Griffith to Melbourne air service to commence 15 July 2019*

It’s good news for the Griffith community as Sharp Airlines prepares to commence direct flights between Griffith and Melbourne from Monday 15 July 2019.

Sharp Airlines has partnered with Australian regional airline investment and marketing specialist EastWest Aviation in developing the Melbourne to Griffith service.

Sharp will operate 12 weekly services between Griffith and Melbourne (Essendon) providing over 11,000 seats a year.

Griffith City Council Mayor, John Dal Broi said “I’m pleased direct flights between Griffith and Melbourne will commence shortly. This is an important new service that will benefit the residents of Griffith and surrounding regions. Longevity of this service is dependent on patronage and I encourage businesses and the community to support it.”

Chairperson of the Griffith City Council Transport Committee, Councillor Simon Croce, said the return of Melbourne flights was excellent news for Griffith. “This is an essential transport link for a regional city,” he said.

Sharp Airlines is a Melbourne-based independent regional airline that operates a fleet of 19 seat Fairchild Metroliner 23 turboprop aircraft. Regular scheduled passenger services currently connect Melbourne with King Island, Flinders Island, and Launceston and Burnie with King Island, and Flinders Island.

“Sharp Airlines will commence daily return flights between Griffith and Melbourne from Monday 15 July 2019” said Malcolm Sharp, Sharp Airlines Managing Director. “The Metroliner 23 aircraft seats 19 passengers in comfort, with a flight time of just one hour between Griffith and Melbourne. There is also potential and capacity to increase the frequency of flights if sufficient demand for additional flights becomes evident.”

In addition to Griffith to Melbourne services, over coming months Sharp plans to offer through flights from Griffith to King and Flinders Islands in Tasmania opening up a range of coastal leisure, golfing and adventure opportunities for Riverina residents.

Sharp Airlines operates 15 aircraft servicing 5 States in the Airline and FIFO market and carries over 100,000 passengers and 1.5 million kilograms of freight per annum. With Bases in Adelaide, Melbourne (Essendon), Sydney (Bankstown) Launceston and Hobart our network continues to expand.

For more information, and for the schedule of Sharp Airlines flights operating between Griffith Regional Airport and Melbourne Essendon Airport, please visit www.sharpairlines.com.au or www.eastwestairlines.com.au.

*Subject to regulatory approval

Heston Blumenthal invests in Murray Cod

Wikipedia: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos

Murray Cod Australia has announced the appointment of Michelin starred, Heston Blumenthal and The Fat Duck group, as the business’s key advocate in a five-year agreement. The high profile signing represents a significant milestone for the luxury food producer.

Considered one of the world’s greatest chefs, Blumenthal, OBE, is the Chef Patron of several acclaimed restaurants in Great Britain, including one Michelin star The Hind’s Head, two Michelin star Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in Knightsbridge London and three star The Fat Duck, which earned its first Michelin star in 1999 and The World’s Best Restaurant title in 2005, along with Dinner by Heston Melbourne, located at Southbank, which currently hold two hats in the Australian Good Food Guide.

Along with his team in the UK and Australia, Heston will be a powerful advocate of Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod. He will also look to showcase the sustainable, pond-grown fish including through the group’s social media networks, and where appropriate, at events and in their restaurants. He will also provide assistance and advice with menu and product development.

Ross Anderson, MCA chairman said: “Heston Blumenthal is an outstanding person and a world leader in his field. We are confident the involvement of his group as a stakeholder in MCA will further accelerate our progress in securing Aquna’s position as a global luxury food brand. Heston’s imaginative and inventive ideas will extend to menu and product development and will mesh perfectly with the innovative ethos of the team at MCA,” Mr Anderson said.

Heston Blumenthal, MCA’s new brand ambassador said: “We are delighted to be working with MCA. The innovative way they have created a luxury fish product by combining natural processes evolved over millions of years with cutting edge technology aligns with the way I approach food and cooking, resulting in fantastic quality.”

evokeAG 2020 Future Young Leaders

evokeAG 2020 Future Young Leaders: applications now open

Are you a young Aussie or New Zealander with an informed opinion on how we need to shape our agriculture sector? Do you have what it takes to share your views, on stage, to an international audience? You could be an evokeAG 2020 Future Young Leader. 

