Residents In Sydney Not Happy About Poisoned Bees

Residents In Sydney Not Happy About Poisoned Bees

The Woollahara Municipal Council is currently receiving heat because of the residents who are not happy about their move to poison a nest in Paddington filled with bees. The result is that around 50,000 of the European honey bees were killed. This is not a usual method of pest control in Sydney as they value bees as part of the ecosystem.

Aside from the disappointed residents, a member of the advocate group Urban Beehive, Doug Purdie said that they are ways by which the hive should have been relocated. These methods are often free and will ensure that the nest from Glen Street is transferred in the proper methods.

He said that there are many people who are professionally equipped in relocating beehives thus they are confused as to the decision of the council to spray it instead. Many are frustrated because they used poison to deal with the bees.

According to a spokesperson for the council, they received a complaint coming from a local resident regarding the nest and they contacted beekeepers but none responded to their calls. They received the residents’ request to handle the hive which is making them worry.

The spokesperson added that they tried contacting pest control as an alternative and the workers there said that the nest can be sprayed.

The residents said that the pest control should have conducted an assessment before deciding on the best course of action. Now, many residents are angry regarding their actions and they started an online petition which seeks justice for the 50,000 bees that were killed during the process. They are also demanding that the Woollahra Municipal Council should offer an apology as well as make a new bill which is to be called the Bee Conservation Act.

According to them, bees play a very crucial role when it comes to the ecosystem and the entire world is already facing challenges regarding the continued decline in the number of bee colonies around the globe. It is not helping if pest control in Sydney and all over the world is not taught about their importance and how to handle them in cases such as this.

Feb 22 2018
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Why It Is Important To Consider Technology In Designing Office Spaces

Why It Is Important To Consider Technology In Designing Office Spaces

In some instances, it can be daunting for companies to purchase commercial office furniture because they have to justify the cost to the stakeholders. Choosing the right furniture for an office or the corporate boardroom also requires a certain creativity to ensure higher productivity, comfort and aesthetic appeal.

The way that office furniture is designed depends on the technology present in the office space. Some of the functions of a filing cabinet have been absorbed by software like CRM. However the biggest changes are the introduction of desktop computers, network and emails. Furniture has to be changed to create an efficient office design while making way for technology.

Even the telephone has ceased from becoming an office fixture. From the desktop computers, offices have also shifted to laptops and convertibles. Employees are provided with productivity tools, communication and information options when working off-site. Because of further developments in office technology, more processing power is being required by the office environment. Some businesses have also become reliant upon other technologies like facial recognition, voice or speech recognition. Offices are rethinking the type of furniture that will complement with the technology being used.

In the future, businesses can use IoT to track how employees are using the building so that opportunities can be created for engagement with other colleagues other than their immediate team. Traditionally, the only places where employees meet are dedicated meeting rooms and boardrooms for serious discussions. There are also informal spaces like the kitchen or cafeteria.

Offices today are blurring the line between formal and informal spaces by designating spaces for informal discussions or teamwork areas. In the future, businesses can expect more ad-hoc social spaces that are designed to enhance interaction as well as the use IoT devices so that employees can work remotely.

Meanwhile, there is commercial office furniture that is focused on the well-being of employees. There are sofas in a range of designs, colours and materials and cupboards for informal spaces. A modern corporate boardroom can also be created with chrome and luxury leather materials. Furniture with multiple functionalities is the best choice particularly when it can increase the aesthetic appeal of the office.

Feb 11 2018
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The Growing Threat Of Cyber Attacks To Governments And Businesses

The Growing Threat Of Cyber Attacks To Governments And Businesses

Businesses nowadays are highly dependent on the internet not only for brand awareness and exposure but to attract more customers. For example, the customer base of Suzuki motorcycle dealers in the UK is no longer limited to the people near their area because the website manages to reach customers from other regions.

However, more and more businesses are being threatened by cyber attacks. Because of the pressure from cyber attacks, the growth of economic protectionism and the government’s desire for censorship, “walled gardens” may be created that can disrupt commerce and damage society.

One of the key subjects that were discussed by business leaders, politicians, academics and non-government organizations in Davos, Switzerland last January 23 to 26, 2018 was the increasing reliance of governments, institutions and people to the internet. According to the study made by WEF the growing reliance on technology is one of the major risks that global economies will face this year.

Cyber attacks are increasing. It is now listed as the third most likely threat while cyber dependency is ranked second as the significant driver that will shape global risk in the next 10 years. WEF also said that the prospects of strong economic growth for 2018 provide the opportunity for world leaders to address the different weaknesses of complex systems that are underpinning economies including international relationships and the environment.

According to John Drzik, president of Global Risk and Digital at Marsh, geopolitical friction is the largest contributor to the surge and the growing sophistication of cyber attacks. As businesses become more dependent on technology; the more that they are exposed to cyber attacks.

There are improvements made on cyber risk management but both businesses and the government have to invest more for resiliency efforts. The internet of things where devices and sensors are connected to the internet is expected to grow globally but it will increase the risks of exposure to cyber attacks.

People have become more comfortable with online shopping. When they need a motorcycle, they can simply go online and access the website of Suzuki motorcycle dealers in the UK for new or used motorcycles. There is no salesperson because the customer deals directly with the dealer.

