• SeaLink secures three 10-year marine services mining contracts
• Large-scale events boost business confidence in South Australia
• Business SA backs tax cut for regional companies
• Renew Adelaide partners with First Nations entrepreneur hub
• South Australian property market the top performer nationwide
• Eden Towers seeks to scale up vertical farming operation
• State Government backs architect showcase in Italy
• SafeWork SA boosts funding for Augusta Zadow Award
• South Australian electronic warfare company awarded

SeaLink secures three 10 year marine services mining contracts

Following a competitive tender process, Adelaide-based company SeaLink will continue to provide ferry connections to the Curtis Island QCLNG, GLNG and APLNG projects on behalf of Shell, Santos and ConocoPhillips under new 10-year marine services contracts.

SeaLink Marine and Tourism Chief Operating Officer Donna Gauci said retaining contracts was the greatest compliment to the company and a credit to their expert team.

“We’re proud to continue our partnerships with Shell, Santos and ConocoPhillips, and look forward to working with each of the companies to provide a brilliant customer service,” said Gauci.

SeaLink moves almost half a million passengers to Curtis Island each year and performs over 3,500 semi-trailer and rigid-body truck trips.

“SeaLink currently has six new vessels under construction for marine service around Australia, working with clients to customise marine transport solutions for enhanced passenger comfort, logistical efficiency and environmental sustainability,” Gauci said.

– Elisabeth Marie

Large-scale events boost business confidence in South Australia

According to the March quarter Business SA William Buck Survey of Business Expectations – which coincides with the state’s festival season – South Australia’s business confidence has increased to 96.9 points, which is 13.2 points higher than the national average.

During the survey, economic stimulus was driven by events such as the VAILO Adelaide 500, Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival, AFL Gather Round and LIV Golf.

The survey revealed that 77.9 per cent of business operators view large-scale events as beneficial to business.

Earlier this year, a survey of Rundle Mall’s trading during the Adelaide Fringe saw foot traffic more than double between 5-7pm on weekends when compared to non-festival times.

“What we’re seeing is tourists and visitors ready, willing and able to get out to enjoy the fun and atmosphere in Rundle Mall during Festival season, and that’s a great opportunity for our traders,” said Adelaide Economic Development Agency’s Executive Manager of Rundle Mall, Andrew White.

– Elisabeth Marie

Business SA backs tax cut for regional companies

Payroll tax discounts for regional businesses should be included in the upcoming South Australian budget, the state’s peak business group said.

In a submission ahead of SA’s latest financial blueprint, the organisation said regional companies should get a 50 per cent discount to ease costs and help them compete.

Business SA’s General Manager of Policy and Advocacy Kendall Crowe said payroll tax was one of the most constraining state-based taxes.

“We want to see our state’s regional businesses flourish. Payroll tax is a significant hindrance to growing and operating a small business,” he said.

While SA adjusted payroll tax thresholds in 2019, businesses with a turnover of more than $1.7 million still pay the same rate they did in 2009.

Since then Victoria, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Tasmania have all lowered their general payroll tax rates, and both Victoria and Queensland introduced regional discounts.

Crowe said that meant a business operating in Mount Gambier, in SA’s South East, could pay more than three times the amount of payroll tax than a competitor located 20 kilometres away and across the Victorian border.

“Such a difference in payroll tax rates means regional South Australian businesses, particularly along the Victorian border are significantly less competitive,” he said.

“Introducing a 50 per cent discount on regional payroll tax would reduce this disparity and not only help these businesses to grow, but also attract new businesses and investment in the regions.”

Under the Business SA proposal, a company would qualify for the discount if the principal place of business was in a regional area and if at least 85 per cent of its staff lived and worked in the area.

It estimated the discounts could help more than 700 regional enterprises.

The SA budget will be handed down next month.

– AAP

Renew Adelaide partners with First Nations entrepreneur hub

Renew Adelaide, a local non-profit organisation that finds flexible, rent-free city spaces for start-ups will help The Circle support more than 200 First Nation’s-owned businesses to acquire office spaces.

Located at Lot Fourteen, The Circle’s membership base spans a diverse range of industries including professional and cultural services; health and wellbeing; native produce, hospitality and tourism; civil and construction; and workforce solutions.

Renew Adelaide CEO Gianna Murphy said the partnership will help South Australian Aboriginal-owned businesses take their next step.

“This partnership allows First Nations-owned businesses to leverage the combined business support and mentorship from both Renew Adelaide and its vast network, as well as from The Circle,” Murphy said.

Gianna said they had placed Nood Australia, KSJ Consulting and Platinum Construction in Renew Adelaide spaces since December 2022.

