Our projects
CQBRG is currently working on two major projects that are supporting the recovery of local businesses from the Black Summer Bushfires 2019/2020.
The REBUILD COBARGO project (Main Street Rebuild)
Header image credit : Craig Noble
The CQBRG is proud to be a founding member of the Cobargo Community Development Corporation Limited (CCDC), the entity delivering the Rebuild Cobargo Project (Main Street Rebuild). This project is for the rebuild of the village precinct and infrastructure razed to the ground by the 2019/2020 Bushfires.
The CQBRG Committee were responsible for spearheading the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF) grant proposal to fund the rebuild project. The grant proposal brought forward a unique concept for an overall rebuild, focused on not only re-starting the economy of Cobargo Village, but also to ensure growth and resilience of the village into the future. A firm focus was placed in the proposal on not only the recovery of the lost infrastructure but also on delivering a model which would provide lasting benefits for the local business sector and the broader community.
The Cobargo Community Development Corporation Limited (CCDC) is a Registered Charity with two foundational members; The CQBRG Incorporated and the Cobargo Co-operative Society Ltd, the grant proposal was successful and funding of $9,611,992.00 was achieved for the Rebuild Cobargo Project in 2021.
The grant proposal was the culmination of over 12 months of tireless volunteer work, representing hundreds of volunteer hours, by the CQBRG Committee, various sub-committees, and partnering organisations offering pro-bono and reduced fee assistance in the bushfire recovery space.
The Cobargo Community Development Corporation Limited are very thankful for all the hard work and what has been achieved to date for the benefit of the local community and are humbled to be delivering the project on behalf of the community.
For more information visit the CCDC Website : ccdc.org.au
Image credit : Dunn & Hillam
The Cobargo Innovation Hub
Cobargo Innovation Hub artist impression
The Cobargo Innovation Hub is a bushfire recovery project coordinated by CQBRG. The project build was jointly sponsored and funded by Business Council Australia, BizRebuild and Cobargo Co-operative Society Ltd.
The concept of the Hub was for it to be a “life-support” platform for local fire affected businesses who lost their work premises due to bushfire to get “back on their feet” and re-commence trading in the village in a supportive and collaborative environment. Four Units in the Hub are offered to fire affected businesses to run their business from and two units within the hub are allocated for use by community organisations working in the bushfire recovery space.
The aim for the Cobargo Innovation Hub for it to be a bridging project fostering business connectivity and continuity in the interim of the Main Street Rebuild.
Cobargo Innovation Hub Officially Launched
The Cobargo Innovation Hub building construction was finalised in October 2022 and we are pleased to say the Official Opening on 10th December was well attended and a huge success! A wonderful group of hub tenants have now opened their doors for business.
Matt Dingle, FormFlow Managing Director, opening address, Cobargo Innovation Hub.
Jennifer Westacott, CEO Business Council Australia, keynote address for the official opening.
Kristy McBain, Federal Member Eden Monaro, Minister for Regional Development Local Government.
From Left to Right : Russell Fitzpatrick Bega Valley Shire Mayor , June Tarlinton Chairperson Cobargo Co-operative Society Ltd, Jennifer Westacott CEO BCA, Narelle Cooper Secretary Cobargo Quaama Business Recovery Group Inc., Kristy McBain Federal Member Eden Monaro and Matt Dingle Formflow Managing Director.
Jennifer Westacott CEO of Business Council Australia wrote to the CQBRG to say:
“It was wonderful to see the Business Council of Australia’s BizRebuild donation making such a positive impact in the community by helping small business get back to trading again after the fires. It was also lovely to hear firsthand how important the BizRebuild work is and most importantly how the community is recovering from the devastation of the fires."
We extend our recognition and thanks to Business Council of Australia BizRebuild for their contribution to the recovery of business activities in Cobargo.
We also extend our recognition and sincere thanks to Cobargo Co-operative Society, as our local funding partner for the project and as the generous donor of the use of the land.
The Cobargo Innovation Hub, open for business 2022
The Hub building is a commercial fire resilient building from company “FormFlow” - showcasing a new flagship technology from the company featuring bent corrugated sheets that provides a seamless external finish. The building has an extremely high fire-resistant BAL rating of 40.
About the Hub design
Cobargo Innovation Hub floor plan
The Hub provides:
6 retail spaces, 4 for fire affected business owners and 2 for community group use.
Small communal kitchen for staff use.
A bright well-lit internal design featuring flexibility for retail and/or community use.
Attractive landscaped strip at front of the building.
A front deck area with weather protection.
Wheelchair accessibility to the building.
Parking area behind the complex for business operators and staff, and staff of other nearby businesses, including disabled parking.
The Cobargo Co-operative Society Ltd acknowledged the significance of the Cobargo Innovation Hub Project and that it would be vital for the re-establishment of businesses post fires and an ongoing benefit to the community longer term. In light of this, the Co-Op Board generously agreed to gift the use of the land for this project.
Business Council Australia (BCA) worked with the Cobargo business community early in the bushfire relief and recovery process in 2020 to offer two types of cash vouchers to assist businesses directly impacted by the bushfire to get back on their feet.
CQBRG worked with BCA to distribute over 40 ‘Tools of Trade’ vouchers which offered businesses up to $2,000 to help with the loss of ‘tools of trade’ due to the bushfires. This helped to inject over $80,000 back into the local economy adn we are extremely grateful to BCA for their support of our community.
Our other projects …
Australian Business Volunteers 1:1 Business Mentoring Program 2021
Australian Business Volunteers (ABV), in partnership with National Australia Bank (NAB) and Insurance Australia Group (IAG) offered 1:1 Business Mentoring Sessions free of charge to CQBRG members and local business owners via an 8 week program in October 2020-Feb 2021. The project was coordinated by CQBRG volunteers and feedback collated from the program reflected how positive and valuable this opportunity was for fire affected businesses in Cobargo and Quaama.
Cobargo Community Notice Board
The Community Notice Board that was positioned in front of the public amenities in the centre of town was sadly destroyed by the Bushfire event. CQBRG coordinated the re-design and installation of a brand new, all weather, Community Notice Board infront of the Dr’s Surbergy to replace what was lost.
A special thanks goes to Bega Woodies Association who undertook fabrication and installation of the new notice board, fabulous job!
Business Directory Signage at Cobargo United Service Station
With the influx of visitors to Cobargo and the region looking to support our local business community post bushfires, CQBRG focused its early efforts on ensuring lost business signage was re-instated.
The Signage at the Cobargo United Service station was identified as an invaluable touch point for visitors travelling through to read and learn about the businesses and services available in the town.
CQBRG coordinated the re-design and replacement of both the Cobargo Tourism Directory sign and Local Trades and Services Directory at Cobargo United Service station in collaboration with See Sure Design Narooma (who generously offering pro-bono sign design) and The Minderoo Foundation together with Bega Woodies Association.
What? The CQ Business Catch Up’s, held bimonthly, are informal social events to help local business owners catch up, chat, share information and support each other. Please come along!
Who? Business owners in the Cobargo and Quaama areas - main street businesses and landlords, online businesses, from home businesses, mobile businesses, everyone welcome!
Where? Coco Commons Lounge (White Horse building) in Cobargo.
For more information hop onto our event facebook page:
Cobargo Business Catch Up Nights
Find out more
To learn more about our various projects and how you can get involved, please get in touch with us.
