February 2012 Newsletter No 6

February 2012 Newsletter No 6

Chamber Members - Saturday, February 25, 2012

New online booking system implemented

With ongoing support from Bosweb, the Chamber has implemented a new online booking system for our breakfast events. The new system allows for you to book for yourself and guests online and gives you a range of payment options including credit card, direct debit or the option to be invoiced.

 

The new system streamlines the office operations and allows us to manage event bookings seamlessly.

 

Members are reminded that bookings are essential for catering purposes.

 

The Board is grateful for the continued support that is being provided by Bosweb.

 

March Networking Breakfast

On Wednesday March 7, Joe Barrett from Cobbora Holdings will be providing an update to members and guests on the status of the Cobbora Coal Project, which we believe will have an impact on Dubbo’s future growth.

 

The breakfast is being held at Lazy River Estate, beginning at 7am. Seats will be limited.

 

 

To attend, you need to book your seat (using our new online booking system) by clicking on the link:https://dubbochamber.worldsecuresystems.com/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=179296

 

New Members:

This month, the Board welcomes the following new members:

 

Eastern Mechanical Services:
EMS have a fully equipped workshop in Dubbo. They specialize in major repairs and full machine rebuilds on all makes and models of mining equipment. Highly skilled tradesman are available for short or long term contracts to provide our clients with additional support when it is needed.

 

Dubbo Office of Workcover NSW

 

Quest Apartments
Quest Dubbo is a new level of accommodation in the heart of the Central West. The Anticipated 4.5 star property offers a range of stylish and modern studio, one, two and three bedroom serviced apartments, onsite conferencing facilities, secure onsite car parking, Gymnasium and an outdoor BBQ Terrace all designed for the corporate or leisure traveler alike.

 

Imajenit Commercial Photography & Communication

Imajenit Commercial Photography offers photographic images that express the genuine passion and enthusiasm of your business, something that will compel your audience to you through your website, print media or television by using Imajenit images. Imajenit Communication offers creative writing used in print media editorials, content writing for websites, televison, advertising and marketing your business promoting your business identity to your prospective customers.

 

A little more on Work Health Safety: Under the new WHS laws, what is “Reasonably Practicable”?

'Reasonably practicable' means doing what is effective and possible to ensure the health and safety of workers and others.

 

All people must be given the highest level of health and safety protection from hazards arising from work, so far as is reasonably practicable.

 

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU - the new term that includes employers) should always seek to eliminate, so far as is reasonably practicable, any health and safety risks. If a risk cannot be eliminated, the PCBU must minimise the risk, so far as is reasonably practicable, by:
• substituting (wholly or partly) the hazard with something with a lesser risk
• isolating the hazard from any person exposed to it
• implementing engineering controls.

 

If these controls do not fully eliminate or minimise the risk, the PCBU must implement administrative controls and then, if appropriate, ensure the provision of suitable personal protective equipment.

 

A combination of controls may be used to minimise a risk if a single control is not sufficient.

 

In determining control measures, the PCBU should identify and consider everything that may be relevant to the hazards and risks and the means of eliminating or minimising the risks.

 

The PCBU, when determining what is reasonably practicable, should take into account:  
• the likelihood of the hazard or risk occurring
• the degree of harm from the hazard or risk
• knowledge about ways of eliminating or minimising the hazard or risk
• the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk.

The more likely the hazard or risk is, or the greater the harm that may result from the hazard, the less weight should be given to the cost of eliminating or minimising the risk. 


Cost will not be the key factor in determining what a PCBU should do to eliminate or minimise a risk unless it can be shown to be grossly disproportionate to the risk.

 

If the risk is particularly severe, a PCBU will need to demonstrate that costly safety measures are not reasonably practicable due to their expense and that other less costly measures could effectively minimise the risk.

 

A PCBU cannot expose people to a lower level of protection simply because it is in a lesser financial position than another PCBU.   

 

The costs of implementing a particular control can also take into account any savings arising from fewer incidents, injuries and illnesses, potentially improved productivity and reduced turnover of staff.


 
Note: A PCBU cannot avoid responsibility by attempting to contract out their obligations by giving control to someone else.
For more information visit 
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

 

EOI for Book Keeping Services

The Chamber is currently seeking Expression's of Interest from suitably qualified businesses or people to provide book keeping services. Role details can be found on the home page of the Chamber website.


Members News:

From Charles Sturt University:
Attached is an invitation to attend a Science Roadshow being held at the CSU Dubbo campus on Monday 19 March at 4pm.  CSU’s Professor Nick Klomp, Dean of the Faculty of Science, will be the presenter and refreshments will be provided afterwards. 

 

CSU look's forward to seeing you at what promises to be an entertaining hour of science information from Nick Klomp.

 

 2012 February CSU Science Road Show

 

Personal Property Securities Act

The new Personal Property Securities Act (PPSA) came into operation on 30 January 2012. This is big news for business!

 

Personal property captured by PPSA includes all personal property (other than land and some statutory licences), tangible property such as cars, art and equipment as well as intangibles such as intellectual property and contractual rights. The security interest in the personal property arises when the transaction secures payment or the performance of an obligation.

So, if you or your clients’ businesses lend money to companies, buy cars with finance, sell goods to businesses on consignment, have retention of title arrangements in place or take (or give) security over assets other than land, you need to know about PPSA!  

 

Central to PPSA is the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) where security interests are registered.  The PPSR replaces a myriad of existing national and state based registers over interests in personal property.  For example, the PPSR will replace ASIC’s register of company charges and the Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVS) in New South Wales.

PPSA also requires registration of interests in personal property that have not previously been registered on any national or state registers.  Registration of the security interest is vital to the priority and enforcement of the security interest - the key to protecting your business assets.

 

Transactions now captured by PPSA include:
• fixed and floating charges;
• long term and finance leases of goods;
• chattel mortgages;
• hire purchase agreements;
• conditional sale agreement (including retention of title arrangements); 
• retention of title arrangements; and
• consignment of goods.

 

As the PPSA will affect lenders, borrowers, companies, individuals, suppliers, retailers and consumers, it is important you are aware of the rights, obligations and requirements of PPSA and how it may impact on you and your business.

To find out more about PPSA talk to your law firm or visit http://www.ppsr.gov.au/Pages/ppsr.aspx

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