Digest - Friday the 5th of May 2017

NAS Sunshine Coast Branch and Customers Support the Island Charity Swim

The NAS Sunshine Coast Team is proud to support the 2017 Island Charity Swim.

The Island Charity Swim is a test of endurance for the participants and a major fundraiser for the amazing and inspirational children at the Nambour and Currimundi Special schools.

The swim is 11km from Mudjimba Beach around Mudjimba Island (Old Woman Island) to Mooloolaba Beach.  Maddy Kimbell (Daughter of our Director John Kimbell) is swimming solo this year.

In order to support the swim the NAS Sunshine Coast Team partnered with Kingray and Pioneer.  Product Special offers commenced on the 3rd of April and will run up till the 12th of May with a set amount of the revenue raised donated to this most worthwhile charity.

I would like to thank our fantastic Sunshine Coast customers for their support of the special to date and remind you that it is not too late to take advantage of the Kingray and Pioneer Island Charity Swim specials.  Please contact Grant or Jacob for a specials flyer if you are yet to receive one and join with us to support the inspirational children at the Nambour and Currimundi Special schools.

Topline ERP System Migration

NAS Australia/Topline's New ERP Implementation Live May 1 2017

Since the acquisition of Topline seven months ago NAS Australia's Information Technology, Finance, and Operations teams have been busy working on the merger of the two businesses and the migration of the existing Topline Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to the existing NAS ERP system - Netsuite. We went live with Netsuite across the group on May 1.

Netsuite is the world's #1 cloud business management software suite and is used by more than 40,000 organisations and subsidiaries worldwide.  NAS has successfully used Netsuite since 2005.

Changes for existing NAS Customers and Account Holders

There are no changes that will affect how you transact with NAS.

Changes for Topline Customers

While most of the changes resulting from this ERP upgrade will be transparent to our customers, any documentation produced from the system, such as quotes, order confirmations, shipping confirmations and invoices will have a new look.

Moving forward over the next few months we will be rolling out a new 'trade only' webshop and customer mobile app.  In the interim, the existing Topline webshop (http://www.toplineaerials.com.au/) will be inactive from May 1.

Topline customers who have not completed a NAS credit account application form, please do so at your earliest convenience and return to the NAS Australia Accounts Department via email: (accounts@nasaustralia.com.au).   All Topline customers who have an existing credit account will have the account ceded over to NAS without the need for credit reference checks on receipt of the completed form.

Call your Sales Representative if you experience any problems

We spent a significant amount of effort testing the integration, verifying data integrity and smooth process flows. We also provided extensive training to all internal users. Should you experience any issues, please report them directly to your NAS/Topline Sales Representative for prompt resolution.

NAS Newcastle Showroom Re-launch

The team at NAS Australia (Topline) Newcastle have been working hard to transform our Mayfield Showroom into a Technology Hub where NAS Staff, our customers and your customers can collaborate, demonstrate and tailor personalised technology solutions to meet individual needs.

To help us celebrate the re-launch, we have invited representatives of key suppliers to man product displays and conduct hands on product demonstrations. Unbeatable day only specials and lucky door prizes will also be on offer. Complimentary nibbles and beverages will be served throughout the day.

Representatives from the following suppliers will be on hand on Friday the 19th of May from 7.30am till 4pm:

• Altech UEC (VAST TV’s, PVR’s and Set-tops)
• Sanus & Secura (TV Brackets and Racks)
• Pioneer (Audio Video Receivers)
• Klipsch (Premium Speakers)
• Kordz (Premium HDMI Cables)
• Blustream (HDMI Distribution Products)
• Grove Communications (Network Connectivity Products)
• On Controls (Cloud-enabled Automation System)
• Kingray (Terrestrial Distribution Products)

Should you wish to attend please download a copy of the invitation here.

Product Release

SANUS is the perfect partner for SONOS (and more!)

With a new swiveling TV Base, speaker wall mounts and more - all  designed for a wide range of wireless speakers and perfectly matched for SONOS products.

From the designers at SANUS comes an expanded range of mount and stand solutions for Sonos® multi-room audio systems.

