JULY 2013 VOLUME 9 NUMBER 6 Print Post Approved PP255003/07463 $6.60 (including GST) Hunter Business Review Insurance & Risk Management Newcastle Renewal Connecting & informing business people Tel:Tel: +61 22 49414941 6688 6688 www.charlestownapartments.com.auwww.charlestownapartments.com.au Email:Email: [email protected]@charlestownapartments.com.au YourYour home home away away from from home,home, in thein the heart heart of of Charlestown, Charlestown, NewcastleNewcastle LocatedLocated north north of ofLake Lake Macquarie Macquarie and and offers offers easy accessaccess to to businessbusiness and and tourist tourist venues venues in inNewcastle, Newcastle, the the Hunter Hunter Valley andand Port Port Stephens Stephens • Central location in a quiet cul-de-sac • 15 minutes drive to Newcastle CBD, City beaches and Lake Macquarie • Central• Parklocation and playgroundin a quiet cul-de-sac opposite • 15• Central minutes to driveHospitals, to Newcastle Medical Centres, CBD, City Newcastle beaches Entertainmen and Lake Macqt Centreuarie • Park and• Business playground centre opposite 2 blocks away • Central and International to Hospitals, Sports Medical Centre Centres, (ISC) Newcastle Entertainment Centre • Business• Only centre 2 minutes 2 blocks to Charlestown away Square with over 300 stores and• Close International to Charlestown Sports pool Centre and Bowling(ISC) Club • Only 2• minutesWalk to Restaurants to Charlestown – fine Square dining withor take over out 300 stores • Close to Charlestown pool and Bowling Club • Walk to Restaurants – fine dining or take out Designed for security, comfort Designedand convenience for security, comfort andApartment convenience features • Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments Apartment• Electronic features Key Card security and disabled access • Studio,• Secure1, 2, and undercover 3 bedroom parking apartments with elevator from garage area • Electronic• Fully Key equipped Card security kitchen and disabled access • Secure• Individuallyundercover controlled parking withair conditioning elevator from garage area The finest in • Fully equipped• Modern furnishingskitchen short, medium and • Individually• LCD controlledtelevision & air high conditioning speed ADSL2 wireless internet The finest in • Commercial coin operated laundry facilities long stay accommodation • Modern furnishings short, medium and • LCD television & high speed ADSL2 wireless internet • Commercial coin operated laundry facilities long stay accommodation Tel: +61 2 4941 6688 Mob: 0408 826 825 - Graham Turner 45 – 47 DickinsonTel: +61 Street, 2 4941 Charlestown 6688 NSW 2290 Mob: 0408 826 825 - Graham Turner 45 – 47 Dickinson Street, Charlestown NSW 2290 PUBLISHED BY: BUSINESS NEWS Hunter Business Publications Pty Ltd ABN: 15 112 838 945 CONTENTS 265 King Street Newcastle West NSW 2302 PO Box 853, Hamilton NSW 2303 Phone: (02) 4925 7760 Fax: (02) 4925 2570 PUBLISHER and EDITOR: Garry Hardie Mob: 0414 463 125 [email protected] 4 From the Editor ASSISTANT EDITOR: GARRY Lisa Nelson [email protected] 5 Business News PUBLICATIONS MANAGER: Sandie Collie [email protected] 22 Business Advice MARKETING SUPPORT MANAGER: Tel: +61 2 4941 6688 Judy Andrews [email protected] 24 On the move www.charlestownapartments.com.au ADVERTISING MANAGER: Alison Hislop Email: [email protected] LISA [email protected] 29 Business Technology PRINTING: Print National Your home away from home, Phone: (02) 4908 5800 [email protected] 32 On the job in the heart of Charlestown, Newcastle www.printnational.com.au Published monthly (except January) Circulation: 7,000 33 Property www.HBRmag.com.au HUNTER BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS PTY LTD Located north of Lake Macquarie and offers easy access to SANDIE 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 35 Revitalisation of Newcastle business and tourist venues in Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Port Stephens • Central location in a quiet cul-de-sac • 15 minutes drive to Newcastle CBD, City beaches and Lake Macquarie Reproduction in any part 41 Risk Management prohibited without the • Park and playground opposite • Central to Hospitals, Medical Centres, Newcastle Entertainment Centre written consent of the • Business centre 2 blocks away and International Sports Centre (ISC) publisher. While every effort • Only 2 minutes to Charlestown Square with over 300 stores • Close to Charlestown pool and Bowling Club has been made to ensure all 49 Business Services Directory • Walk to Restaurants – fine dining or take out information in this magazine is accurate, no responsibility is accepted by the 50 Funny Business publisher, Hunter Business ALISON Designed for security, comfort Publications Pty Ltd JUDY and convenience Apartment features • Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments • Electronic Key Card security and disabled access • Secure undercover parking with elevator from garage area • Fully equipped kitchen • Individually controlled air conditioning The finest in • Modern furnishings short, medium and • LCD television & high speed ADSL2 wireless internet • Commercial coin operated laundry facilities long stay accommodation We know talent. Chandler Macleod Group, incorporating JuliaRoss, has a database of over 350,000 active candidates in various industry sectors, with 22,000 employees out working on client sites every week. Through our experience with planning, sourcing, assessing, developing and managing talent along with industry intelligence, we know a lot about talent... Contact our Newcastle team on 02 4978 7788 or visit us at Suite 2, Level 1, 97 Hannell Street, Wickham NSW 2293. chandlermacleod.com Tel: +61 2 4941 6688 Mob: 0408 826 825 - Graham Turner HBR JULY 2013 3 45 – 47 Dickinson Street, Charlestown NSW 2290 FROM THE EDITOR he NSW Budget, handed down in June, will have I don’t want to get caught in the rail debate – it has been major impacts on the Hunter. covered and recovered many times. The debate is also TThe privatisation of the Port of Newcastle was not largely redundant now that further plans and funding unexpected, given recent moves at Botany and Port have been announced. Kembla. The final impact this has on the Hunter is still What we should all do, is recognise that change always largely unknown and will be closely watched, particularly presents challenges and opportunities. We all need given the huge contribution the Port makes to both the to get behind the revitalisation of Newcastle and the local and NSW economies. tremendous opportunities that the process is presenting The good news is that nearly half the expected to the “capital of the Hunter”. proceeds of the privatisation has been earmarked for the In the coming years, there will no doubt be many conversion of the heavy rail from Wickham to Newcastle changes and projects that individuals do not entirely with light rail and a transport interchange at the new agree with or should have been done differently. This will Wickham station. always be the case. But what we need to do is see the “bigger picture” and not critically focus on relatively small issues. Whilst feedback is always valid, we must not focus "We are currently at a critical time for on any negatives. Newcastle. It is truly a generational We are currently at a critical time for Newcastle. It is truly a generational opportunity that will decide the face of the opportunity that will decide the face City for decades to come. of the City for decades to come." I am confident that with the unified support of government, business and the community that we will see many tremendously positive changes in coming years. Let us all embrace the possibilities and help make Newcastle a modern, bustling City that we can all be proud of. Garry Hardie Publisher & Editor COMING FEATURES August - Deadline 17 July Hunter Business Function Guide September - Deadline 15 August Human Resources, Mining & Energy Update October - Deadline 16 September PUBLISHER & EDITOR Building & Construction November - Deadline 15 October Manufacturing December - Deadline 15 November Women in Business, Sustainability, Mining & Energy Update GARRY HARDIE GARRY For more information call (02) 4925 7760 or email [email protected] www.HBRmag.com.au 4 HBRHBR AUGUST JULY 2013 2012 BUSINESS NEWS The Advitech Group acquires QLD technology business The Advitech Group has acquired Mackay-based technology business Acubis Technologies Pty Ltd. Acubis specialises in the design and deployment of wireless networks and communication solutions for safety, production, environmental and security applications with a strong history in the mining industry. This latest expansion gives Hunter-based Advitech Group a presence extending from Sydney to North Queensland and into the Central West of NSW. Acubis joins Advitech, Novecom and Hushpak Engineering in an integrated partnership of engineering, science, environment and technology companies. Aaron Pirie (Managing Director of Acubis Technologies), Larry Platt (Advitech Group The Group celebrates 25 years in business this year and Executive Chairman), Michael Neville (Advitech Group Director), Ko Lane (former part the acquisition of Acubis furthers the Group’s vision for owner of Acubis) continued growth as a leader in professional services and the manufacture of specialist equipment and bespoke are on a quest for complementary businesses to expand solutions. our capabilities. Our vision is to be a constantly evolving “It doesn’t stop here,” said Larry Platt, Executive Chairman organisation with all the adaptable skills necessary for the of the Advitech