Pushing ahead with another local economic development initiative designed specifically to capture the tourist market, the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce has produced a series of local Tourist Trails highlighting the essence of what the Northern Illawarra’s coastal villages and surrounds has to offer day-trippers and short stay visitors.
First of its kind for the Northern Illawarra, and categorised in relation to what is understood about why people visit this region, the five individual Trails will be known as Tourist Trails of the Northern Illawarra Coastal Villages and comprise the following:
➢ Art, Antiques and Markets Trail
➢ Café’s and Dining Trail
➢ Outdoor Activities Trail
➢ Natural Treasures Trail
➢ Historical and Local Attractions Trail
Based on tourism growth through the Wollongong region in response to the success that Tourism Wollongong and Tourism NSW has achieved in promoting the region with the Grand Pacific Drive campaign, the Chamber decided to create a tourism product that would give visitors more reasons to spend more time exploring the Northern Illawarra region, rather than only seeing it as a scenic drive, and ultimately driving straight through.
The Tourist Trails of the Northern Illawarra Coastal Villages were created by a dedicated volunteer group of local Chamber business owners who, of course, not only have a passion for the region themselves but a desire to give every visitor a more fulfilling experience while they are here, and plenty of reasons to come back.
What makes the Tourist Trails different to regular visitor guides is that the trip can be planned from start to finish. The entities of each Trail are listed in relation to each other and described, including opening times and contacts, and read with a corresponding location map, enabling the Trails to be taken from north to south or vice versa.
With online links to the Trails from the Chamber’s website, as well as from Visit Wollongong and Grand Pacific Drive websites, they are easily accessed by visitors from their mobile phones when they arrive, or can be downloaded in print form before they leave home.
It is envisaged that these Tourist Trails may become a template for other Business Chamber’s, or interested organisations, to develop similar such Trails in other South coast regions.
The Tourist Trails of the Northern Illawarra Coastal Villages can be found at http://www.nicc.net.au/touristtrails.php
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For further information contact Lynda Starkey, Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. PO Box 396 Helensburgh NSW 2508.
The Northern Illawarra Chamber is committed to helping its small business community, and in its ongoing endeavour to provide valuable added benefits to all of its members, the Chamber also aims not only to continue to promote a Buy Local mindset within the community, it will reward them.
Following the success last year of the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce’s Easter Stimulus promotion that generated in excess of $20,000 revenue into the local Northern Illawarra economy, with the winner receiving $900 to spend in any of its member businesses, the Chamber of Commerce will once again run its Easter Buy Local stimulus promotion but this year will increase the winning prize to $1000.
The Buy Local promotion and will run from 1 April to 30 April 2010 encouraging people to spend $20 or more in any Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce business. Every transaction of $20, or more, made at any NICC member business will entitle them to one entry, so the more often people spend the more chances they have to win the $1000.
The winning entry will be drawn at Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce General Meeting on Tuesday 4th May, the winner then having 6 months, until the 31st October 2010, to spend $1000 worth of $20 gift vouchers at any NICC member business choosing either to spend $20 at 50 individual NICC business or $1000 entirely in one NICC business.
10,000 promotional flyers will be mailed directly to every home in the Northern Illawarra by the end of March with a full list of participating member business located between Helensburgh and Bulli. Additionally, participating retail businesses will be identified either by the NICC logo sticker displayed in their shopfront window, or in the case of service industry businesses, can be found listed in full on the NICC website at www.nicc.net.au.
Any non –member business that would like to participate in this initiative, should contact Greg Watts at the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce on 4294 1008.
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For further information please contact Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. PO Box 396 Helensburgh NSW 2508.
Issued by: Lynda Starkey, Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. Media Liaison Mobile: 0408 623 420media@nicc.net.au
‘After over 8 months of lobbying by the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce the telephone directory arm of Telstra, Sensis has agreed to reinstate the UBD maps and street directory for the Wollongong suburbs north of Towradgi back into the 2010 hard copy edition of the Yellow Pages Wollongong Telephone Directory.’
‘For reasons as to why the suburbs had been left out of the Yellow Pages Wollongong UBD map is still unknown, but the residents of the Northern Illawarra suburbs and coastal villages north from Towradgi through to Helensburgh can now be assured that have been reinstated as part of Wollongong.’
