Creekside eNews - December 2008

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary are having a Green Christmas.

These School Holidays check out the latest additions to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Gold Coast’s leading native wildlife and coastal rainforest experience.

• The all new Extreme Green Challenge on the 13th December an exhilarating treetops ropes course which includes a 150m flying fox over crocodiles! Just $10 extra on entry to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• Australia’s Green Cauldron Experience, you can find out how Currumbin’s scenic beach headlands were created from ancient lava flows and get closer to the wildlife of the region in this living guidebook of one of Australia’s iconic national landscapes.  
• The new Green Guardian Theatre will be open daily from 13 December here you can see the work that is being done for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s Green Guardian Conservation, Research and Education programs. Enjoy wildlife documentaries and live animal presentations and find out what you can do to help our conservation efforts. 
• Last but not least, opening in January we have a brand new Forest Walk. Take a walk through Currumbin’s coastal eucalypt and rainforest areas which have been preserved since the Sanctuary was founded more than 60 year ago.

To encourage Creek to Creek members to Get Closer at Currumbin, I would also like to extend to all Creek to Creek Chamber members a discount of 20% off Normal day entry or a 15% discount off our NTQ Green Guardian Annual membership to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. To obtain this discount your members can contact me and I will send them a voucher. The discount will be valid until 31/3/09.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Have a great day. Kirsty Bell 5534 0851. 

Are you having a Christmas Party for your Staff…as we all do?

Your Christmas party may attract Fringe Benefit Tax!
 
Fringe benefits tax and Christmas parties, Tax deductibility of a Christmas party & Gifts provided to employees at a Christmas party
 
The costs associated with Christmas parties are exempt from FBT under certain circumstances says Johan Fourie director of Accounting Brilliance Pty Ltd.

For example, if the employer provides a Christmas Party on a working day on their business premises and consumed by current employees, a taxable fringe benefit may arise in respect of an employee or an employee and an associate of an employee who attends the work Christmas Party.
 
Johan says, a Christmas party provided by an employer to an employee or an employee and an associate of the employee, may be a minor benefit and exempt if the cost of the party is less than $300.00 per employee and certain conditions are met.

The same as above may apply for a Christmas gift or hamper provided to an employee or an associate of the employee if the conditions of the minor benefits exemption rule and if it is not less than $300.00, it may attract FBT.

Johan suggests that if you are an employer planning a Christmas Party, to research these ATO rulings, you can contact him at Accounting Brilliance Pty Ltd on 0755931000, or talk to your Accountant or Tax Agent timely.   
  
  

Creekside funny-bone

Start planning for World Environment Day

Gecko – Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council is hosting its 10th annual World Environment Day festival, Green Day Out 2009 to coincide with United Nation’s World Environment Day celebrations across the globe as well as with Gecko’s 20th anniversary and Queensland’s 150th anniversary! The Green Day Out is an established and important community event for the region and one of the longest running World Environment Day events in Australia. The event plays a crucial role in inspiring and motivating people to change their behaviour!
 
In recent years the festival has attracted an increasing amount of support and interest from the local community, organisations, businesses, corporations and the council and annually attracts an audience in excess of 7000 people. An audience of 7000 people at an event of this kind on the Gold Coast is significant. And given the nature of the Green Day Out, the festival engages a large number of people who would not normally engage in sustainability processes and environmental activities.
 
I would like to invite members of the Creek to Creek Chamber of Commerce to participate in this festival by becoming a sponsor.  We can tailor a sponsorship packages to suit your corporate communication objectives.
 
For further information contact Gecko on 0410 706 697 or by email at greendayout@gecko.org.au.

Special Thanks

Centacare Employment Group Palm Beach would like to thank Creek to Creek Chamber of Commerce Businesses who have provided our clients with work experience and employment opportunities in 2008.

Our team strives towards securing supportive employment opportunities for our clients with disabilities and have been delighted to be able to meet many supportive employers through the networking that Creek to Creek Chamber of Commerce has provided.

The employment opportunities that you have given our clients has enabled them to experience a better quality of life, community inclusion and develop workplace skills that have enabled many of them to progress professionally and achieve successful careers. It has been our experience that assisting people with disabilities to enter the workplace can be a satisfying experience for employers and we welcome future partnership with other local business members of the Creek to Creek Chamber of Commerce in 2009.
 
Should you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Nakita Alick, on  5525 7611 

  

Enviro Industry meets in Currumbin

 “Green @ Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary” &
“2020 Vision on Waste Projects”

Thursday 11 December
 
The Regions Environment Industry Association welcomes you to the final 2008 networking breakfast event at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. 
 
SPEAKERS:  
Jenny Lunney, Environment Manager, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. 
Jenny will present an informative overview of Sanctuary’s Green Initiatives, including information on the Sanctuary’s conservation projects and progress of the Community Wildlife Hospital.  
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has been in operation for over 60 years and was the first major tourist destination established on the Gold Coast. 

Alan Smith, 2020 Vision on Waste Project Officer Alan will present an informative overview on a few of the projects recently completed by GCCC 2020 Vision on Waste.  Projects include ‘Council's Wipeout Waste Schools Program’, ‘Public Place Recycling at Indy’ and ‘Public Place Recycling at Paradise Point Parklands'. In addition, he will present a brief outline of upcoming projects.
 
2020 Vision on Waste is the strategic Solid Waste Plan for the Gold Coast.  The goal of 2020 Vision on Waste is to promote more sustainable waste management that reduces the impact on the environment by following the waste management hierarchy of avoidance, re-use, reduce, recycle.  Disposal is the least preferred option.
 
DETAILS:     7:30am, Thursday 11 December (concludes 9:30am).   Sit-down buffet breakfast included
 
LOCATION:  Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Tomewin Street, Currumbin
 
COST:           $35 members; $45 non-members.  Please note payment to be received prior to/on at the event
                       
RSVP:           events@enviroindustry.com by 7 Dec. 

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Recent interest rate fall

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Click on more home loan choice to view the latest vodcast from Wilson National Home Loan Manager Naomi Carey and see how much you could be saving in the new year.

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Merry Christmas!!!

From Phillip, Darren, Murray, Grant, Gordon, Inge and Adam, we wish all the Creek to Creek Chamber of Commerce members a safe, and enjoyable Christmas. And we look forward to an exciting year ahead in 2009!