The new WSTV1 Swiveling TV Base was designed to seamlessly integrate the new Sonos® PLAYBASE™ with the customers flat-panel TV. This swiveling TV Base gives the look and functionality of a wall-mounted TV, so the screen appears to be hovering above a sound base, sound bar, or other AV component plus 40º of swivel capability to dramatically improve TV viewing angle options throughout your customers room.

And for already wall mounted TVs, the SA405 Universal Soundbar Mount enables the PLAYBAR™ to be perfectly positioned below the screen. A unique universal design and included hardware ensure compatibility with any wall-mounted TV and soundbar. Easily adjust the height and placement to fit securely and snugly.

Throughout the house Sonos speakers can be ideally positioned using the WSS2 Speaker Stands (available in black or white). Place either PLAY:1® or PLAY:3® speakers exactly where needed, whether for outdoor play, ambient sound or home theatre applications. Easy assembly in minutes with a only a screwdriver.

Or if wall mounting is desired, the all new WSWM2 Wireless Tilt and Swivel Wall Mounts are the perfect solution too. Providing up to 132º of swivel and 30º of tilt it's easy to perfectly angle and adjust either the PLAY:1 or PLAY:3 wireless speakers with just a touch of a finger - no tools required. Available in black or white, single speaker or in pairs.

To commence with NAS will range on demand.  Contact your nearest NAS Sales Rep should you wish us bring a model into stock for you.

SignalMAX 1m KU Band Offset Satellite Dish Now in Stock

The SignalMAX 100cm Offset Satellite Dish is a premium dish engineered for fringe KU reception.  The reflector and mount are constructed of powder coated galvanised steel and are supplied with S304 stainless steel nuts and bolts.

Each SignalMAX dish is manufactured with a patented double enhanced rolled edge that ensures heightened rigidity of the reflector.

Manufactured in Taiwan for NAS Australia, the SignalMAX dish range is subjected to exact testing and quality assurance for wind loading, optical accuracy, salt spray, hardness, humidity and Q sun.

Industry News

Free To Air TV

Aussie viewers love TV on their terms

"Australians’ love affair with TV continues, streaming an unprecedented 1.2 billion minutes of catch-up and live streaming TV in the past month, according to the latest OzTAM VPM 28 Day Rolling Report."

"In addition, 5.14 million Australians – the highest-ever number – are streaming Free Video on Demand (FVOD) content, eclipsing 3.53 million for Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD)*."

"Strong content across tenplay, 9Now, PLUS7, ABC iview and SBS on Demand has driven the increase, particularly Seven Network’s My Kitchen Rules, Nine Network’s Married at First Sight, Network Ten’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, SBS’s Vikings, and ABC iview’s Newton’s Law."

"The results also reflect the success of free-to-air TV innovations like the Freeview FV mobile app and FreeviewPlus, allowing Australians to watch catch-up TV anywhere, anytime."

"Freeview CEO Elizabeth Ross said people are increasingly focused on convenience and flexibility and how they watch TV is no exception."

“We’ve seen a big appetite for our streaming products that give viewers access to the best of TV, for free, on whatever device they choose.

“This time 10 years ago, Australian viewers only had access to five free-to-air channels, whereas today we have more than 25. TV is everywhere and any time, and with streaming services supplementing traditional TV viewing, it looks certain that we have entered a golden era of TV.

“It’s great to see such significant growth in catch-up TV consumption, which by and large has been in addition to traditional TV consumption. Australians are still watching, on average, 2 hours and 39 minutes of broadcast television on their TV each day1,” said Ross.

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Ten Network reports $232 million loss, says it's reliant on shareholder funding 

"The future of struggling commercial TV station Ten Network now lies in the hands of the federal government, the Commonwealth Bank, and its billionaire shareholders."

"The company unveiled a shocking loss for the first half of the financial year and warned it must increase a $200 million loan before the end of the year, or could go under."

"The impairment charge blew a $2.4 million loss out to $232 million for the six months to February 28. The loss was in line with a profit warning issued by management in February, and reiterated on Thursday morning."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Would a cut to broadcast licence fees help save commercial television?

"Television broadcast licence fees are top of mind in the media industry this week as the federal budget approaches and Network Ten readies for what are expected to be stormy half-year results."

"But would cuts in licence fees be enough to save the industry?"

