Within the Cessnock Local Government Area there are currently four active Chambers of Commerce, an incorporated Tourism Association and an industry group representing the viticulture industry. The Lower Hunter Business Enterprise Centre and Business Incubator is located at Kurri Kurri. Council works closely with all of these groups on a range of projects and partnerships resulting in the establishment of strong communication channels with the business community.
Strong ties are maintained with the Newcastle office of the NSW Department of State and Regional Development and the Hunter Economic Development Corporation.
Bus-Net Breakfasts are held by Cessnock City Council providing an opportunity for business people to network, catch up on local business news, be entertained and informed by a guest speaker and enjoy a delicious breakfast at one of the area’s many restaurants, clubs, conference and tourist facilities.
With the assistance of the Lower Hunter Business Enterprise Centre, Cessnock Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, Kurri Kurri Chamber of Commerce, Lovedale Chamber of Commerce and Wollombi Chamber of Commerce, the venues for the breakfast meetings rotate within the Vineyards, Cessnock and Kurri Kurri areas.
View the Bus-Net Breakfast factsheet.
You can register for the Bus-Net Breakfast or obtain more details by telephoning Council on 4993 4210.
The answer is simple - anything you want! At Cessnock there are jobs that last as little as one hour and/or committees you can work with for years. The things you can do cover a wide range. Here are some examples, great and small, that volunteers do:
Anything you can do is important. The best way to find something that works for you is to talk to a member of Council Staff in the Marketing and Economic Development Unit, a member of Towns With Heart or the Hunter Valley Business Enterprise Centre. Members of the Marketing and Economic Development Unit are involved in and have a sound understanding of strategic local and regional issues and are also involved with numerous tourism and development related initiatives to assist you in identifying where best you can make a difference. After just a few minutes we'll think of something - trust us!
Most of the project work you are involved with will more than likely be a subcommittee of the project that you have chosen to assist. In most cases, you'll report to the Chairperson of the committee or subcommittee you are working on with any progress or questions. If you have not been told, the first question you should ask is "Who do I check in with?"
Staff are responsible for either the day-to-day operation or in some cases represent Council on the Management Committee of a number of the specific projects and you may end up interacting with them a great deal. You can always ask a member of staff for help and information but remember our staff members usually have a lot of pots boiling and may refer you to an appropriate committee.
Here are some basic guidelines to follow:
Tracking the hours you work is important for demonstrating the commitment of our volunteers. Corporate contributors, new business prospects and various Government agencies are all interested to know how much the community invests back into the area. Volunteer hours are one of the best measures of our success.
Date: 15/05
Activity: Bought table decoration for Mural Dinner and left at Towns with Heart Office
Time: 1.5 hours
Thank you for taking the time to consider joining a project, subcommittee or assisting other service clubs thereby working to make our community a better place. Your work with us will pay dividends now and in the future.
