Bestbiz Awards Announced

Banyule’s inaugural Bestbiz Awards were announced last night, with ‘people’s choice’ winners over nine categories, which attracted 4,000 votes for 590 businesses across Banyule.

The awards were announced at a presentation evening hosted by comedian Frank Woodley and attended by finalists and over 150 representatives of Banyule’s business community.

The event also saw the launch of the Banyule Economic Development Plan 2015-2020, which will help guide economic growth in Banyule by creating and supporting vibrant precincts, supporting businesses, attracting investment, and developing partnerships and leadership.

The Mayor of Banyule, Cr Craig Langdon, said there was an amazing response from residents who enthusiastically got behind their favourite businesses from the moment voting opened at the beginning of September.

“As well as voting across nine different categories, people took the time to provide comments about why they had voted for each business,” he said.

“Council works hard to promote the value of shopping, dining and doing business locally, with its many benefits, including proximity, diverse product offerings and good service, and it was great to see these attributes reflected in people’s comments about the businesses they voted for.”

Janice Chapman, of Watsonia, was the winner of the $1,000 random prize draw after she voted for Scaffidi Hair Design in Lower Plenty. She wrote of the business: “Top rate hair experience at affordable prices. Vince, Anna and the staff are very friendly and extremely professional, while keeping up with the latest trends. I have been a regular there for 20 years and they never disappoint!”

Cr Langdon said there were more than 10,000 businesses in Banyule. “We all interact with local businesses as we go about our day - picking up groceries, grabbing a coffee, visiting the GP, enjoying a meal out, getting a haircut, or even getting our taxes prepared by an accountant,” he said.

“These businesses are a vital part of our community and are often the first to step up and support community activities, such as assisting with fundraising raffles and sponsorship of local community groups and clubs. It’s our turn now to stand up and give a ‘shout out’ to our favourite local businesses. Supporting small business is all about supporting your community.”

The Banyule Bestbiz Awards were sponsored by the Victorian Government.

Apart from the nine categories in the people’s choice awards, Smart Graffiti & Coatings in Heidelberg West won the Mayoral Choice Award.

Cr Langdon said Smart Graffiti & Coatings was owned and run by Ted Smart, whose innovative graffiti removal products have helped clean up graffiti in Banyule and create a safer environment for the community.

“He has volunteered his time to numerous local community-led projects to empower traders, residents and schools to beat graffiti at a grass roots level, and collaborated with the Department of Justice & Regulation to train community correction crews to remove graffiti,” he said.

“Ted is extremely conscious of his environmental footprint, producing water harvesting catchments in a number of Banyule locations to source water for high pressure cleaning. He is constantly developing and improving products and is now recognised worldwide for his contribution to graffiti removal.”

For more information visit Banyule City Council