"Last budget the government announced a permanent 25 per cent discount in licence fees to 3.375 per cent of gross revenue, down from 4.5 per cent of gross revenue."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Declining sport viewership shows why we should keep it on free TV

"Declining television viewership for sporting events might suggest that those of us who heralded sport as a potential saviour of traditional broadcast media had it all wrong."

"In Australia, ratings for the recent one-day cricket matches were dire and the Australian Open tennis was mixed. In the UK, viewership for the British Open golf collapsed by 75% and even the once untouchable English Premier League (EPL) has seen declines in certain timeslots. Meanwhile, Formula 1 is in a slow decline that has been ongoing for almost a decade, and the NFL is down year over year as well."

"But putting the numbers under closer inspection reveals other explanations. Many of these leagues are moving onto pay TV or are the victims of changing sporting tastes. Rather than dampening broadcaster enthusiasm for live sport, they show why sport should remain on free TV."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Germany starts DVB-T2 introduction

March 29 2017

"The rollout of the new-generation DTT platform DVB-T2/HEVC across Germany has commenced today."

"In one of the largest switchover procedures in German broadcast history, 327 transmitters at 69 locations were converted to the new standard last night."

"The representatives of the parties involved pressed the launch button on March 29, 2017 at the launch party in Berlin’s transmitter tower Alex hosted by transmitter network operator Media Broadcast."

"DVB-T2 contains 20 unencrypted TV channels from the public broadcasters and three unencrypted commercial channels as well as 19 commercial channels offered on the encrypted Freenet TV platform for a subscription fee of €5.75 per month. Except for the three unencrypted commercial channels, all channels are broadcasting in Full HD resolution."

"20 further linear channels along with catch-up services, apps and 600 radio stations are available through HbbTV-based hybrid service Freenet TV Connect."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Australia: Average 6.4 screens per home

"The Q4 (October-December) 2016 Australian Multi-Screen Report – from Regional TAM, OzTAM and Nielsen – continues to document how growing content, platform and screen choices have caused a gradual shift in the way consumers apportion their viewing across devices."

"Australians are voracious consumers of broadcast TV and other video, and as of Q4 2016 had a dizzying array of options by which to do so. It was early days for many of these alternatives when the report was first published five years ago."

"While there is much discussion about television’s place in today’s screen mix, several trends are clear:

•  More screens. Australian homes now have an average of 6.4 screens each, the majority of which are internet capable.
• People spread their viewing. More devices create more opportunities to view – not least because any connected device can also be used like a PVR to watch catch up TV or live-stream video.
• A little less TV. Even though people are spreading their viewing across multiple devices, TV remains by far the most-watched screen.Across the population, viewing of broadcast TV (free-to-air and subscription channels) watched live or played back within 28 days on in-home TV sets accounts for 86.6 per cent of video viewing across all devices."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Wi-Fi

Virgin Australia partners with Gogo and Optus Satellite to introduce inflight wi-fi

"Virgin Australia today announced a partnership with leading inflight connectivity provider Gogo and Australia’s leading satellite provider Optus to provide customers with inflight wi-fi on domestic and international services."

"From April 2017, Virgin Australia will commence a three month customer testing period of Gogo’s proven 2Ku technology on a single Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This period will be used to gather feedback from customers, with a full installation of 2Ku across Virgin Australia’s fleet of Boeing 737-800, Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft planned following the customer testing period. The technology will leverage existing Ku satellites provided by Australia’s largest satellite provider Optus Satellite for domestic and New Zealand services and Intelsat and SES for all other international flights."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

It has been a long time coming, so how does in-flight Wi-Fi stack up on a Qantas plane?

"Following months of performance testing with global broadband services provider ViaSat and the NBN ‘Sky Muster’ satellite service, Wi-Fi is currently operating on just one Boeing 737 aircraft."

"Customers will be able to test it out for themselves on some flights while the airline continues to fine tune the system."

"Testing will be complete by the middle of the year and from there, installation of the technology is expected to begin on the domestic fleet of Airbus 330s and Boeing 737s with the rollout across 80 aircraft completed by the end of 2018."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

World without Wi-Fi looms as unlimited plans rise

"The Wi-Fi icon - a dot with radio waves radiating outward - glows on nearly every internet-connected device, from the iPhone to thermostats to TVs. But it's starting to fade from the limelight."

