We hope that 2025 has started positively for you and your business. With a focus on collaboration, the City of West Torrens is committed to supporting our local business community throughout the year ahead.

As part of our ongoing efforts, we encourage you to explore the Help for Business information on our website. It offers a range of advice and resources tailored to help businesses of all sizes thrive in a competitive environment.

This year, you can expect our newsletters to provide regular updates about:

• Business news and support services.
• Networking events and skills workshops.
• Opportunities to contribute to city-wide initiatives.

The City of West Torrens aims to enable prosperity and, as such, we focus on supporting jobs, businesses and industries to generate local economic growth and activity.

Please feel free to share this email with others and encourage them to be part of our community by registering their email address with us.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ABSFEO) Is currently conducting an independent review into its operations and is seeking feedback from small business stakeholders

The ASBFEO was established in 2016 to advocate for, and give assistance to, small business and family enterprises. This includes assistance with disputes.

The independent review is considering whether the ASBFEO’s functions and operations are effective, and feedback is being sought through a survey. The survey will help the independent reviewer ensure that ASBFEO is meeting the needs of the small business community.

Small businesses, family enterprises, the franchising sector and their representatives are invited to provide feedback through the survey. The survey closes on 31 March 2025.

The Australian Taxation Office is offering small businesses in South Australia free online masterclasses designed to help you strengthen your business knowledge.

During these sessions you will have the chance to speak with an experienced taxation officer, ask questions and gain insights tailored to your business needs.

Session topics include:

• Starting a small business.
• Record keeping.
• Claiming small business tax deductions.
• Cash flow for small business success.
• GST.
• Hiring and paying workers.

The first of these sessions, starting a small business, is scheduled between 12pm and 1pm, 16 April 2025.

To access free resources and find out more, visit the registration link.

Our council's Community Plan 2034 leads our organisation's suite of strategic planning efforts and reflects our collective vision to make 'West Torrens the best place to live, work, and enjoy life'.

Since its inception in 2009, the Plan has undergone multiple reviews to stay aligned with our community's ever-evolving aspirations. The most recent review, held from January to April 2024, included extensive consultation opportunities. We are grateful for our community's valuable input, which has been incorporated into the updated Plan for 2034.

We believe that the Community Plan 2034 is a shared roadmap to uphold the essence of West Torrens as a place of opportunity and inclusivity.

Click to see the Community Plan 2034.

Environment and sustainability are very important to the Council, especially the effects of climate change and how we will combat urban heat. We provide a range of rebates and financial assistance to our community for environmental initiatives, including a rebate for trees to help increase canopy cover.

Our Tree Incentive Rebate provides an opportunity for property owners (including businesses) to receive financial assistance when purchasing and planting trees which enhance shading and cooling. Funding of up to $100 towards the purchase of one or more shady trees is available, and if your property is in one of our suburbs with the lowest canopy area, Mile End South, West Beach, Camden Park, Glenelg North and Netley, you may be eligible to receive up to $200 towards the purchase of 2 or more trees.

Rebates are available until 30 June 2025, unless funding is exhausted prior. For further information please read the 2024/25 Tree Incentive rebate Guidelines and visit our website or call 8416 6333.

The Department for Environment and Water, 2025-2026 Heritage Conservation Grants Program will close at 2:00pm Monday 31 March 2025.

Grants are intended to support essential conservation works at privately owned State Heritage Places. Properties owned by private individuals, commercial entities, community organisations, or local government are all eligible to apply. However, locally listed properties are not eligible.

Heritage Conservation Grants:

• Are available to owners of State heritage listed places and places situated within a State Heritage Area.
• Provide up to $20,000 for conservation work or documentation.
• Are provided on a dollar-for-dollar basis in most cases.

The Heritage Conservation Grant Program is competitive, so in addition to the conservation benefits of projects, special consideration may also be given to projects which benefit the public realm, activate under-utilised places, support specialised heritage training, provide economic stimulus and increased visitation to regions or have been impacted by the recent flooding event.

Eligibility and assessment criteria can be found here Heritage Conservation Grants Guidelines for Applicants. If you have any questions or would like further information, please refer to our website, or contact Alison Othen on 0405735479 or by email at Alison.othen@sa.gov.au or DEW.HeritageGrants@sa.gov.au.

Apply now before applications close at 2:00pm Monday 31 March 2025.

As sustainability becomes a greater priority in South Australia, businesses have an essential role to play in supporting environmentally friendly practices. The single-use plastics bans are here to minimise waste and protect our environment. Businesses that fail to comply may face fines.

The Replace the Waster website provides detailed information on:

• Items already banned or restricted.
• What items will be banned next.
• Exemptions to the bans.

You can also explore the Guides to the 2024 and 2025 bans on single-use plastics for comprehensive insights into what that regulations entail.

Tips to prepare your business:

• Stop ordering banned items and transition to alternatives now.
• Engage your suppliers to identify reusable, compostable, or biodegradable replacements that suit your business needs.
• Visit the Alternatives Library on the Replace the Waste website, which highlights a selection of practical, environmentally friendly options.
• Establish procedures to educate your staff on compliance and share your efforts with customers as part of your business' sustainable initiatives.

The team at Plastic Free SA can work with you to provide best-practice advice, information and to stay up-to-date on South Australia’s single-use plastic bans, sign up to the Replace the Waste newsletter.

For any questions or queries relating to the ban, contact the Replace the Waste team via email, or on 08 8204 2051.

Registrations are open for South Australia's Industry Climate Change Conference returning to the Adelaide Convention Centre on 8 and 9 May 2025.

Join the conference to:

• Hear how government, industry, and business can work together to build a strong net zero emissions and climate resilient economy for South Australia.
• Discover how your business can benefit from addressing climate risk, drive for low-emissions economic growth and work towards a clean, green and prosperous future.
• Get practical and relevant information to help your business reduce emissions and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to hear from experts, network with government, industry and business sectors and take practical action to support your business.