Business Port Macquarie

18/09/2026

Huge congratulations to every finalist in tonight's Business NSW Mid North Coast Business Awards in Coffs Harbour!

Getting to this stage is no small thing, and it says a lot about the standard of business we've got right across our region.

A special shoutout to our own Business Port Macquarie members who are up for an award tonight.

We're so proud of what you've built and how far you've come, and we'll be cheering you on!

Whatever happens at the ceremony, you've already done our region proud.

Good luck and enjoy the moment!

15/09/2026

I've been having the same conversation with a lot of local business owners lately.

Time is tight.
Money is tighter.
And on top of a packed events calendar, it feels like there's always another ask to donate, sponsor or chip in.

So I sat down and wrote about how I think through BPM's calendar with all of that in mind, and why the free events matter just as much as the paid ones.

Read the full story here: https://businesspmq.com.au/news/its-getting-harder-to-just-show-up 🔗

You don't have to do business alone✌🏻

I've been listening more than usual lately, and one story keeps repeating itself, told by different business owners, in different words, but with the same shape underneath. Time is tighter than it used to be. Every dollar has to work harder. And somehow, despite that, the events calendar across the....

11/09/2026

Chookas to our Board member Bianca Moore and her dance teacher Tahnee of SoulFire Pole Dance Studio.

Voting is open!

Have the best time ladies!

03/09/2026

Some kids are born with a natural swing. This one was born with a natural target 🤣

Dad, we salute your sacrifice 🫡 but we promise the actual Bogey Bash course won't be nearly as dangerous 🤭

Grab your team, brush up on your aim, and get ready for a fun day on the green that's made for good.

There are some sponsorships still available and team entries are open!

Head to https://businesspmq.com.au/events/bogey-bash-charity-golf-day for more info and get involved in a fun day with friends.

31/08/2026

⚠️FINAL CALL
⚠️LAST CHANCE
⚠️CLOSING SOON
⚠️DON'T MISS OUT

Tickets are closing at MIDDAY TODAY for the Behind the Mic breakfast event this Wednesday, 2nd September.

What you'll miss out on if you don't join us:

🎯A behind-the-scenes look at how radio shows are produced
🎯Insights from on-air talent about engaging local audiences
🎯Practical strategies to create a consistent brand voice across multiple platforms
🎯Tips to maximise your marketing spend and get better value from your advertising schedule
🎯Real-world advice on cutting through the noise and building brand recognition

🎟️https://portal.trybooking.com/au/event/1572654
Grab your ticket before midday TODAY or you'll miss out on a Char Bar breakfast Box.

Let's learn how to amplify our messaging and cut through the noise!

26/08/2026

🔍 Getting found is not your website.

Ask most business owners where their brand lives, and they'll point to their website. But by the time a customer actually lands there, they've usually already met your brand somewhere else first — a radio ad on the drive to work, a Facebook post shared by a friend, a Google search result, a business card left on a counter.

Every one of those moments is a touchpoint. And here's what most businesses get wrong: they treat each one separately, instead of as part of one consistent story.

A few touchpoints worth auditing today:
✔️ Your Google Business Profile — often the first impression, before your website even loads
✔️ Your social bios and captions — same tone, same core message?
✔️ Your advertising voice — does it feel like a continuation of the same conversation, or a different personality altogether?
✔️ Your call to action — does every touchpoint point somewhere clear?

👉 Story here: https://businessportmacquarie.aflip.in/BusinessConnect-Jul2026.html /8

Want to go deeper on this? Southern Cross Austereo are running Behind the Mic: Cutting Through the Media Noise, a behind-the-scenes breakfast session on building a consistent brand voice across platforms.

📅 Wednesday 2 September | 6:45–8:30am | Southern Cross Austereo Studios
👉 LAST CHANCE - Book now - https://businesspmq.com.au/events

25/08/2026

📱 A first for Australia: satellite connectivity just got a major upgrade.

As of Wednesday 29 July, eligible Telstra customers can now access Select Satellite Apps — including navigation, messaging and weather apps — even when they're out of range of the mobile network and connected via satellite instead.

For anyone who's ever lost signal on a regional drive or a bushwalk, this is a big deal. Think: checking directions on Google Maps, messaging family in the group chat, or checking the weather — all from areas previously beyond mobile coverage.

Supported apps currently include:
🗺️ Navigation: Apple Maps, Google Maps, AllTrails
💬 Messaging: iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Signal, Google Messages
☀️ Weather: Apple Weather, AccuWeather, Google Weather
📲 Plus Google Fitness and the My Telstra app

⚠️ Important: satellite connectivity is intermittent and slower than the mobile network, and app-based messaging services like WhatsApp don't support calls to Triple Zero — that limitation applies regardless of connection type.

Read the full details on this Australian-first technology in this month's Business Connect Magazine, or head to the link below for more info.

🔗 https://businessportmacquarie.aflip.in/BusinessConnect-Jul2026.html /27

24/08/2026

📰 Payroll Tax Relief Will Help Mid North Coast Businesses Grow and Create Jobs

In this edition of Business Connect Magazine, Robert Dwyer MP writes about the NSW Liberals and Nationals' proposed payroll tax reforms and what they could mean for local businesses.

Under the proposed plan:
🔹 The payroll tax threshold would increase from $1.2 million to $1.5 million
🔹 The payroll tax rate would reduce from 5.45% to 4.75% for businesses with an Australian payroll below $10 million
🔹 Thresholds would be indexed to CPI to prevent bracket creep

Robert, who has operated a medium-sized business for almost 30 years, argues the reforms would remove more than 4,000 businesses from the payroll tax system altogether, easing pressure on small and medium businesses across the region.

Read the full opinion piece in this month's Business Connect Magazine 📖

🔗 https://businessportmacquarie.aflip.in/BusinessConnect-Jul2026.html /24