‘In 2009, the Chamber was approached by Austinmer’s Sur la Mer Bed & Breakfast business owner Rosemary Goldman to find out why the northern suburbs and coastal villages had been omitted from the Directory Map. As a free location reference guide for local businesses and residents the omission was becoming very infuriating and somewhat insulting. ‘
‘Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Ian Pepper, said “the Chamber saw this as an opportunity not only to make a stand for the recognition of our region’s importance in this medium, but more importantly to demonstrate to our members an example of the Chamber’s value in providing a voice for the local community. It might have taken over 8 months for us to get the answer we needed, but it was worth the perseverance.” said Mr Pepper.’
‘Sensis has assured the Chamber that the reinstatement of the northern suburbs UBD map and street directory will be seen in the April edition of the 2010 Yellow Pages telephone directory.’
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For further information contact Lynda Starkey, Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. PO Box 396 Helensburgh NSW 2508.
Issued by: Lynda Starkey. Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. Media Coordinator Mobile: 0408 623 420 media@nicc.net.au http://www.nicc.net.au
13 November 2009
For Immediate Release
Adopt a Buy Local Mindset
‘The Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce would like to once again remind residents in the Northern Illawarra region of the importance of supporting the business community through out the Christmas season, and Buy Local.’
‘There are around 700 small to medium sized businesses in the Northern Illlawarra alone and it is only a matter of people checking local business directories like the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce's "Where You Need To Be" Business Directory or NIO's Northern Illawarra Business Directory and people will be amazed at the choices on offer.“
‘The Northern Illawarra region between Helensburgh and Thirroul is fortunate to have a wide range of speciality giftware shops, adventure sports, fashion boutiques and beauty shops, grocery and other general stores to select from when shopping for presents and staples for the Christmas season.’
By getting into the habit of checking to see if what you need is available locally first, before you think about taking your business elsewhere. “If you adopt the mindset of looking to shop locally first, then you are more likely to decide to buy locally.” says Chamber President, Pauline Lacelles-Smith.’
‘“Adopting the Buy Local mindset for all of your purchases will directly benefit not only the business community of the Northern Illawarra but will have a flow-on effect on the whole community” says Chamber President, Pauline Lacelles-Smith.
“So take another look at what our local small business community has to offer first before making the decision to shop outside the region. Here are just some ideas of what you can buy where this Christmas in our local region.”
Mum Handbag from Scarletts of Thirroul
Brother Harley Ride with Just Cruisin’ Motorcycle Tours
Dad Hanggliding voucher from Warren Windsports
Best Friend Scented body lotion and candle from Nest
Sister Silk scarf from Oat and Honey
In Laws Dinner for two at Bistro 345
Grandmother John Vander print from Articles Fine Art Gallery
Grandfather Mens Only Gift Hamper from Indulgent Corporate Gifts
Niece Jewellery from PD Gallery and Roy Jewellery
You A new party dress for under $99 from Fashion Only
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For further information contact Lynda Starkey, Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. PO Box 396 Helensburgh NSW 2508.
Issued by: Lynda Starkey. Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. Media Coordinator Mobile: 0408 623 420 media@nicc.net.au http://www.nicc.net.au
14 September 2009
For immediate Release
New Life for Neglected Sign
Visitors to Stanwell Park village centre shops will now easily be able to locate local shops, cafes, accommodation, businesses as ATM’s, toilets and service stations in the immediate area, as a result of the work done by the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce’s reinvigoration and rebranding of the old Stanwell Park Village Directory sign.
The neglected and sadly out of date Village Directory sign has been prey to graffiti and other vandals over time, as its original ownership and upkeep by RTA fell by the wayside.
As an important service both to visitors to our region, and a value added benefit to our Stanwell Park Chamber members as well as for other local non-member businesses, the Chamber of Commerce was successful in taking over ownership of the sign, and injecting into it, new life and functionality.
The sign has had a major makeover with new banner signs, new locator grid map and an easily updatable directory casement. While Chamber members automatically receive a fully maximised listing on the sign, non-member businesses in Stanwell Park and Stanwell Tops have also been included to ensure that the Village Directory is fully comprehensive
The Chamber is in the process of doing a feasibility of implementing similar signage in the other Northern Illawarra coastal villages of Thirroul, Austinmer and Helensburgh town centres.
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For further information contact Lynda Starkey, Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. PO Box 396 Helensburgh NSW 2508.