"With every major US wireless carrier now offering unlimited data plans, consumers don't need to log on to a Wi-Fi network to avoid costly overage charges anymore, which threatens to render Wi-Fi obsolete. And with new competitive technologies crowding in, the future looks even dimmer."

"The erosion of Wi-Fi's influence is likely to be slow and uneven. While unlimited data plans make the technology less necessary for phones, many home devices, from a MacBook to an Amazon Echo, still use Wi-Fi to connect to the internet. Wi-Fi also helps fill in gaps in some office buildings and homes that have spotty cellphone coverage."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

NBN to double broadband speeds for regional Australia

"Australians living off the beaten track are getting broadband speeds to rival the cities, with 100 Mbps Fixed Wireless NBN services scheduled to launch across the country early next year."

"Demonstrated in the Victorian regional city of Ballarat this week, the service offers 100 Mbps download speeds and 40 Mbps uploads – the speed boost coming thanks to new carrier aggregation technology which bonds multiple channels to create a single high-speed connection."

"The new speed tier will be available in Fixed Wireless NBN areas across the country, as it does not require a network upgrade or changes to the Fixed Wireless towers. The improved speeds won't extend the range of Fixed Wireless, which remains limited to within 14 km of a tower."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Tech Articles

A simple command allows the CIA to commandeer 318 models of Cisco switches

Even the high-end are vulnerable!

"Cisco Systems said that more than 300 models of switches it sells contain a critical vulnerability that allows the CIA to use a simple command to remotely execute malicious code that takes full control of the devices. There currently is no fix."

"Cisco researchers said they discovered the vulnerability as they analyzed a cache of documents that are believed to have been stolen from the CIA and published by WikiLeaks two weeks ago. The flaw, found in at least 318 switches, allows remote attackers to execute code that runs with elevated privileges, Cisco warned in an advisory published Friday. The bug resides in the Cisco Cluster Management Protocol (CMP), which uses the telnet protocol to deliver signals and commands on internal networks. It stems from a failure to restrict telnet options to local communications and the incorrect processing of malformed CMP-only telnet options."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Smart TV hack embeds attack code into broadcast signal—no access required

"A new attack that uses terrestrial radio signals to hack a wide range of Smart TVs raises an unsettling prospect—the ability of hackers to take complete control of a large number of sets at once without having physical access to any of them."

"The proof-of-concept exploit uses a low-cost transmitter to embed malicious commands into a rogue TV signal. That signal is then broadcast to nearby devices. It worked against two fully updated TV models made by Samsung. By exploiting two known security flaws in the Web browsers running in the background, the attack was able to gain highly privileged root access to the TVs. By revising the attack to target similar browser bugs found in other sets, the technique would likely work on a much wider range of TVs."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Carriers To Block Millions Of Illegal Downloads After Court Order As Foxtel Go After Illegal Boxes

"Millions of Australians who have been stealing music and movie content via Kick Arse Torrents, are set to find that their ISP’s have been ordered to switch off their supply following a Court ruling on Friday."

"During the next 14 days’ domains linked to the torrent sharing service Kick Ass Torrents will be blocked by carriers such as Telstra, TPG, Optus, iiNet and most other ISP’s providing connectivity to the illegal content site."

"At the same time, Foxtel is moving to block a further batch of copyright infringing websites as part of a co-ordinated effort by the pay TV giant, the recording industry and Hollywood studios to stamp out piracy in Australia."

"The pay TV operator is expected to file an application in the Federal Court of NSW asking a judge to block a new list of pirating websites, Foxtel is owned by Telstra and News Corporation."

"Also, heading to the Courts is Village Roadshow along with 21st Century Fox, Warner Bros, Disney, Paramount, and Columbia Pictures who are set to ask the Federal Court to block another 41 sites."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Premier League wins ‘Kodi box’ court order

"On March 8th, an application for a Court Order, that will result in servers streaming unauthorised English Premier League content being blocked, was heard and granted in the English High Court."