As part of our commitment to celebrating the diversity of thought and ongoing support for agriculture’s emerging leaders, we’re excited to announce the evokeAG Future Young Leaders Program is back for our 2020 event. evokeAG is returning to the iconic Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Australia on 18-19 February 2020 and will again showcase the brightest thoughts, inventions and solutions across our agrifood tech industry.

The Future Young Leaders Program will identify eight emerging thought-leaders within agriculture to attend evokeAG in Melbourne 2020 and present their key passion and research relating to one of the event themes – Food, Farm, Future – to an international audience.

Winners will receive return economy airfares, accommodation, airport transfers, a delegate pass to evokeAG as well as a five-minute presentation opportunity across one of the multiple stages at the event.

To be considered, applicants must upload a short video addressing: “Why should you be selected as a voice of the future at evokeAG?”

evokeAG 2019 Future Young Leader Matthew Nevison said the Program is a fabulous opportunity to contribute new conversations to an influential audience.

“I spoke about the opportunity of Australian native species in driving alternative on-farm investment. It was a great opportunity to present my ideas to a room full of people who have the power to drive this change,” said Mr Nevison. 

The University of Sydney student said the event gave him an opportunity to explore the perspectives of different industries and hear from stakeholders right through the supply chain. 

“The networking was fabulous. I’m not originally from an ag background so it was great to meet an entirely new group of people and share ideas and thoughts.”

Another evokeAG. 2019 Future Young Leader Emma Moss was offered a job because of the opportunity.

“After I presented on stage, Will Wells and Jake Willis Fleming from Hummingbird Technologies told me they wanted to keep in touch. I now provide advice to the team on how their technologies will be received by producers.

“evokeAG was a really different event. You don’t just sit around talking about all the problems in agriculture. It’s solutions-focussed and even better, you get an international perspective,” said Ms Moss. 

AgriFutures Australia Managing Director John Harvey said many delegates cited the evokeAG Future Young Leaders’ presentations as the highlight of the event. 

“If we want to create an agile, entrepreneurial and commercially savvy agriculture sector, we need to be open to hearing from a diverse range of people in the industry. The evokeAG Future Young Leaders Program is about harnessing those qualities and elevating our thought leaders to the next level,” said Mr Harvey. 

To apply for the evokeAG 2020 Future Young Leaders Program, visit https://evokeag.com/evokeag-future-young-leaders

To secure your early bird ticket, producer ticket or student ticket, visit https://evokeag.com/#tickets 

Australian Farmer of the Year Awards

The Australian Farmer of the Year Awards are designed to celebrate and applaud the outstanding achievements of those individuals and families making a significant contribution to Australian agriculture, and tell their story about farming and life in rural Australia.

All category winners will get the opportunity to part in a one-day leadership program held in Canberra the day before the announcement ceremony. Supported by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, this workshop will assist award recipients to clarify and guide their leadership journey.

The 2019 award categories include:

• The Kondinin Group and ABC Rural 2019 Australian Farmer of the Year

• Young Farmer of the Year, sponsored by McDonalds

• Farming Legend of the Year

• Community Leader of the Year, sponsored by Market Check

• Rural Consultant of the Year, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience

• Agricultural Student of the Year *NEW*

• Award for Excellence in Innovation, sponsored by Telstra

• Award for Excellence in Technology, sponsored by New Holland

• Award for Excellence in Diversification, sponsored by Decipher

• Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience *NEW*

Winners will be announced at a special ceremony on 16 October 2019 at Parliament House, Canberra.

The 2019 Australian Farmer of the Year Awards are supported by Platinum Sponsors WFI; Award Sponsors McDonalds, Market Check Corteva Agriscience, Telstra, New Holland and Decipher; Leadership Program by Department of Agriculture and Water Resources; Industry Supporters the National Farmers’ Federation, AgSafe, Goldacres and Blundstone; and Media Partner RM William’s OUTback.

