Welcome to the Hobsons Bay Business e-Works update.

From Wednesday 1 February 2023 the Victorian State Government plastic ban will come into effect. This means businesses will no longer be able to sell or provide these items to customers. You may be at risk of a fine if you continue to sell or supply these items.

What is being banned? 

  • plastic drinking straws
  • plastic cutlery including knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, sporks, splades, and food picks 
  • plastic plates
  • plastic drink stirrers and sticks
  • plastic cotton bud sticks
  • expanded polystyrene containers, such as clamshells 
Visit Hobsons Bay Business to download important factsheets.  

Additional resources: 

Local businesses have until COB Friday 3 February to complete the online business survey and provide feedback to inform the development of the Economic Development Strategy (EDS) update. The EDS will help inform Council on future: 

  • business supports and initiatives  
  • workshops and networking events  
  • investment attraction and marketing priorities  
  • and more!
To share your feedback about how you would like Council to better serve your business and industry over the next 3-5 years, complete the survey now! You also go into the draw to win a $100 local business voucher. 
Hobsons Bay’s economic development team is pleased to share the first instalment of its Economic Update Series, where we share the latest news and data insights affecting the local economy.  

For December 2022, Hobsons Bay saw total local spend reach $160.9M, up 6.43% from December 2021 and 17.7% from November 2022. However, high inflation rates, recorded at 7.3% in November, continue to distort consumer spending figures and restrict growth.  

To read all insights into local consumer spend data for December, visit Hobsons Bay Business.

The Aviation Road Shopping Square is a major shopping strip in Laverton. The draft concept plan aims to enhance the streetscape and image of Aviation Road, as well as improve road safety.

Council previously sought community feedback in mid-2022 to better understand the specific needs and wants of the local community, before further development of the masterplan.

This plan is now drafted and ready for community feedback. Consultation will end in February 2023.

To view the Aviation Road Master Plan and have your say, visit the Participate website.

Private landowners in industrial areas are invited to express their interest in the Green Industries program.  The program is being trialled in 2023 and will enable businesses to plant trees on their land to create a more liveable city and a better urban environment that contributes to the health and wellbeing of our community.  Council will be supplying up to 2,750 trees across all interested businesses. 

To learn more about the Green Industries program and to submit an expression of interest, please visit:  Green Industries program or complete this form. Applications close 15 February 2023.

Council is committed to supporting local businesses and sharing upcoming tender opportunities.

Current tenders include:
  • Dennis Reserve Project: Stage 3 - New Facility
  • Robina Scott Kindergarten Playground Update
  • Kim Reserve Field Development
  • Kim Reserve Pavilion
  • Bruce Comben Reserve - Southern Open Space
For more information on viewing and applying for tenders visit Hobsons Bay Business. 
Businesses in Hobsons Bay can access sustainability offers that make it easier and more affordable to install energy-saving upgrades.

Visit the Hobsons Bay Business website to find great sustainability offers that
  • enable big savings on utility bills
  • future-proof operations
  • appeal to a growing number of eco-conscious consumers
As part of the Circular Coffee project, Hobsons Bay City Council is looking for ways to support cafes and residents to reduce single-use coffee cup use.  We would love to hear from cafes about their experiences with reusable cups and what challenges we need to take into consideration. 

Complete the survey anonymously or choose to opt in to hear more about this project in the future.

Looking to train or upskill staff in the tourism and hospitality industry?

The VTIC (Victorian Tourism Industry Council) has designed a new pilot program, alongside Typsy, which features over 1500 online lessons and allows participants to gain industry-endorsed certificates.

Sign up to the program and, once approved, invite your team to the Typsy platform to do the training.

For more information visit the VTIC Support Hub.
The Victorian Government has developed Headway – a small business package of free wellbeing services and resources for all Victorian sole traders and small business owners, their employees and advisers.

Headway brings together wellbeing tools, advice and support that can be tailored to suit individual needs and includes a free, confidential helpline that provides personal, financial and business advice.

The flexible supports fit right into your busy schedule to help improve your coping skills so you can feel more confident, grounded and supported.

Find more information at Business Victoria.
Hobsons Bay City Council invites business professionals from across Hobsons Bay to come together for our Business Networking series (formerly known as Coffee Connect).  

These informal events are a great opportunity to promote your business and share ideas, while meeting business professionals from a range of different industries.  

Next event: 
Tuesday, 7 February 2023 | 7.30am - 8.30am
The Backyard Est 2016
19 Mason St, Newport

To register and view future events visit the Hobsons Bay Business webpage.

We have been hearing from businesses across the board how difficult it is to recruit and retain staff in the current environment. In a competitive employment market, the best thing a business can do is to implement an employee value proposition (EVP) to stand out from the crowd and ensure good staff don’t leave.

This workshop by the Workplace Wizards is designed to provide training around what an EVP is and how it helps recruitment and retention strategies.  

Tuesday 28 February 2023 from 10am to 12pm

Altona Civic Centre 
115 Civic Parade, Altona

To register and view future events visit Hobsons Bay Business.

The Partners in Wellbeing Helpline is a free, confidential service offering small business owners and their employees one-on-one access to trained wellbeing coaches, financial counsellors and business advisors. Call the Partners in Wellbeing Helpline on 1300 375 330 for assistance between 9am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends. A live chat function is also available on the website. 

For a list of other resources available visit the Mental Health in Business webpage.