"The Premier League (PL) is currently engaged in a range of activity to protect its IP, and the significant investment made in the competition by UK live broadcast partners Sky Sports and BT Sport. This activity includes:

•     Investigations and prosecution of suppliers of IPTV boxes that enable the broadcast of unauthorised PL content
•     Legal actions against pubs and commercial premises that broadcast unauthorised PL content
•     Court Orders and injunctions forcing ISPs to block certain websites and domains
•     Shutting down illegal streams/cleaning sites of infringing material
•     The PL has been involved in several recent successful actions that have resulted in custodial sentences, injunctions being granted against sellers and pubs, and significant costs awards"

"On March 6th 2017, a man in the northeast England city of Hartlepool who sold illegal Internet TV boxes that allowed pubs and clubs to screen pay-to-view TV free of charge received a suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay £250,000 (€289,000)."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Optus’ first blackspot base station connects all ten residents of William Creek

"Outback town gets mobile reception for the first time."

"All ten permanent residents of South Australia’s William Creek will get mobile coverage for the first time when Optus switches on its first base station subsidised under the federal government’s mobile blackspot program."

"The outback town is famed for having one of the world’s most remote pubs and the only petrol station between mining centres Maree, Coober Pedy, and Oodnadatta."

"It is surrounded by the world’s largest cattle station, Anna Creek, which spans some 24,000 square kilometres."

"However, it is also frequented by a number of tourists passing through the village as they explore the famous Oodnadatta Track or stop over on their way to Lake Eyre, which is about 1000 km away."

Visitors - as long as they are Optus customers - will now enjoy 3G mobile reception in town rather than having to rely on one of William Creek’s solar powered pay phones.

"Optus, which was conspicuously left out of the first $100 million round of the mobile blackspot subsidy program, has installed a satellite small cell in the centre of town, relying on both satellite connectivity and backhaul to deliver 3G mobile reception within a radius of three kilometres of the town."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

FarmBeats: An IoT platform for data-driven agriculture

A very interesting case study demonstrating that components to make your own 'smart farm' are not cost prohibitive.

"Today we have another pragmatic, low cost, IoT system case study. And it’s addressing a problem almost as important as cricket: how can we help to meet the burgeoning demand for food across the globe by increasing farm productivity? [Just in case British humour doesn’t translate to all cultures reading this post, yes, that’s a joke!]."

"Given that, why isn’t everyone doing it? Manual sensor data collection is expensive and time-consuming, but automated sensor data collection typically requires expensive cellular data loggers and accompanying subscriptions – and even then the limited data rates don’t let you upload all the data you’d really like to. Cellular coverage can also be poor on farms, and prone to weather-based outages."

"What if we could use wifi out on the farm?"

Interested to read more and find out what products were used, the blog can be accessed here.

The Retail Landscape

Retail expert reveals why Amazon might struggle in Australia

"AMAZON has been hyped as the catalyst to change shopping as we know it."

"With the tech giant announcing it will expand to Australia, some experts and retailers have predicted it will kill bricks-and-mortar stores and close our shopping centres."

"But then again, maybe not."

"Associate Professor Gary Mortimer, a retail expert at Queensland University of Technology, thinks Amazon will face its own struggles when it hits Australia, and the “sky will not fall in”."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Gerry Harvey says Amazon will face a tougher battle in Australia

"GERRY Harvey thinks he’s found Amazon’s weak spot, and warns the e-commerce giant that Australian retailers are ready to do battle."

"The Harvey Norman founder has vowed to “match or beat” the e-commerce giant’s cutthroat prices, a pledge that comes as Amazon gets ready to launch its local operations."

"Last week’s confirmation of the retailer’s widely anticipated move Down Under could herald a new era of discounting in what could shape up to be the ultimate price war, with its usual practice being to slash prices by 30 per cent across the board."

"But Mr Harvey said if Amazon expected Australian businesses to let it steal all their customers, it would be in for a shock."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Amazon will be amazing for Australian businesses, says founder of startup Cin7

"Far from being a threat to Australian businesses, a software company executive has claimed that Amazon's arrival in Australia will benefit local ventures, especially those that make and sell their own products."

"While media coverage has focused on how local retailers will struggle to compete against Amazon's scale and prices, Cin7 founder Danny Ing said that this negativity overlooks the fact that small businesses can open up a massive new market by selling through the internet giant."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Development/Economy

Newcastle Airport international flights a step closer after Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund injection

Great news for our Newcastle and Central Coast customers.

"INTERNATIONAL flights out of Newcastle Airport have moved a step closer with the state government announcing a funding deal to fit out new customs and immigration offices."