Key Criteria:

Nominations are open to individuals and families involved in farming enterprises or rural communities.

Entrants can nominate themselves or be nominated by a third party.

Nominations close Sunday 30th June 2019.

Award recipients must be available from 14 October – 16 October 2019.

Career Revive Initiative: Call for Expressions of Interest

Are you looking for assistance to recruit talented women seeking to return to work?

The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business is undertaking an expression of interest (EOI) process to select 10 businesses across regional Australia to participate in the Career Revive initiative. This is an exciting opportunity for medium to large regional businesses to receive tailored business improvement assistance to increase your organisation’s ability to attract and retain skilled women from a wider talent pool.

How can I participate?

To apply for the EOI click on the following link: https://www.jobs.gov.au/career-revive

To be considered for this opportunity we recommend you complete the EOI as soon as possible as it will only be open until COB Friday, 28 June 2019.

To be eligible to participate in Career Revive, businesses:

1.                   should be a medium to large business (20+ employees)

2.                   must be located in a regional area (including all areas of Tasmania and the Northern Territory and any business operating in multiple locations where one of the locations is a regional town)

3.                   want to strengthen their business recruitment practices to better recruit and retain women. This may include considering flexible working arrangements and/or a supported returner program.

If you have any queries regarding completing the EOI please contact us at CareerRevive@jobs.gov.au or on (02) 6240 9471.

What will you get out of participating?

Businesses who participate in the initiative will benefit from expert advice provided by a Business Improvement Consultant at no cost to them.

The Business Improvement Consultant will:

• review your business’ physical workplace, processes, policies and workplace culture to identify potential barriers that might prevent your business from attracting talented women seeking to return to work

• offer guidance on how to improve these practices and policies, as well as develop a tailored action plan to establish a supported returner program within your business that would make you an employer of choice for women looking to rekindle their careers after an extended career break

• develop a case study of the business for inclusion in an online toolkit that will provide best practice advice, practical resources and learnings for all businesses.

Career Revive team

Australian Government Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business

Phone (02) 6240 9471

CareerRevive@jobs.gov.au

Do you have what it takes to write a hit TV series?

Applications are now open for Screenworks 2019 Writing for TV Intensive, a two-day workshop that will guide participants through key elements fundamental to writing a successful TV drama series.  Open to early career writers living in regional NSW, regional Queensland and Western Australia, 12 selected applicants will develop their skills to enable them to bring their stories from regional Australia to our screens.  

Being held in Byron Bay on 13th and 14th July, the workshop will be delivered by acclaimed screenwriter and tutor Holly Lyons and is supported by Create NSW and Linnaeus Estate Education Fund.  Applicants selected from regional Queensland will be supported by Screen Queensland and Western Australian participants by Screenwest.  The deadline for applications is Monday 17th June 2019.

During the two-day workshop, Holly will guide selected applicants through the processes of how to devise characters, challenge protagonists, develop premise and plot.  This workshop will help writers understand how to apply these skills when developing their own original series, and how to prepare for opportunities in television writers’ rooms.

Holly has extensive screenwriting experience both in Australia and the UK, with over 400 hours of broadcast credits as a writer or script editor.  Holly has worked on numerous and diverse series such as Home and Away, Neighbours, Skinner Boys and Bananas in Pyjamas.

“This is the third year Screenworks has run this Writing for TV Intensive,” explained Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch.  “Previous participants have secured producer and broadcast interest in their projects.  They have also gone on to be selected for our Career Pathways Program which has helped them to achieve their regional screenwriting dreams.  We look forward to supporting another 12 talented participants and seeing where this workshop will take them.”

This opportunity will appeal to early career screenwriters and writers that are interested in pursuing TV drama. 

Applicants must be living in regional NSW, regional Queensland or Western Australia (preference will be given to regional Western Australian applicants) and will be asked to submit a sample of their script writing as part of the application. 

Recognising our Rural Women Volunteers

The outstanding achievements of female volunteers across regional NSW will be recognised as nominations for the 2019 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll officially open.
 
Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall and Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor encouraged members of the community to submit nominations for the Honour Roll, which shines a spotlight on the accomplishments of female volunteers across the regions. 
 
