Emerging Risks for Australian LGAs

Local Governments in Australia face an emerging risk space that many seem unaware of.
Brought on by rising costs, especially in business premises rentals, compliance needs and registration costs, research we’ve identified as part of work with a Local Government client is indicating a significant increase in businesses popping up in residential areas.

What seems innocuous is in fact a high risk issue. Planning permits often cross-over use, parking, hours of operation and health.

The rise of ‘dark kitchens’ a few years ago wherein high end restaurants opened kitchens in industrial areas to take advantage of the demand generated by the availability of delivery services is now being copied. With a significant difference: dark kitchens in domestic centres like home garages operating WITHOUT planning or health approvals

And it’s not just cookeries – health sector offerings from hair & nail salons to dental work and tattooists among others, fill the lists.

Aside from traffic problems of pick up drivers, safety plans etc, the lack of compliance to health requirements expose the business owner, residential landlords and customers.. And if a Council is aware of the business operating and done nothing…

Additionally, attempts to revitalise business and shopping precincts are impeded – if anyone can open ‘any business’ they like from home, (with an over-run or inattentive Council missing its emergence), and with Commercial Property rents staying high despite vacancies, the lower costs and easier start up process could soon see ‘ghost-towns’ of commercial districts greater than already exists.

This seemingly innocuous emergence/shift of businesses into residential areas is not small beans. The rate revenue being forgone could add up to Millions of dollars across an LGA. Think it’s time some councils paid a LOT more attention
#LocalGovernment #DarkKitchens #ResidentialBusinesses #Rates #Risk #Permits #PersonalServices

Preparing for Heat Waves In a World Primed to Cook

Aug 12, 2023

Are we there yet? Have people finally cottoned on to the idea that maybe, things aren’t going so well for the planet and our place in it? Storms, up; floods, up; fires, up; droughts, up; people being displaced by climate events, up.  The signals are all around us. And yet, as a species we struggle…

Read More >

Strategic Impact of Long Term Decision Making

Jul 18, 2023

One of the most challenges aspects for owners of businesses, and also for Boards charged with running businesses, is how to allow for the impact of a decision to unfold over time.  Many listed company Boards will be delaying with a CEO on a limited tenure. The Board will have set expectations for performance and…

Read More >

Emerging Risks for Australian LGAs

Jun 8, 2023

Local Governments in Australia face an emerging risk space that many seem unaware of. Brought on by rising costs, especially in business premises rentals, compliance needs and registration costs, research we’ve identified as part of work with a Local Government client is indicating a significant increase in businesses popping up in residential areas. What seems…

Read More >

Getting Over it Being Over, Not Over

Oct 27, 2022

It’s been a rather hectic few months here at Looking Up Feeling Good in between getting a complete site rebuild, multiple interstate travel commitments and assisting an assortment of clients trying to deal with one rather interesting challenge – what to do when we’re supposed to be done and dusted with a pandemic, yet we…

Read More >

High Risk Play for Australian Retailers Opening in a Covid19 Constrained Environment

Oct 11, 2021

Interesting emerging dynamic about to land on the shop fronts of Australian retailers that pose serious risks to their staff. And few retailers are ready   With moderate level of vaccinations targets achieved, the NSW Government has decided to open up from a #Covid19 lockdown. It does so, relying on compliance enforcement to be undertaken by…

Read More >

How Main Stream Media Fomented the Latest Victorian #Covid19 Outbreak

Sep 30, 2021

There’s a lot not to like about the latest spike in Victoria’s #Covid19 numbers. And the most culpable are mainstream media companies who created the social response The latest spike in #Covid19 infections can be directly attributed to Channel 7, Channel 9 and the ABC with lesser blame attributed to Channel 10 and SBS. In…

Read More >

Why Climate Change Intervention is WAY Easier than We Think

Sep 7, 2021

For those of you that follow me on other platforms, you’ll have seen, heard or read some of my thoughts on the lab grown proteins from firms like #ImpossibleFoods or #BeyondMeat.   I’m a fan of those lab grown protein concepts arriving at that position whilst undertaking a Master of Science in 2004 in which…

Read More >

Explaining the #Covid19 #Pandemic using your own car as if it was your body

Aug 19, 2021

Trying to understand something you’ve never experienced before can be a real challenge. In this post the #Covid19 #pandemic is explained using cars and traveling   Your body is your car – it’s your mode of transport in this life. We want to treat it well and insure it and ideally we want to be able…

Read More >

The Reality about Hybrid Work

Aug 8, 2021

There’s a significant disconnect with a number of articles on ‘Hybrid Workplaces’ and it’s really disappointing to see SO MANY large consultants pump out articles that ignore reality. So this is a short take to offer an additional perspective. 1) Hybrid workplaces have existed for centuries, they are not new, though the sudden interest is…

Read More >

Sports, Recreation and Active Living Start Ups Opportunity Funding

Aug 1, 2021

Hi everyone – though a focus on particular those of you in Victoria, Australia who have an idea related to sports, active living or recreation that they might like to convert into a business.   Sportstech & Active Living Pre-Accelerator program is being run by the Australian Sport Technologies Network (ASTN) and the Global Sports…

Read More >