What did the Committee talk about?

January 2020 – no meeting held as the first week of January is a bad time to hold a meeting

February 2020 – these were the main points

Decorate Sunbury Proposal
Hume Safety Committee Meeting (Sunbury Police)
Choose Tap Campaign (Western Water)
Sunbury Laneway Revitalisation (Hume City Council)
Salesian College Mentorship
Decoration of Jemena Power Boards in Sunbury CBD. (Hume City Council and Western Water)
International Women’s Day Dinner (Sunbury Women in Business)
Sunbury Business Expo
Healthy Business Breakfast (Hosted by Get It Sorted)
Gap Rd/Horne St Intersection

March 2020 – we spoke about the following

April 2020 – we didn’t speak at all. COVID struck and we were all scrambling to figure out what was happening

May 2020 – we spoke about the following

Sunbury COVID Testing Clinic
The sudden increase in requests for Western Water’s Hardship Programs
356 applications were received for Hume City Council’s Quick Response Grants. Successful applicants will be announced shortly. More grants are now available.
Potential assistance or promotional program to help Sunbury businesses. A suggestion was to look at the Buy Benalla campaign or the Lemonade from Lemons program being run by the Chapel Street Precinct.
Hi-Quality Sales presented their proposal for a West Gate Tunnel Project soil handling facility.

June 2020 – we spoke about

How the Committee could generate some interest and buzz for Sunbury businesses – and not just the CBD retail area – also including McDougall Road Industrial Estate and the Goonawarra/Killara/Melba strips. This included getting a co-ordinator on the ground to be the arms and legs of the project

July 2020 – the following topics were on the table:

Sunbury COVID Testing Clinic had completed 3000 tests. Sunbury Community Health have also noticed a clear increase in traffic on their FB page with COVID related posts.
Christmas decorations around the Sunbury CBD and the general mis-understanding in the community about who has done the decorations in the past.
Hume City Council’s Business Expansion Grants have now closed.
Western Water’s attempts to get the message out to business customers that there is financial assistance similar to domestic customers.
The Support Sunbury program has just started with Sharyn Snook being the arms and legs on the ground. FB Page and website are very much as work in progress at the time of the meeting.
Sunbury Laneway Project has made some progress. Currently waiting for some details from landlords of affected spaces.
A greater than expected number of school artwork submssions were received to decorate some of Sunbury’s utility boxes around Sunbury. Now looking to decorate more boxes to keep more schools happy. Thanks to Western Water for supporting this project
The community resolve around the Hi Quality/West Gate Tunnel EcoHub is getting noisy. It was felt as this was more a resident/environmental issue, there was little value in SBA being active in this venture.

August 2020 – the following topics “Zoomed” around the committee:

Sunbury Laneway Project update with works to commence shortly.
Hume City Council’s response to our query about Christmas decorations.
The Support Sunbury program has 69 businesses signed up. One business was rejected as it was greater than 10 km from Sunbury. The idea of a professional photographer is a problem with COVID restrictions.
Discussion was around the updating of the SBA Model Rules to bring it in line with the standard of similar Associations
Sunbury Community Heath reported on their involvement in providing mental health support to Sunbury residents if they contact the DHHS Support Line.
Western Water reported that they have hundreds of private customers on financial support plans, but very few businesses have requested help.

September 2020 – the following topics were on the table:

The Treasurer was happy to report that SBA had secured a grant from Mainstreet Australia which can go towards our Support Sunbury campaign.
Our Support Sunbury Facebook Page has over 350 followers. Eighty businesses have signed up. Footpath stickers are next – just sorting out exact locations for them. Targeting specific hashtags – #supportsunbury #togethermakesusbetter #supporteachother
Looking at a collaboration for RU OK Day between Sunbury Community Health, Sunbury Connected Communities and Sunbury Business Association.

October 2020 – a positive meeting that kicked the can around these subjects:

Following the recent State Govt announcement, SBA have submitted and Expression of Interest for Chamber of Commerce Grants for further development with the Support Sunbury program
The merger between Sunbury Community Heath and Cobaw Health will become formal on 1st January 2021.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have spoken with the SBA President about the assistance they can give to SBA members.
RUOK Day was a good success with 15 cafes participating. Some very heartening stories with a Tu Tui’s customer contributing $100 towards free coffees. A special mention went to Goonawarra General Store for the one of many cafes that decorated their place to support RUOK. A report is being put together.
The Sunbury COVID clinic (run by Sunbury Community Health) is now accepting patients WITHOUT symptoms.
Hume City Council are helping restaurants with free temporary permits in light of the Victorian Govt’s Outdoor Dining Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package.
Hume City Council also have a Business Summit on 21st October 2020
One of the posts on the Support Sunbury Facebook Page attained a reach of 8000. Over 100 businesses now on board and the FB Page has almost cracked 600 followers.
Western Water are keeping on with providing assistance to those with financial stress and on a happier note, National Water Week is coming up and Western Water will be involving schools as best they can.

Summary of the SBA Committee Meetings