“The annual Hidden Treasures Honour Roll provides well-earned recognition of the outstanding achievements of female volunteers and the invaluable role they play in our regional communities,” Mr Marshall said.
 
“Since the Honour Roll was introduced in 2010, we’ve heard incredible stories of tireless work and achievement from rural volunteers, from boosting educational opportunities to helping communities through events such as drought.”
 
Ms Taylor said the opening of nominations coincides with the 30th annual National Volunteer Week and was a reminder to reflect on the wonderful female volunteers in our community.
 
“As a country woman, I have seen first-hand the way regional women support one another and volunteer in so many capacities, they are the backbone of their communities,” Ms Taylor said.
 
“The theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week is ‘Making a world of difference’ and reflects the impact regional women have, particularly when times are tough.”
 
To nominate a Hidden Treasures volunteer, complete a nomination online or download a nomination form and share a few paragraphs about why your nominee deserves to be recognised. Nominations close 2 August. For more information, contact the Rural Women’s Network on 02 6391 3612 or email rural.women@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Regional Skills Relocation Grants

The NSW Government has established the Regional Skills Relocation Grant to increase the availability of skilled and experienced workers for businesses setting up in, relocating to, or existing in regional NSW.

Grants are available for regional NSW businesses operating in eligible industries to assist with the relocation costs of eligible skilled workers moving from metropolitan areas to regional NSW. Workers must be permanent residents or Australian citizens.

Approved businesses will be reimbursed up to $10,000 to assist with the relocation expenses incurred by the eligible skilled workers they employ. The relocation expenses covered by this grant are: 

• Furniture removal

• Travel for immediate family to relocate

• Temporary accommodation for up to three months

• Furniture storage for up to three months

The program will run for four years, providing 250 grants per year. Examples of eligible industries include: agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, mining and tourism.

Regional Pitchfest

Do you have a great business idea but just not sure where to start to get it off the ground?
The annual Jobs For NSW Regional Pitchfest may assist you to take your idea from a concept to reality through funding, support and connections.

Applications open on 28 May 2019 and close at 5pm AEDT on Tuesday 9th June 2019.
Regional Pitchfest is an opportunity to pitch your business to a live audience and expert panel for the chance to win a share of the $20k competition prize pool. The organisers are looking for regional Australia's innovators and entrepreneurs and are excited to be not only providing them a platform to launch from, but also a spotlight on the great opportunities in regional areas across the country.
The preliminary pitch events are typically hosted in local communities, however this year there are also five Pitching spots available via the Virtual Pitching event.

With at least five Pitching spots available, if you are the lucky winner you will also win a trip to Sydney for a 3 day intensive boot camp and the opportunity to be one of the five finalists to pitch at the State Final.

The top five applicants as selected at the Sydney Bootcamp will then be flown to Wagga Wagga NSW to take the stage on Thursday 5th September, 2019 at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre for their chance to win a $7,500 cash prize plus a curated overseas trip!

RDA Riverina presenting at 2019 SEGRA Conference

SEGRA, Australia’s premier conference on regional issues, is about assisting regional, rural and remote Australia to source and identify the techniques, skills and issues they need to address to achieve successful economic growth and development. The SEGRA conference, established in 1997, provides a unique opportunity for all sections of the Australian community (rural and urban) to explore the key issues affecting regional, rural and remote Australia and be part of providing positive sustainable outcomes to ensure future prosperity.
Rachel Whiting, CEO and Director of Regional Development at RDA Riverina, will be presenting during the session "Integrated lifelong learning and employment in the regions" on Tuesday 20th August. The presentation will discuss the Grow Our Own initiative based in Western Riverina.

Bomen Solar Farm

Renew Estate has announced that two key milestones have been reached for the 120 megawatt (DC) Bomen Solar Farm project located near Wagga Wagga. Spark Infrastructure has acquired 100% of Bomen Solar Farm and the construction contract has been awarded to Beon Energy Solutions. Bomen Solar Farm has also signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Westpac. Under the PPA, Westpac has committed to purchase just over a quarter of the solar farm's output under a 10-year agreement. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said "...it demonstrates yet again that regional Australia is at the leading edge of technology and capable of hosting big projects which have statewide and national benefits."
The farm will require a peak workforce of up to 250 workers during the construction phase and produce energy equivalent to powering 36,000 homes. 

Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail Project Begins

Construction has officially begun on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail project. The project is a pilot for the state and a working model for future rail trails, and has been funded  $5.7 million by the NSW State Government. The 2.2km walking and cycling track is scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2020. Snowy Valleys Council has provided support for the project, expecting it to cement the region as a premium cycling destination.

Deadline for Single Touch Payroll transition extended for small businesses

The Single Touch Payroll (STP) for small business commences on 1st July 2019, however the ATO have extended the deadline to September 2019 to allow for the transition as they understand the impost this has on small business.

The Australian Tax Office is urging small businesses to think about STP, how they will adapt and when they will start the change. Single Touch Payroll is happening and small businesses need to start preparing for it.

How STP works

STP works by sending tax and super information from your payroll or accounting software to the ATO as you run your payroll.

When you start reporting:

• you will run your payroll, pay your employees as normal, and give them a payslip

  • your pay cycle does not need to change (you can continue to pay your employees weekly, fortnightly or monthly)

• your STP-enabled payroll software will send the ATO a report which includes the information they need from you, such as salaries and wages, pay as you go (PAYG) withholding and super information

  • see the ATO employer reporting guidelines for a full list of payments that must be reported through STP.

You will be reporting super liability information through STP for the first time. Super funds will also be reporting to the ATO. They'll let the ATO know when you make the payment to your employees' chosen or default fund. This is an important step toward making sure employees are paid their correct entitlements.

The way STP information is sent will depend on the software you use. STP reporting will be offered in one of the following ways with:

• an end-to-end solution, which allows you to run your payroll and send the STP information directly to the ATO from your software

• a solution which allows you to run your payroll and send the STP information through a third party sending service provider (SSP) which is integrated into your software

• a solution that allows you to run your payroll and requires you to send the STP information through a third party sending service provider (SSP) outside your software.

ATO systems will match the STP information to their employer and employee records.

Your employees will be able to see their year-to-date tax and super information in ATO online services, which can only be accessed through myGov. Their data is updated every time you report (each pay day for most employers). Without STP reporting, employee data is only reported at the end of the financial year.

If you believe that your business will not be ready to start reporting through STP by 30 September 2019, you can contact the ATO to discuss putting a deferral in place.

Wagga to the World: A business seminar on export opportunities

Are you looking to develop new market opportunities and expand your business? Or simply interested in learning more about global trade and exporting?

Wagga Wagga City Council and NSW Department of Industry invites you to attend a free seminar and networking event tailored for businesses in the Riverina-Murray who are interested in export opportunities across the eastern seaboard ports.

The seminar provides access to local, state and national experts in exporting, industry and logistics who will give an overview of global trade and export markets, and answer your questions on everything from initial steps to large-scale exporting.

The Riverina and Murray regions continue to provide growth opportunities for trade & investment with projects.

In Wagga Wagga and the surrounding region jobs, trade & investment opportunities will be created from Wagga Wagga Council’s partnership with Visy Logistics. This partnership will develop the Riverina Intermodal Freight & Logistics (RIFL) hub which will operate on the Inland Rail at Bomen, which has been announced will become a Special Activation Precinct by the NSW Government.

There is also interest in connecting our regional producers to international markets via flights operating to Asia and the Middle East from Canberra Airport.

The day will include information sessions followed by an opportunity for participants to engage with those in the supply chain.

REGISTER here to participate in the Wagga to the World: A business seminar on export opportunities, Wed 1st May 2019.

Lockhart's renewable future

THE Nationals Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has announced $1 million in Federal Government funding through the Community Development Grants Programme for stage one of the Lockhart Renewable Energy Project.

Under the proposal, electricity would be generated locally from renewable energy sources which, combined with battery storage technology, would not only be sufficient to power the town 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but would also generate surplus power which could be sold back into the grid.