Issued by: Lynda Starkey. Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. Media Coordinator Mobile: 0408 623 420 media@nicc.net.au http://www.nicc.net.au
31 August 2009
For Immediate release
Chamber Calls for Vigilance
The Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce (NICC) support Sergeant Drury, Sector Supervisor and the Helensburgh Police, in their efforts to curb antisocial behavior and crime in the Helensburgh area.
The NICC would also like to call on more support from local residents and the community in these efforts to be vigilant in reporting any potential antisocial activites. It also seems antisocial behaviour from underage drinkers is becoming accepted in the community to the degree that some local residents appear to be undermining efforts by police to discourage this behaviour.
The impact this is having on local businesses and their staff is significant. It has been reported that younger staff, particularly female, are so concerned about leaving their work premises after hours that they are often escorted by male staff to their cars for fear of being abused by underage drinkers loitering around the Helensburgh CBD.
The NICC appeals to the community and local residents, to report any antisocial activity immediately to Wollongong police so that remedial action can be taken.
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For further information contact Pauline Lacelles-Smith, President, Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. PO Box 396 Helensburgh NSW 2508. P(02) 4294 1243
The Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce is putting it’s support behind member business owner, Shaz Harrison-Shaw of Pure Wipes, who has registered her very own Clean Up Australia Day, Illawarra Pure Clean Up on Sunday 16 August, in a bid to purify some of Northern Illawarra’s precious beaches and surrounding coastline.
Northern Illawarra beaches are not only our showpiece for the many visitors to travel to our region, they represent our culture and the lifestyle for everyone who lives here. It is only fair that we take a part in helping to keep them pristine.
Illawarra PURE Clean Up will take place on Sunday 16 August between 11.00am and 1.30pm and everyone in the community is encouraged to participate,
Participants can choose from either of two locations to start their clean up - Sharkey’s Beach car park at Coledale at the northern end OR Sandon Point car park at Bulli at the southern end.
The clean up will continue either northwards or southwards depending on your starting point, walking along the beaches and nearby grassy areas, until you meet in the middle at your final destination, Austinmer Beach. Shaz will have a FREE sausage sizzle waiting for you!
Garbage bags and gloves will be provided to each person at the commencement of the clean, and being an environmentally- friendly cleaning product, Pure Wipes will be on hand on the day to clean yourselves up afterwards and everyone who lends a helping hand receives a participation certificate and a Pure Wipes sample to take home!
Not heard of Pure Wipes? They are a 100 % biodegradable dried and compressed cotton made into a 5 cent sized 'tablet’. Just a few drops of any liquid instantly transforms them into an ample super lightweight 22 x 24cm personal wipe or cleaning cloth.
For further information contact Shaz Harrison-Shaw Director, Pure Wipes, P.O Box 116 Thirroul 2515 m: 0404 474 880 W: www.purewipes.com.au
8 July 2009
For Immediate release
Federal Member Addresses Small Business
Sharon Bird, Federal Member for Cunningham, addressed members of the small business community last night as the guest of the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce at their July General Meeting.
Members of the Chamber were given the opportunity to put forward questions in advance of the meeting to Ms Bird in a bid to hone in on specific Federal Government issues affecting small business in particular.
Business owners were able to express their concerns in regards to the impacts and difficulties facing small business in regards to Paid Parental Leave entitlements; and the delays in the Federal Government’s rollout of high speed broadband for our region.
Ms Bird was able to clarify some of the misunderstandings of the Federal Government’s new 50% investment tax rebate; and reiterated to members the advantages there were to be had for small businesses when opting for reduced Pay as You Go tax installments.
Ms Bird was helpful in directing the Chamber to a local Group Training Organisation who could provide immediate access for small businesses seeking to share apprentices with other small businesses; and to a potential local funding program to assist in the Chamber to lobby for financial relief for Northern Illawarra small businesses to meet the costs of installing their own CCTV cameras.
Overall Ms Bird’s opinion of the health of our region was that it has ‘held up well’. With Retail the largest business sector in the Illawarra, Ms Bird said that the cash stimulus payments created a positive outlook for the consumer and this has been reflected in many businesses stating that generally they aren’t doing any worse than before the global crash, and other saying that they are actually doing better.
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For further information contact Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce. PO Box 396 Helensburgh NSW 2508.
