Published Thursday, 17 May, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Regional business continues to benefit from Cyclone Larry funding
Four more Far North Queensland businesses will be assisted by $66,800 in State Government grants announced this week.
Acting State Development Minister and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said businesses in Mission Beach, Millaa Millaa, Atherton and Stratford are the latest to benefit under the Cyclone Larry Special funding program.
More than $3 million is expected to be distributed over the coming year to businesses and regions affected by last year’s disaster.
Dawsons Engineering, Stratford - $21,000
Dawson’s Engineering will be boosted by a $21,000 grant after a double blow from Cyclone Larry.
“The closure of the road network meant the company lost a number of current and prospective contracts and then the shortage of skilled workers worsened when skilled tradesmen were attracted to the lucrative offers made as part of the reconstruction effort,” she said.
“The grant will enable the company to implement a quality assurance program to establish high standard procedures and systems for the operation, administration, human resources and workplace health and safety of the company.
“Funding will also help develop a website that can not only raise the company’s profile but act as a commercial outlet for the business.
“These elements will help to strengthen the company and support its plans to expand into Charters Towers and target the mining regions of the North West Mineral Province and the Mackay/Bowen.”
Mission Beach Information Station, Mission Beach - $8,976
Ms Boyle said the Mission Beach Information Station will receive $8976 to upgrade its website and become a focal point for tourist bookings and information in the north.
“The Station is a wonderful resource for the local tourism industry, acting as a shop front and key marketer for 20 businesses in Mission Beach,” she said.
The grant will enable owner operators Kerrie Morgan and Steve Howard to build a stronger web presence and become the primary booking agent for local operators using the national V3 e-commerce program “Book Tropical Australia” being rolled out by Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
“I expect the Station will become a regional leader in the development of the program and really help inject new life into our tourism industry,” Ms Boyle said.
Mungalli Creek Dairy, Millaa Millaa - $18,400
North Queensland’s only certified Biodynamic ( chemical free) dairy farm, Mungalli Creek Dairy will receive $18,400 to develop new products and expand its marketing activities.
“The dairy’s factory was closed for two weeks after the cyclone, its store didn’t reopen until November and its new tourism venture that had only just opened at the time of Larry – the “Out of the Whey” tea house - is still waiting on a new roof,” Ms Boyle said.
“With lost sales and a drop in milk production of 25% in the four months after Larry the dairy really needed a boost.
“It not only wants to guarantee a future for its 14 full-time and 9 casual staff but also build the business to employ 30 staff in the future.”
Ms Boyle said the majority of the funding would help the company develop new products.
“Mungalli Creek Dairy is earning quite a reputation for its uniquely flavoured biodynamic yoghurts and cheeses – it’s a point of difference that works to its advantage and certainly gives them an edge in the marketplace,” she said.
The remainder of the funding will enable the company to build a website, source distributors to take its products to new markets and investigate the possibility of exporting.
Wilkinsons Blacksmiths, Atherton - $18,470
Ms Boyle said engineering firm Wilkinsons Blacksmiths will receive $18,470 to reposition the business to attract work from the mining and defence sectors.
“The company has a long history of providing engineering, blacksmithing and fitting services to the agricultural, construction and tourism industries in North Queensland,” she said.
“It also has a purpose-built workshop that produces and distributes springs and suspension equipment particularly for the 4WD/tourism market.
“The company has realised that it cannot continue to concentrate its business so heavily on the agricultural sector and there are opportunities in mining and defence if it can sell itself well.”
Ms Boyle said a new marketing plan and website will help the company diversify into new markets, attract new customers and reduce its reliance on the agricultural sector.
Organisation contacts:
Mission Beach Information Station – Kerrie Morgan 40688699
Mungalli Creek Dairy – Robert Watson 40972232 ext 5
Wilkinsons Blacksmiths – John Wilkinson 40911833
Dawsons Engineering – Sharon Dawson 40551900 or 0419021280
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349
Ms Boyle’s media contact: Mark Symons 3224 7081
17 May, 2007
Acting State Development Minister and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said businesses in Mission Beach, Millaa Millaa, Atherton and Stratford are the latest to benefit under the Cyclone Larry Special funding program.
