Resort Management Sales Industry Blog

Nominations for the 2015 Sunshine Coast Australia Day Awards closed at 5.00pm on Friday 12 December 2014. Winners will be announced at a special ceremony at Lifepointe Baptist Church in Buderim on Friday 23 January 2015. All nominees and nominators will be notified directly by council over the coming week. Council holds annual Australia Day Awards. These awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups in the region.  Categories are: Citizen of the Year  sponsored by Seven Local News Young Citizen of the Year  sponsored by University of the Sunshine Coast Senior Citizen of the Year  sponsored by Maroochy RSL Community - group or organisation  sponsored by Sunshine Coast Daily Sport and Recreation  sponsored by Sunshine Coast Sports Federation Creative  sponsored by TAFE Queensland East Coast Environment  sponsored by Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast

Like all regions across Australia, there is the risk of a disaster or emergency happening on the Sunshine Coast. If you are fit and healthy, it is your responsibility to be prepared.  Emergency contacts Call 000 for the police, ambulance or fire brigade in a life threatening situation. Call 132 500 for SES assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees or damage to your roof. Call council on (07) 5475 7272 to report problems with council service or infrastructure, such as roads covered by water or fallen trees/debris etc. Call Unitywater on 1300 Unity (1300 086 489) to report water or sewerage service outages and damage to infrastructure. More  emergency contacts .

The Sunshine Coast Business Gateway connects local businesses to projects and procurement opportunities – and vice versa – right here on the Sunshine Coast. Council has partnered with the Industry Capability Network (ICN) to deliver this platform as another step in ensuring the Sunshine Coast remains a great place to do business. Sunshine Coast businesses of all sizes are encouraged to create and maintain an online profile in the Business Gateway to ensure they are considered for contracts and kept up-to-date on work opportunities across the region. Project managers looking for contractors can register their projects valued at $200,000 or more for free on the Gateway. This allows them to easily select local companies that have the right skills and capacity to work on a project. To list your project complete the  Project Planning Form  [DOC 350KB] and email to economicdevelopment@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au  

Imagine a fast, frequent, high quality light rail service on the Sunshine Coast! Help transform the Sunshine Coast and have your say on light rail. Lightrail could help protect lifestyle and values for current and future generations by offering a real alternative to the private car for some trips. It runs on electricity, not oil, emits no air pollution at the source, and the electricity it uses generates much less carbon per passenger kilometre than car travel. A future with less cars is a future with more sustainable lifestyle choices. Don't miss your chance to get involved in the light rail project and be part of the future of the Sunshine Coast. Add your thoughts and ideas to the first  Sunshine Coast Light Rail discussion forum  and  take 10 seconds to complete our quick poll . Have your say and  GET INVOLVED  in Sunshine Coast Light Rail! Click here to view the  Sunshine Coast Light Rail - Shaping Our Future (External link)  document.

Ride2Work Day is a national event that promotes cycling as a legitimate form of transport for travelling to and from the workplace. Held annually, it not only acknowledges those that regularly commute by bicycle, but also encourages others to try riding to work for a day. Such events have proven to be a great catalyst for change, helping people move from contemplation to action and establish the habit of riding to work. Council is hosting a Ride2Work event on Wednesday 15 October 2014. The event will consist of 2 Celebratory Breakfast locations from 6.00 am to 8.00 am: Cotton Tree Park - Cotton Tree Esplanade, Maroochydore Felicity Park - Bulcock Street, Caloundra Participants who  Register for Ride2Work Day 2014  are eligible to share in a complimentary breakfast and be in the draw for $1,000 bike shop voucher. Although participants may choose to ride their own route to their workplace or to the breakfast locations, TravelSmart are coordinating three fully guided grou

The Sunshine Coast Performance and Community Venues Service Plan 2014-2019 looks at how to bring the best value of performance and community venues to the region over the next fifteen years. The plan aims to provide a clear direction for six of council’s key performance and community venues: Nambour Civic Centre The Events Centre Caloundra Lake Kawana Community Centre Coolum Civic Centre Kawana Community Hall Beerwah and District Community Hall. The plan contains desired outcomes to guide the future form and function of the six key performance and community venues: The Sunshine Coast region is serviced by an efficient network of performance and community venues, which are well located and accessible to the community. The usage of Sunshine Coast performance and community venues is maximised. Sunshine Coast Council venues are designed and equipped to be resourceful, and to offer a high quality experience for the community. Venues which are owned and/or managed by Suns

Sunshine Coast won the right to host the first-ever IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event in the Southern Hemisphere.  The half-marathon event is one of the most popular of its kind around the world and will attract global participation and a global audience.Hosting the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Mooloolaba would further elevate the Sunshine Coast’s sporting event reputation to an international forum. Hosting this event will bring yet another massive boost to local economy as Sunshine Coast continue to raise profile and aim to become Australia’s premier regional events destination.

The Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area has reached a significant milestone with the State Government approving the project’s development scheme. Maroochydore City Centre would be instrumental in building and strengthening the Sunshine Coast region. This major development, which will be delivered over the next 25 years, will provide a mix of residential, commercial, retail, civic and community uses to create a thriving and vibrant business district and city centre, complementing and enhancing Maroochydore’s existing business offering. The project will deliver much needed infrastructure to the Sunshine Coast community and create significant opportunities for economic development and employment. The Maroochydore City Centre will be instrumental in building and strengthening the region. The master planning process has also identified entertainment and convention facilities, community facilities and meeting spaces, parklands, walkways, recreation areas and waterways

The fun run with a difference, The Swisse Color Run, is coming back to the Sunshine Coast for the second year running – and 12,000 tickets are now on sale for the October 12 event. One of the greatest things about this event is that it’s something for all fitness levels and all ages – it’s perfect for a family day out. This year’s event will include new course elements. The event, dubbed the ‘Happiest 5k on the Planet’, will be staged at council’s Stockland Park and nearby Lake Kawana, and will be followed by a colourful ‘Finish Festival’.

Council adopted the 2014/15 budget at a special meeting on 26 June 2014. This is a budget that: capitalises on opportunities builds confidence for a stronger community continues to achieve our vision to become the most sustainable region in Australia with a sustainable economy, a sustainable environment and a sustainable community. The budget was developed in conjunction with: council’s  Operational Plan 2014/15  [PDF 598KB] and in accordance with council’s  Financial Sustainability Plan 2010-2020  [PDF 2.9MB] Budget snapshot balanced budget—$509 million $114 million Capital Works Program general rate increase of 5% no increase to general levies pensioner discount continues, about $3.1 million early payment discount continues, about $7.5 million.

WHERE: Complete Property Training Office, Unit 5, Capital One Building, Capital Place, Birtinya Qld DATE:  The next Seminar is planned for Wednesday 28th May 2014 TIME:  6.00pm to 7.00pm COST:  Free of charge - sponsored by MRE Management Rights Seminar nights provide general information on this exciting and rewarding industry, with expert guest speakers from the areas of Accounting, Law, Finance, Training and Experienced Managers telling it like it is. Phone 07 5444 7966 / 0407 594 142 to contact John Hellyer for bookings or send an email to  info@managementsales.com

Free WiFi is available across the Coast. It has been available as part of a trial since December 2012. The initial 12 month trial was extended for another 12 months. In the first 15 months of the trial the WiFi was used 500,000 times by around 90,000 different people. There are signs in areas with free WiFi - they have blue and yellow writing on a sky background and say ‘Free WiFi Sunshine Coast’. It is easy to log in - just follow the on-screen instructions.  Partners Council has partnered with local company Big Air Community Broadband to provide free WiFi broadband. Big Air currently delivers a similar WiFi service in more than 124 locations around Australia. Locations The free WiFi is available at 36 hotspots in 23 locations: council’s libraries and galleries council’s tourist parks at Coolum, Mooloolaba (2), Maroochydore, Cotton Tree and Mudjimba council courtyards at Caloundra and Nambour Cotton Tree and Coolum business precinct open spaces Mooloolaba Espl

Leaving the car at home and travelling by bike is great for your health and great for the environment. Sunshine Coast students are urged to adopt a two-wheeled mode of transport on 19 March 2014 for National Ride2School Day. The event is Australia’s largest celebration of active travel to school, involving thousands of school kids each year. Schools within the Sunshine Coast Council region that register their participation before 19 March 2014 will be eligible to win a number of prizes, including: 1 st    Prize - $500 voucher at a bike shop of your choice 2 nd  Prize - $200 voucher at a bike shop of your choice 3 rd  Prize - $100 voucher at a bike shop of your choice

Sunshine Coast Council is sending out a reminder to the community to have their say on the proposed development scheme for the Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area. Regional Projects Portfolio Councillor Tim Dwyer said time is running out for the community to look at the proposed scheme and provide their feedback. The community is encouraged to have a say on the proposed development scheme, as the Priority Development Area in Maroochydore will be instrumental in building and strengthening the region. The city heart of the Sunshine Coast at Maroochydore will be delivered over the next 20 years, with early staging intended to deliver major roadways, community infrastructure and future transport outcomes. The proposed development scheme is on public notification until Monday, March 17 and the community is invited to view and comment on the scheme. Visit council’s  website  to view the development scheme and to have your say.

The success of international Air New Zealand flights to and from Auckland in 2012 and 2013 has resulted in a strong commitment from the airline for future direct services.  Over the next three years, the length of seasonal services will be extended and frequency increased. The 2014 season will again run from June to October, with three flights a week during the peak period on Sundays, Tuesdays and a new Friday service added. The remainder of the season offers twice weekly flights on Sundays and Fridays. Next year will involve 42 return trips over 17 weeks, with the 2015/16 season extending to 28 weeks and the 2016/17 season at 30 weeks from June to January. The 2014 season commences on Friday 27 June.

The results of the latest Sunshine Coast Business Confidence Survey show a vast improvement in local business confidence when compared to results six months ago. Mayor Mark Jamieson said the survey results are a positive spark of optimism reflecting some of the national data coming through in recent times. “The strongest sign of local business confidence in recent times was demonstrated in the forecasts over the coming six months, with 61% of Sunshine Coast businesses saying they expect trading conditions to be either ‘somewhat or much stronger,” said the Mayor. “However it has been a tough couple of years, with many businesses hurting for some time, so let’s all get behind this recovery to help it truly take off.” A closer look at the survey data revealed that local businesses expect business performance to improve on the back of stronger profitability, and to a lesser extent increased capital expenditure.  Each time the survey is conducted it tackles one of the big issues