“This proposed microgrid demonstration project shows that big things in the area of renewable energy can come from small but innovative places, such as Lockhart,” Mr McCormack said.

“The Government is supporting communities and businesses at all levels to lower energy cost whether it be through backing microgrids, building Snowy Hydro 2.0 or providing grants to local organisations to install rooftop solar panels.”

Lockhart was chosen as the site for the demonstration project because it has a mix of residential, commercial and industrial electricity consumers, as well as public institutions, such as schools and a hospital.

The town is also established in a grid pattern and is NBN connected.

The vision is for Lockhart to remain connected to the main grid – enhancing energy security – while reducing power prices and providing environmental benefits.

“The community, including Lockhart Shire Council, is fully supportive of the project and that is one of the reasons I am right behind it,” Mr McCormack said.

CSIRO pilot study shows inland rail could save $76 per tonne in transport costs

The results from a pilot study looking at the potential transport cost savings available from Inland Rail were announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, on 21 March 2019.

The results demonstrate an average transport cost saving of $76 per tonne, when shifting specific agricultural supply chains from road to Inland Rail.

Key findings:

• Inland Rail could reduce supply chain costs by saving an average of $76 per tonne for horticulture and post-processed food supply chains (compared with transport by road); and $31 per tonne for horticulture products currently transported by rail on the coastal line

• Inland Rail could lead to a reduction in heavy vehicle congestion, with the pilot study finding a reduction of up to 63,000 heavy vehicle trips per year along segments of the Newell Highway

The Pilot Study marks the beginning of two phases of work (to be done sequentially, for two periods of 12 months) that will be applied to the broader Inland Rail corridor, commencing with the southern corridor, from Narromine to Seymour, and then on to the northern corridor, from Narromine to Toowoomba, to obtain even more detailed potential cost savings across a broader range of agriculture and other supply chains.

To read the executive summary or the full report see here.

ATI Riverina: Ready to Launch! Program

Do you have a business idea that you want to grow into a reality?

Applications are now open for the AgriTech Incubator program, Cohort 4.

ATI Riverina: Ready to Launch!

This program will help you take your business, product or service from idea to execution in just 8 weeks. This program is perfect for all kinds of new founders – including those who have a day job or are studying. It's a hands-on, immersive experience that uses Lean Start-up principles, to bring your idea to life. This isn’t a theory program. You will get out of the classroom and into the real world to validate your idea and achieve a deep product fit. Participants will meet and be paired with some of the regions most experienced mentors and have the chance to become part of the dynamic start-up network. You will exit with a business ready to execute not a business plan!

What is involved in the ATI: Ready to Launch program?

The program runs for 8 weeks, commencing on Monday 29th April 2019, with a commitment of 2.5 hours each Monday evening from 6.00pm – 8.30pm on the Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga Campus, concluding with a ‘pitch evening’ on the 17th June 2019.

(Noting: June 10 is a public holiday a replacement class will be held on Tuesday 11 June)

 In between sessions, participants will be encouraged to complete tasks to reach the milestones of that week.

Does my business idea have to be specifically around AgriTech?

No – the ATI team will consider applications from all industries and is open to a diverse range of ideas.

To apply, visit our website https://bit.ly/2HEgzPx. Applications close 8th April at 5.00pm AEST. Limited spaces available.

Individuals and Teams welcome.

"The CSU AgriTech Incubator provided an opportunity to meet with other entrepreneurs in the early stages of their business ventures. We were able to share our journeys, ideas, thoughts, questions and experiences in a supportive environment, and the weekly meetings helped create accountability for our progress throughout the program. This was important for me, because I had been working on my business idea for years but had felt unable to take the next step. At each stage of the program, I was able to address and overcome some of the barriers that had kept my business concept from becoming a reality, and the positive relationship built with my mentor was pivotal in this process. By the end of the eight weeks, I was not only ready to present my pitch, but put the initial phase of my business plan into action."