Feb 11 2018
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Recordkeeping Important In Tax Audit

Recordkeeping Important In Tax Audit

Restaurant owners should know that recordkeeping is very important not just for the daily operation of the restaurant but also for the sales taxes. The business will be negatively affected if does not adhere to the law. Mishandled sales as well as taxes can be the end for the business. Recordkeeping coupled with audit insurance such as audit shield will ensure that your business is protected.

Sales taxes are unavoidable for people who have their own restaurant or if they are investing in one. Restaurant sales come with tax and according to the law, all transactions including purchases and sales, should be well documented. In addition, sales tax such as payroll taxes are considered to be trust fund taxes and the owner or investor of the restaurant has the liability for tax debts incurred by the trust fund.

For restaurant owners, the most important records such as sales transactions and purchase transactions. Sales transactions include sales, amount for every sale, the tax charged for every sale, the tax collected for every sale and documents concerning tax exemptions. Recordkeeping of the receipts, cash register tape, sales slip, guest check and invoice should be well organized.

For purchase transactions, records such as cost of goods, janitorial services, supplies and other purchase records should be kept. Each of the purchase record must indicate if sales taxes have already been paid or if there are taxes due. These expenses will also show if the sales you have in record is a match.

For POS systems, make sure that it is setup correctly and all transactions are properly recorded. The records from the POS must match the receipts of the business included in the record. Therefore, you are the owner or investor, must have control with the POS system to make sure that it is accurate and all transaction records are complete.

If the recordkeeping is not accurate and you get audited, you might be facing some trouble ahead. This is where audit insurance such as audit shield comes in because in case of any errors on your part, you will be covered and your restaurant might be able to recover.

Feb 10 2018
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What You Need To Know About Zoho CRM

What You Need To Know About Zoho CRM

Zoho innovates the Zoho CRM which is a cloud-based platform for customer relationship management (CRM). It handles sales, marketing and customer support features of business-to-customer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) marketing schemes.

Retrieving Zoho CRM can be done with prevailing Web browsers designed for use on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux desktops. The platform can also be accessed using Apple’s iPad and iPhone, and Android phones. It is most suitable for all companies of varying sizes; however, they are more popular with small businesses using its range of tools and pricing options. Users are given CRM abilities, email marketing, marketing automation, social CRM and sales functions.

There are five available editions for the platform which include: Free, for up to 10 users; Standard, $12 per month; Professional, $20 per month; Enterprise, $35 per month, and CRM Plus, $50 per month. The prices vary per user. Every edition offers improved capabilities; however, CRM Plus and Enterprise provide the most storage capacity and tools.

Zoho CRM lead handling tools make users monitor and handle current and new leads throughout its development. Modular control panels and report forms aid users to adapt quickly to the platform with minimal learning experience. Importing leads from external campaigns and sources are possible, as well as exporting lead data to some spreadsheets for analysis.

For the CRM Plus, Enterprise and Professional edition users, the platform includes ZohoPhoneBridge, a call center tool that integrates hosted and on-site telephone applications to have calls directly done within Zoho CRM. The PhoneBridgeprovides customer history data and on-screen caller details whenever ready. Users are also allowed to call current customers which instantly log the data into the system where users can make follow-up tasks or notes.

Zoho CRM can be directly bought from Zoho and its associated partners. Phone calls, emails and social media support are provided. For Enterprise edition users, one can find an enhanced customer support. To check on the capabilities of this platform, one is given a 15-day limited trial. So check this software, especially on what it is all about and how it can simplify your tasks!

Jan 29 2018
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Companies In Queensland Solar Project Continue Dispute

Companies In Queensland Solar Project Continue Dispute

With Australia making moves to capitalize on renewable energy sources, new projects involving solar on the Gold Coast and across the country are popping up left and right. Some of them, however, don’t go so smoothly.

One such instance is the Collinsville solar farm project that’s been in dispute since December of 2017, which still hasn’t been resolved, though a potential end to the dispute has been sighted, and is expected sometime in the near future.

The building company in charge of the project, Sydney’s St. Hilliers, recently made a statement regarding the issue, saying that the discussions they held early in January 2018 with the Gold Coast based contracting firm, Pronto Projects.

Pronto Projects stated back in the dispute’s infancy that St. Hilliers owes them approximately AU$2M for the work done for the installation of the piles for the solar panels at the under development Collinsville solar farm, and that, as a result of St. Hilliers not paying, Pronto was unable to pay their subcontractors and suppliers. Meanwhile, St. Hilliers claims that it does not owe Pronto anything, and that they had paid the contractor for the costs.

A spokesperson for St. Hilliers said that the firm recently held discussions with Pronto Projects, and was aiming to conduct further negotiations with the head contractor, France’s Bouygues, in order to reach what the firm calls a ‘satisfactory solution’. The spokesperson said that St. Hilliers would continue negotiations with Pronto and their client in order to come to a proper end to this dispute.

The dispute has had quite the effect on the surrounding area, with Burdekin LNP MP Dale Last saying that he was being swamped by calls for help from companies affected by the dispute, who were still owed thousands upon thousands of dollars due to the project, with some of the companies saying that failure was a real possibility unless the bills were paid.

With the upsurge in solar power leading to new solar on the Gold Coast, the dispute has been carefully watched by the locals, who are hoping that this issue is resolved as soon as possible.

Jan 27 2018
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