Weekly news from the Bellingen Chamber – 9 June 2020

Business link-up – Wednesday 10 June

A reminder to join us for our weekly Zoom catch up. Click here just before 8am to join.
To join by phone please call 02 8015 6011 and enter the meeting ID: 558 434 683
This week, Dr Hilary Cadman will lead a discussion about doughnut economics and how this might apply to our own local economy.  This theory of economics raises the question of how we can build a just economic system that allows us to thrive while preserving the planet.
Hilary will ask us to consider how these ideas can contribute to our input to the draft Local Strategic Planning Statement, which we’ll be talking about next week (see below).

COVID-19 Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement – next week’s Zoom topic

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) for the Shire is now available on the Council’s Create website.
Next week’s special guest for our weekly Zoom meeting will be Daniel Bennett, Senior Strategic Planner with Bellingen Shire Council. Daniel will be talking to us about the draft LSPS, and explaining how we can provide feedback to Council to assist with finalising this important document.
It would be very helpful if you are able to review this draft document before next week’s meeting – click here to access the draft document
The Chamber of Commerce, the Bellingen Co-Working Group and the Centre for Ecological Learning contributed to the development of the draft LSPS by participating in a series of workshops, and identifying priorities and ideas for inclusion.

Negotiation with your landlord (commercial): Business Australia Webinar – 11 am Wednesday, 10 June

The Government has announced a range of measures to help commercial renters during COVID-19. These include a temporary hold on evictions as well as a mandatory code of conduct for commercial tenancies to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by coronavirus.
This session aims to help you understand:

• -Types of documentation a party can ask the other to provide
• -The meaning of “good faith” negotiations
• -What to consider if the parties cannot agree on the operation of the lease during the pandemic period.

The presenter is Warwick La Hood, Director – Property with Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors. Warwick’s specialty is property law, particularly focusing on leasing for businesses. Warwick is a strong advocate for fair and balanced relationships between landlord and tenant.
Click here to register for the webinar..

Partnering with the Rotary Club of Bellingen

The Rotary Club of Bellingen undertakes a range of small but vital projects that benefit the community. They are keen to work with the Bellingen Chamber of Commerce to support our efforts in growing our local economy.
They have asked for our members to respond to their survey questions (below), to help them decide on our local project activities for the coming year and perhaps beyond. Please copy and paste the questions into an email, then send your completed survey responses to Libby Park at president@bellingenchamber.com.au and she will forward them to the Rotary Club.
Q1. What types of projects do you think Bellingen Rotary should be investigating and prioritising?
a. Community facilities (eg: picnic sheds, boardwalks, signage, pathways for safe use and exercise)?  Comments:
b. Supporting regular and ongoing beautification and landscaping, (eg: lawn-mowing and gardening of community spaces)? Comments:
c.  Building knowledge and skills through supporting education programs? Comments:
d. Developing and supporting local services and experiences (eg: festivals, media services)? Comments:
e. Other (please provide details) Comments:
Q2. Of the areas in question, could you please list your top three priorities (as 1 to 3, with 1 being your highest priority and so on). Comments:
Q3. Do you know of any specific projects Rotary could be involved in? Please list them here and provide your comments
The Rotary Club’s Defibrillator Project
Thank you to those members who recently provided feedback to the Rotary Club about their defibrillator project. The club has asked whether our members could vote for their project through  Essential Energy’s Community Choices grant, which they have applied for – click here to vote.