"The airport has secured almost $900,000 through the state’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund."

"While no airline has yet committed to operating international flights into or out of Newcastle, it has been confirmed that the airport’s board is in advanced talks with several operators."

"The most likely initial international route is a trans-Tasman service to New Zealand, while the likes of Thailand and other parts of South-East Asia are also on the radar."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

More jobs and a rise in commodity prices boosts Upper Hunter, latest Hunter Research Foundation Centre data shows

"A FALLING unemployment rate and a rise in commodity prices has buoyed business and household confidence in the Upper Hunter."

"The latest economic indicators from December 2016 released by the Hunter Research Foundation Centre on Tuesday shows a turnaround in the region, with the jobless rate falling from 8.6 per cent in December 2016 to 4 per cent in December last year."

"HRF Centre lead economist Dr Anthea Bill said though the labour market data was at times volatile, there was evidence reflecting continued steady employment and falling unemployment."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Construction set to start on new-look Bunnings

For those of you who visit our head office in Brisbane you will be interested to know that the Bunnings of the future is coming to Brisbane and will be located just around the corner from us.

"Six years after the purchasing the site, the hardware giant is finally about to begin construction on a new-look store at 142—160 Breakfast Creek Road in Newstead, The Courier-Mail reports."

"With a total floor area of more than 17,000sqm over four levels, the Newstead store will be more than double the size of a typical Bunnings, which generally come in at about 8000sqm."

"The state-of-the-art mixed-use site, located about 4km from the CBD, will consist of a basement carpark, the main warehouse, outdoor nursery, bagged goods area, cafe and timber trade sales area, and will also feature six street-level tenancies for retail or office space, totalling just under 1600sqm."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Sunshine Coast is an 'accidental city' that needs a pulsing heart: Salt

A nod to our Sunshine Coast Customers.

"Bernard Salt starts conversations that planners follow."

"The demographer predicted Australia's sea change, in which baby boomers shifted to the coasts."

"He predicted the slump of some regional Australian cities as China's middle class began to travel and settle in Melbourne and Sydney."

"Now he is predicting a fitness-inspired, booming Sunshine Coast in 2040, 23 years from now, where activewear is the new corporate wardrobe."

"What does the Sunshine Coast of 2040 look like according to Bernard Salt?"

•  "its new airport in 2040 connects to 15 international cities, many in mainland China (in 2017 it connected to just one, Auckland);
• baby boomers in their 60s retired from Sydney and Melbourne in the 2020s to start new careers there;
• the city's light rail network began to operate in 2025;
• it has 550,000 people, up from 350,000 in 2017;
• It is thinking of hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2046;
• "More equitable flow" of commuters between the Coast and Brisbane."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Capricorn copper mine to reopen, nearly 300 jobs to come

Some good news for our Mt Isa customers.

"The Queensland Government has granted a prescribed project status to Capricorn copper mine, allowing it to reopen and bring more jobs to the state."

"The former Mount Gordon mine, located around 125km north of Mt Isa, was mothballed in 2013 following declining copper prices."

"It was then sold to joint venture partners Lighthouse Minerals and EMR Capital in 2015."

"Natural resources and mines minister Anthony Lynham said the prescribed project status allows the coordinator-general to assist with getting the mine’s government approvals on time."

"He added that the mine could bring around 90 jobs during construction and more than 200 direct operational jobs by the third quarter of 2017."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Land Sales, Jobs Boom at Ballarat West Employment Zone

"In a landmark day for Ballarat, the Victorian Government announced two land purchasers at the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) and released another parcel of industrial land to meet strong market demand."

"The announcements represent a jobs boom for Ballarat with the most recent purchasers, Broo and Athlegen, having the ability to generate significant new jobs and drive economic development in the Ballarat region."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.

Booming Ballarat set for major growth

"Ballarat is forecast to grow by 40 per cent over 16 years, as thousands of returning residents and professionals lured from other areas make it their home."

"Ballarat - already Victoria's fastest growing regional city - is forecast to become home to an additional 40,000 residents over the next 16 years."

"The population increase of almost 40 per cent is expected to include older folk moving in from rural areas, babies born to local families and significant numbers of professionals and workers attracted to an expanding local economy."

The complete article can be accessed by clicking here.