Commerce - Business Groups

The Adelaide Hills Business and Tourism Centre Inc. (AHBTC) is a joint initiative of the Adelaide Hills Council and the Adelaide Hills Regional Development Board to help develop new and growing businesses and increase employment opportunities in the Adelaide Hills.

Supporting Business
The AHBTC actively supports individual business enterprise in the region of the Adelaide Hills and the Mt Barker Councils. It works closely with Federal, Local and State Government, together with other Business Enterprise Centers (BEC's) and business groups throughout Australia and New Zealand to provide linkages with facilitators and services that assist the growth and development of micro and small businesses for the creation of job opportunities.

Location
The AHBTC occupies a 10 Hectare complex of small to large manufacturing warehouses and offices. It is situated in Lobethal and utilizes the redeveloped Onkaparinga Woollen Mills premises. The AHBTC has an extensive range of premises that supports new 'start up' business under a Business Incubator programme, tourism related businesses that capture the history of the 120-year existence of the Onkaparinga Woolen Mills, and light industry in permanent premises.

Business Incubator Programme
The AHBTC 'Business Incubator' programme is a major programme of the AHBTC providing a supportive environment to new 'start up' businesses offering mentoring, low cost services and advise on all aspects of business. The Business Incubator Programme has achieved an 80% success rate in maintaining small business viability. This compares with a 20% success rate (nationally) for new 'start up' businesses starting without the support of a Business Incubator.

The AHBTC is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Business Incubators (ANZABI

In addition to the Business Incubator Programme and its commercial tenants, the AHBTC continues to develop and promote tourism in the area.

Telephone 8389 6979
1 Adelaide/ Lobethal road
Lobethal SA 5241
fax 8389 5092
email oec@ahc.sa.gov.au

The Stirling Business Association
The Stirling Business Association actively encourages and assists businesses establishing themselves or expanding their business in the area. This group operates a membership with entitlements, discounts and services such as networking, business seminars and promotional activities. The Stirling Business Association encourage and invest members with the impetus to use local services to their advantage.

President
Gaetano Ceravolo
8389 8504
C/- PO Lenswood 5240

The Torrens Gorge Tourism Association
The Association represents local operators and helps promote tourism in the area. The association meets on the second Monday of each month. The Adelaide Hills Council is represented on the committee. The Assocation covers an extensive area from lnglewood to Cudlee Creek to Kersbrook to Mt Pleasant and across to Mt Torrens.

A number of significant tourist attractions reside within our area including The Toy Factory at Gumeracha (home of the world's largest Rocking Horse), The Gorge Wildlife Park at Cudlee Creek, the National Motor Museum at Birdwood and some of the finest Adelaide Hills wineries and Bed & Breakfast accommodation.

The Visitor Information Centre in Birdwood, adjacent to the National Motor Museum can provide extensive tourist information. Call the centre on 8568 5577.

For further information contact
Treasurer
Ms Pauline Renner
8568 5031/8568 5611
PO Box 108
Birdwood SA 5234

The Lobethal Commerce Group
The group represents local operators and helps promote the area to a wide audience.
President
Lew Brickhill
8389 6290

Lobethal Community Association Inc
Local people, local pride, local projects.
http://www.lobethal.sa.au/

Woodside Commerce Association
Represents local operators and helps promote the area to a wide audience.

President Jim Hennessy 8389 7268
40 Main St. Woodside 5244

Adelaide Hills Wine Region Inc.
'Adelaide Hills' is a registered winemaking region with a boundary extending from Mt. Compass in the south to the South Para Reservoir in the north, from Mt Lofty in the west to Mt. Pleasant in the east. The area is unique in presenting 'cool climate' wines from mostly small and often steeply graded vineyards. The small vineyard plantings are the result of microclimatic circumstances and result in hand picked wines of great finesse.

The Adelaide Hills Wine Region Inc. is the combined grapegrower and winemaker association for the region with a charter to promote environmentally sustainable viticulture and winemaking practices and to promote the region and its wines. The association works to achieve its aims through a system of sub-committees - promotion, vine improvement, viticulture, seminars and wine show.

The association has organized wine stands/promotions, they have arranged comparative wine tastings, a bird management field day, an Italian wine seminar, tasting and dinner, they have overseen the propagation of source block vine material, printed and distributed promotional car stickers, a regional 'fact sheet', a definitive handbook of the vineyards and their produce has been produced.and wine glasses printed with the association logo. In addition the association is represented on various bodies including SAWBIA, the Phylloxera Board, Adelaide Hills Tourism Marketing Board, SAVIC, Central Hills Soil Board.

Other representatives have spoken at the Wine Press Club, served on the winery waste management project steering committee and has made representations to government regarding industry concerns.

The association meets every second month. There is usually a guest speaker and an open discussion forum section as well as the committee reports and general business. The meeting ends with a wine tasting and social gathering. A calendar of events and meetings is published regularly.

For further information contact
Evan Hiscock President
phone 83394122
fax 83395253 email evan@petaluma.com.au
Ann Lees Secretary phone/fax 83897023