IMAGE: Pictured is Dan and Lana Nicholson, who are the owners of Topsoil Organics.

The state’s most innovative, forward thinking and courageous businesses have been celebrated at the Business NSW Awards. 

The state’s peak business organisation, Business NSW, honoured winners from all over the state at Sydney’s White Bay Cruise Terminal on Thursday night. The event was attended by Premier Chris Minns, Small Business Minister Steve Kamper as well 500 people representing more than 130 businesses. 

Two Western NSW businesses took out top honours, with Topsoil Organics from Forbes winning the Excellence in Sustainability Award and Black Gold Motel from Wallerawang, winning the Excellence in Large Business Award. 

Business NSW, Regional Director – Western NSW, Vicki Seccombe said these wins were incredibly exciting for both businesses and the region, with each business having gone above and beyond in respect to innovation, sustainability and leadership. 

Black Gold Motel is a unique motel resting inside the historic old Wallerawang School, which was built in 1881. Which has been through a series of transformations since 1995. 

Topsoil Organics is unique within the waste industry as they are a family owned and operated small business established in a regional location who are competing against key industry corporations operating in metropolitan areas. Since opening, they have diverted over 50,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill and used it to create high quality organic compost ideal for application in broadacre farming. 

Topsoil Organics are passionate about growing and developing a business that provides a service that beneficially re-uses all components of the food waste received at their facility, offsets carbon emissions, and returns valuable nutrients into the soil. 

“This is Topsoil’s second win at the State Business Awards, having won Excellence in Small Business at last year’s State Business Awards in 2022 and they should feel incredibly proud of all that they have achieved,” said Ms Seccombe. 

“Topsoil Organics is such an exciting and dynamic business and they are paving the way for our future. The initiatives being pursued demonstrates great ingenuity and it’s so exciting that it’s happening right here in Western NSW”. 

“Black Gold Motel and Topsoil Organics should feel incredibly proud to be named amongst the State’s leading businesses for 2023 and these wins truly highlight the strength of the Western NSW business community,” said Ms Seccombe. 

Member for Orange Phil Donato pictured with Premier Chris Minns.

The funding comes from the new $150 million Community Restoration Flood Fund announced by the NSW Government in the September budget to support disaster impacted communities in the Northern Rivers and Central West. The Fund is an acknowledgement that the NSW Government is standing by communities for the long haul. 

Premier Chris Minns said “The 2022 floods were an unprecedented disaster and we remain focused on helping communities recover and rebuild. It’s clear there needs to be a sustained effort and there is more we can do to continue the reconstruction program. That’s why we’re committed to practical action on the ground to help people get back on their feet, with involvement of local leaders.” 

The 2022 floods exposed several ongoing risks across the State due to our changing climate and long-standing land uses. The NSW Government recognises that recovery is not a short-term fix and requires evidence-based planning and community leadership. 

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said “When we visited the Central West we were impressed with the work undertaken by communities rebuilding, and this investment is a further step towards that recovery. This funding package will support the social and economic recovery of this important region devastated by floods”. 

While the former government made unfunded commitments to communities, the Minns Government is taking a considered approach to ensure that the commitments made are adequately funded and informed by community leaders. 

Member for Orange Phil Donato said “This additional injection from the Community Restoration Flood Fund is a welcome start on the wide range of recovery and reconstruction work that still needs to be done across the region.” 

“Despite billions of dollars being spent each year, more people are dying on our roads”. said Ron Finemore AO (Pictured)

Ron Finemore Transport Chairman Ron Finemore AO has today backed growing national calls for data-driven road funding and new Commonwealth-state funding arrangements that will oblige state governments to report on road quality and safety performance as a condition of federal funding. 

Mr Finemore AO agrees with a broad coalition of transport and medical bodies campaigning for greater use of road trauma data to create more effective road safety policies and reverse the ongoing increases in annual road deaths. 

State and territory governments hold this data, but do not share it with other governments or show it to the Australian community or motorists. 

The Federal Government must require all states and territories to release this data as a condition of receiving their share of its annual $10 billion a year road budget. 

“Australians deserve transparency so they can see whether politicians are spending their taxes on the areas of greatest need, rather than courting support in marginal seats.” 

“Using this evidence in a transparent way to drive road safety policy will make our roads safer for all motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and the men and women who make their living on our roads as drivers,” Mr Finemore said. 

“If data is not made available to the Australian Government, Commonwealth, road infrastructure funding decisions will continue to be made in the back rooms of government and subject to the whims of politicians and the political cycle.” 

For more information info@datasaveslives.org.au