More than $3 million is expected to be distributed over the coming year to businesses and regions affected by last year’s disaster.
Dawsons Engineering, Stratford - $21,000
Dawson’s Engineering will be boosted by a $21,000 grant after a double blow from Cyclone Larry.
“The closure of the road network meant the company lost a number of current and prospective contracts and then the shortage of skilled workers worsened when skilled tradesmen were attracted to the lucrative offers made as part of the reconstruction effort,” she said.
“The grant will enable the company to implement a quality assurance program to establish high standard procedures and systems for the operation, administration, human resources and workplace health and safety of the company.
“Funding will also help develop a website that can not only raise the company’s profile but act as a commercial outlet for the business.
“These elements will help to strengthen the company and support its plans to expand into Charters Towers and target the mining regions of the North West Mineral Province and the Mackay/Bowen.”
Mission Beach Information Station, Mission Beach - $8,976
Ms Boyle said the Mission Beach Information Station will receive $8976 to upgrade its website and become a focal point for tourist bookings and information in the north.
“The Station is a wonderful resource for the local tourism industry, acting as a shop front and key marketer for 20 businesses in Mission Beach,” she said.
The grant will enable owner operators Kerrie Morgan and Steve Howard to build a stronger web presence and become the primary booking agent for local operators using the national V3 e-commerce program “Book Tropical Australia” being rolled out by Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
“I expect the Station will become a regional leader in the development of the program and really help inject new life into our tourism industry,” Ms Boyle said.
Mungalli Creek Dairy, Millaa Millaa - $18,400
North Queensland’s only certified Biodynamic ( chemical free) dairy farm, Mungalli Creek Dairy will receive $18,400 to develop new products and expand its marketing activities.
“The dairy’s factory was closed for two weeks after the cyclone, its store didn’t reopen until November and its new tourism venture that had only just opened at the time of Larry – the “Out of the Whey” tea house - is still waiting on a new roof,” Ms Boyle said.
“With lost sales and a drop in milk production of 25% in the four months after Larry the dairy really needed a boost.
“It not only wants to guarantee a future for its 14 full-time and 9 casual staff but also build the business to employ 30 staff in the future.”
Ms Boyle said the majority of the funding would help the company develop new products.
“Mungalli Creek Dairy is earning quite a reputation for its uniquely flavoured biodynamic yoghurts and cheeses – it’s a point of difference that works to its advantage and certainly gives them an edge in the marketplace,” she said.
The remainder of the funding will enable the company to build a website, source distributors to take its products to new markets and investigate the possibility of exporting.
Wilkinsons Blacksmiths, Atherton - $18,470
Ms Boyle said engineering firm Wilkinsons Blacksmiths will receive $18,470 to reposition the business to attract work from the mining and defence sectors.
“The company has a long history of providing engineering, blacksmithing and fitting services to the agricultural, construction and tourism industries in North Queensland,” she said.
“It also has a purpose-built workshop that produces and distributes springs and suspension equipment particularly for the 4WD/tourism market.
“The company has realised that it cannot continue to concentrate its business so heavily on the agricultural sector and there are opportunities in mining and defence if it can sell itself well.”
Ms Boyle said a new marketing plan and website will help the company diversify into new markets, attract new customers and reduce its reliance on the agricultural sector.
Organisation contacts:
Mission Beach Information Station – Kerrie Morgan 40688699
Mungalli Creek Dairy – Robert Watson 40972232 ext 5
Wilkinsons Blacksmiths – John Wilkinson 40911833
Dawsons Engineering – Sharon Dawson 40551900 or 0419021280
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349
Ms Boyle’s media contact: Mark Symons 3224 7081
17 May, 2007