Edgar Adams' Editorial

As many of our long term readers will know, over the past seventeen years we have been highly critical of the organisation known today as Business Central Coast but originally called Central Coast Regional Development Corporation.
Critical because it was a PR machine for whomever the incumbent CEO was.
It achieved very little and cost a packet.
But now, at last, the Board has found a General Manager who is competent, understands the Central Coast and understands business.
The appointment of Kerry Ruffels as General Manager is a very positive step.  He has the credentials and the commitment to the Region.
All it needs now is for the two Councils and the business community to get behind him so that we can all work together for the good of the whole Central Coast.

A question that we are often asked by business people who have moved their businesses to the Coast in recent years is this: “What is wrong with the Central Coast economy?
“We have moved here because we thought it was a fast growing economy and there would be heaps of opportunities. Why isn’t that the case”?
A lot of people, tired of commuting, have set themselves up as “consultants” and can’t find enough businesses big enough to pay their fees. 
They all see a massive retailing base but don’t understand that a majority of retailers are struggling (its musical chairs in some shopping centres). 
They think that we have a large manufacturing base and to some extent we do. But many of our manufacturers are in the small to medium category and many employ less that five people.  All are in a competitive environment and struggle to keep their costs at a minimum.
 They think they see a fast growing population with plenty of money in their pockets.
What they fail to understand is that something like 40,000 people work in Sydney and have a pretty big mortgage, and because public transport is so abysmal a large number drive.  That means the cost of getting to work can be as much $150 per week depending upon where they live and where they work.  To get $150 you have to earn almost $250 per week.
Then they have to find the money to meet the repayments on their home and car.  Again, because of the rotten public transport services, particularly in the newer areas, many have to have a second car, and they all cost money to run.
There’s not a lot of money left at the end of the week for most of these people.
And then of course we have a huge retirement population and a pretty large welfare dependent population
The point about all this is that the Central Coast has a large population that lives on a knife edge.  The other social implications, which are enormous, are another issue all together.
And this flows through to business.
Any business that is totally dependent on the average Central Coast consumer will be struggling unless they have carved themselves out a niche market or are clever business operators.
The Central Coast Research Foundation’s economic indicators for the Region for the March 2007 Quarter really says it all.
Meanwhile, the people who should be most concerned about the plight of Central Coast residents, and can do something about it, couldn’t care less or don’t have the brains to comprehend how to go about it.
Guess who they are?

Last month the Central Coast Manufacturers’ Association held their 5th Awards evening at which some of our best known, and least known, manufacturing companies were recognised for their achievements.
One of the greatest supporters of the CCMA and these Awards since day one is Energy Australia.  They may be a major supplier of energy to the industry but so are many other major corporations who choose to ignore the value of their customers, as a group in our region.
EnergyAustralia was thanked for being a major sponsor for the fifth year in a row by the CCMA President on the evening however I think they should be more widely recognised and thanked.
The Coast has a strong manufacturing base and it employs a lot of people.
It is also an industry that supports numerous businesses such as accountants, lawyers, computer professionals, insurance companies, engineers and electrical supplies companies and the list goes on.  Take manufacturers out of their customer or client base and there would be a lot of people looking for work.
Supporting the CCMA would be one way to acknowledge the value of this industry

Edgar Adams
Editor

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