Festivals and Events: Red Hot Arts Central Australia
• Ecotourism: Trek Larapinta
• Cultural Tourism: Venture North Safaris
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism: Standley Chasm Angkerle Atwatye
• Tourism Retail and Hire: Uluru Audio Guide
• Visitor Information Services: Tourism Top End
• Business Event Venues: Darwin Convention Centre
• Major Tour and Transport Operators: AAT Kings NT
• Tour and Transport Operators: Uluru Camel Tours
• Adventure Tourism: World Expeditions Australian Walking Holidays
• Tourism and Marketing Campaigns: Tourism Central Australia
• Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services: Char Restaurant and The Darwin Club at Admiralty House
• Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries: One Mile Brewery
• Caravan and Holiday Parks: Oasis Tourist Park
• Unique Accommodation: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
• 3-3.5 Star Accommodation: Capitanos
• 4-4.45 Star Accommodation: Rydges Palmerston
• Tony Clementson New Tourism Business: Cyaround Australia Tours
• Business Growth Award: Top Didj Cultural Experience and Art Gallery
• Chairman’s Choice for Tourism Excellence: Char Restaurant and The Darwin Club at Admiralty House
• Skal Industry Employee Award: Susan Silvester
• George Dunne Award Outstanding Contribution by an Individual: Michael Scott
• Tourism Minister’s Perpetual Trophy: Grant Hunt AM

Twenty of the Brolga winners will go on to represent the Northern Territory at the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, to be held in Sydney early next year.

The Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security recently released the draft Territory Water Plan for community consultation.

This is the first strategic water plan for the Territory and is a whole-of-government, long-term plan for water security across the Northern Territory, providing a roadmap for strengthening water governance. It aims to deliver water security for all Territorians, now and into the future.

The Draft Water Plan is another part of a suite of policies being implemented by Government to support sustainable development and protect the environment and address the challenges of climate change.  It completes a recommendation in the Final Report from the Territory Economic Reconstruction Committee.

The plan outlines the need for an independent Controller of Water Resources, a position for which Expressions of Interest are now being sought.

The Office of Water Security will take a lead role in implementing the Plan, and will report on its progress annually. The Plan will be holistically reviewed every four years.

The draft document, which has been developed through an extensive public and stakeholder engagement process, is now open for further community input.

The draft Territory Water Plan is available on the Have Your Say website and is open for feedback until Friday 25 November 2022.