Jenny Rolfe-Wallace, founder of Sprout Ed and AgriTech Incubator alumni

2019 Local Government Energy and Innovation Conference

Tuesday 26 March 2019

Venue: Conference Room, The Rules Club, Fernleigh Road, Wagga Wagga

Who should attend: Council staff, councillors and the community

The conference will put a focus on the latest innovations in energy generation, energy management and energy efficiency. A wide variety of topics will be covered, providing participants with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge about the sector, hear about some of the amazing innovations that are occurring, and learn how councils and their communities can benefit from them.

Energy management basics training for small business

Free 1 hour energy management training for business

Learn how to:

• Analyse your energy bills

• Understand how your business uses energy

• Identify energy saving opportunities, including no-cost and low-cost solutions

• Access resources and funding that will help you take action

Who should attend?

Small business owners or staff

Locations and dates:

Wagga Wagga April 1 2019
Junee April 1 2019
Narrandera April 2 2019
West Wyalong April 2 2019
Temora April 3 2019
Cootamundra April 3 2019
Gundagai April 4 2019
Tumut April 4 2019

Australian UAV drone services expands into the Riverina

Australian UAV Pty Ltd (AUAV) drone services announced today the continued expansion of its business with a new location in Wagga Wagga, NSW.

In recent years drone data has provided increased efficiency and safety across a wide range of industries. Drone aerial mapping of land and the environment allows for more effective analysis, planning and monitoring over time. Precise and detailed 3D data can record the condition of any site or asset, from heritage items through to maintenance inspections of high-value assets and infrastructure. Digital capture reduces the need for people to travel to site and avoids most work at heights or in hazardous conditions.

The opening of AUAV’s Wagga Wagga office recognises the city’s position as a major regional centre, with a growth rate exceeding the national average and with important new economic developments underway such as the Intermodal Freight & Logistics hub. “We’re excited to be bringing this technology directly into the heart of regional NSW”, says AUAV’s NSW Operations Manager, Andrew Chapman. “We will be able to better service the area, be more responsive to local events, and avoid the travel costs from our Sydney and Melbourne offices”.

Regional areas stand to benefit from drone technology to perhaps an even greater degree than the capital cities, due to the large expanse of land and environment needing to be managed and the distances involved when mobilising engineers and other specialists to project sites. Drones are the perfect way to cover more ground in regions where there are often less staff available. For example a drone aerial survey can typically achieve in an hour what a traditional land survey team would cover in a day.

The expansion also represents a positive move for jobs growth in Wagga Wagga and other regional areas for highly-skilled technical and engineering roles.

In addition to AUAV’s most common inquiries around survey, engineering projects and assisting local councils, it is anticipated there will be specific requirements in the region around irrigation design, flood modelling and environmental management, as well as opportunities to work with the university on development projects and to provide high-quality research data. “CSU has run an innovative teaching and research program in the areas of precision agriculture and remote sensing which have incorporated drone technology for a number of years”, says Dr Remy Dehaan, Senior Lecturer in the School of Agriculture and Wine Sciences. “We’ve done some projects with AUAV in the past and are excited to see them setting up here and look forward to future collaborations. Combined with the university program and Silvertone drone manufacturing, Wagga is now very much a hub for drone innovation in the region.”

The new Wagga Wagga location is helmed by Lachlan Feeney, previously a member of the Australian Defence Force and more recently working with the local branch of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Lachlan has a degree in Environmental and Spatial Science, and is also completing a Masters of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems, making him a perfect fit for AUAV’s work in the area. “I love the Riverina area and in particular our Murrumbidgee River”, says Lachlan. “I’m excited to see what we can achieve working with the local government and industry to take best advantage of this new technology to improve the environment and grow our local economy”.

AUAV is a leading provider of drone flight services and data solutions throughout Australia, with existing offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and regional centres. The company is on a fast-growth trajectory since it was founded in 2013, with a focus on large area drone mapping and the inspection of assets and infrastructure for Top 500 companies and government agencies throughout the country.

For more information contact AUAV’s NSW Operations Manager Andrew Chapman (0488 130 900, andrew.chapman@auav.com.au) or Lachlan Feeney (0417 026 318, lachlan.feeney@auav.com.au).