The Circle’s operations manager Kelly May said the partnership extends the support available to First Nations businesses.

“It opens doors to a physical location to operate their business,” May said.

– Liam McMahon

South Australian property market the top performer nationwide

New research shows the South Australian property market was the top performer across Australia last year, despite consistent interest rate hikes.

In its latest whitepaper, Australian buyer’s agency InvestorKit found that Adelaide’s dwelling value increased by 10 per cent while regional SA had increased by 17 per cent.

According to InvestorKit, South Australia stood out in 2022 due to affordability, economic recovery, improvement in internal migration and heavy infrastructure investment.

Four of the top five best-performing regions in the state were located outside Greater Adelaide, including the Barossa, Mount Gambier, Onkaparinga and the Adelaide Hills.

Tea Tree Gully was a standout in Adelaide, with a good mix of strong economic growth, relative affordability, lifestyle and growth prospects.

“Although Tea Tree Gully is currently slightly overvalued, it is still relatively affordable compared to many other Adelaide sub-regions that offer similar facilities and lifestyles,” said InvestorKit Head of Research Arjun Paliwal.

Paliwal said the top five regions are predicted to rise further in 2023.

“They have demonstrated exceptional performance in the preceding year, and based on their economic and property market indicators, it is expected that they will continue to outperform in 2023.”

– Jack O’Halloran

Eden Towers seeks to scale up vertical farming operation

The two-year-old company with locations in Adelaide and Perth is seeking $1.5 million in funding through the equity crowdfunding platform Swarmer.

The company has secured $6 million in future commercial sales in addition to a $3 million acquisition of specialised infrastructure.

Eden Towers’ Co-Founder Julia Prichodko said market demand for organic, vertically farmed produce is phenomenal.

“However, like any business you reach a point where you can get there faster with a capital injection, to push even harder and grow your success,” Prichodko said.

The crowdfunding campaign is open to all levels of investors, with shareholder investments starting from $250.

“We know the groundswell of support that is building each day with Australians looking at alternatives to support more sustainable choices,” Prichodko said.

Eden Towers will use the funds to expand to Australia’s east coast, support commercial farm builds and maintain research and development in food production innovation.

– Camillo Malacari

State Government backs architect showcase in Italy

University of Adelaide architecture students will join Adelaide-based architectural firm Tectvsfirm at an internationally-renowned exhibition in Venice.

Located within the European Cultural Centre in Venice, La Biennale Di Venzia’s Biennale Architettura 2023 will feature an exhibition showcasing works from final year Master of Architecture students Xinyu Chen, Hugh Adare and Zihe Chen.

The exhibition will be open to the public from May 20 to November 26 with over 300,000 visitations expected.

The Australian Pavilion, one of only 29 national pavilions, is located in the celebrated Giardini della Biennale.

The Australian Institute of Architects has facilitated Australia’s national representation at the Venice Architecture exhibition since 2005.

South Australian Government Architect Kirsteen Mackay said the event will provide a platform for architects to present their latest work while engaging in critical discussions about the current state of architecture.

“I am delighted that the State has supported the Australian Pavilion this year and that the work of the University of Adelaide students has been recognised in this significant international forum,” said Mackay.

– Maxwell Bland

SafeWork SA boosts funding for Augusta Zadow Award

Initiatives designed to support young workers and women in the workplace are eligible to apply for the Augusta Zadow Award which will now grant up to $25,000 to successful applicants thanks to funding from SafeWork SA.

The grant is open to South Australian businesses and individuals to support new initiatives, research and education that benefit workplace health and safety for women and young people in the state.

Applications are open until Monday, July 31 with submission requirements available on the SafeWork SA website.

Successful applicants will be announced during National Safe Work Month in October 2023. 

– Maeve Marryat

South Australian electronic warfare company awarded

Mawson Lakes electronic warfare company DEWC Systems was named the South Australian winner in the consultancy category of the 2023 Australian Achiever Awards.

The veteran-owned and operated company partnered with the Australian Defence Force in 2011 and have since been the industry leader in electronic warfare solutions.

The award recognises exceptional customer service in Australian business based on customer feedback.

DEWC Services CEO Allan Dundas said the recognition is a credit to the company’s commitment to serving the Australian Defence community.

“Working as a trusted partner of Defence to deliver leading-edge and complex electronic warfare solutions to Defence is the hallmark of DEWC Services’ success as a company,” Dundas said.

“We will continue to work closely with Defence and prioritise our capability development so we are able to tackle increasingly larger and more complex programs that Defence is trusting us to be involved in.”

– Maeve Marryat