Welcome to the Central Coast Sun

MORE than three million Aussies are planning a holiday into 2013.

A typical Australian family of four, who will spend approximately $16,000 when travelling to a popular destination such as Bali for two weeks, can save over $400 by switching to a card with no foreign currency conversion fees.

A recent study found that 57% of people bought goods on their credit card whilst travelling abroad and yet 78% of people did not know what they were paying in foreign currency conversion fees.

Many travelers are in the dark about the fact that whilst they are shopping up a storm and enjoying their trips overseas, banks are reaping the rewards by charging millions of dollars per annum in foreign currency conversion fees.

Jeremy Cabral, Publisher of leading credit card comparison website, CreditCardFinder.com.au says: “By simply planning ahead and making savvy decisions with holiday money, Australians can make major savings. Conversion fees can eat into your travel budget but there are ways to avoid this and save cash.”

Mr. Cabral has the following tips for Australians travelling overseas:
•    Research your travel money options - Before you go overseas look into your credit card’s foreign currency conversion fees, charges and exchange rates as you can save yourself hundreds of dollars by doing so.
•    Consider a no foreign currency exchange fee credit card - there are some credit cards in market which do not charge for foreign currency exchange conversion and can save you between 2% - 3.5% on foreign currency conversion charges. Visit http://www.creditcardfinder.com.au/foreign-currency-international-fees-for-credit-cards.html for more information.
•    Notify your bank - Before you head off, notify your bank of your travel plans and contact details so they won’t flag your transactions as suspicious or fraudulent when they see international purchases on your accounts.
•    Always have some cash on you – As a backup keep a small amount of cash with you just in case you are unable to use your credit card or withdraw money from an ATM.
•    Keep all receipts from purchases or payments – This will allow you to correctly verify them against your statement on your return home and will be helpful if you ever have any transaction disputes or need to do a chargeback.
•    Avoid exchanging cash at the airport – Airport exchanges have much higher transaction fees than your bank.
•    Separate where you store your credit cards, cash and passport. It’s important to take more than one card overseas as a backup in case your wallet is stolen. It is also important to have a copy of all your identification documents.

Carrying large amounts of cash is a major hassle when travelling. It can be lost or stolen and there is no getting it back.

Credit cards with $0 foreign currency exchange fees are worth considering when choosing between travel money options.
Many of the banks have specifically designed credit cards for overseas travel that offer no currency conversion or transaction fees.

CreditCardFinder.com.au has several credit cards available on the website that are an option to consider for overseas travel and could provide you with significant savings, including:

Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
•    Foreign transaction fees are waived.
•    Built-in airline travel and accident insurance protection wherever you are in the world.
•    $0 p.a. annual fee forever.
•    0% p.a. for 6 months (reverts to 17.99% p.a.) on purchases.
•    55 days interest free on purchases.
•    24/7 concierge service to help you arrange travel, bookings, shopping and medical services.
•    Up to 3 additional cardholders – free!
•    24/7 account access via Bankwest Online Banking.

Aussie Platinum Low Rate Credit Card
•    No international transaction fees charged.
•    Complimentary travel insurance.
•    Annual fee of $99 per annum.
•    4.99% p.a. for 4 months (reverts to 13.29% p.a.).
•    Interest free period of up to 55 days.
•    A personal concierge service is offered to Aussie Platinum Low Rate cardholders. Get access to local knowledge 24 hours a day seven days a week, no matter where you are in the world.

28 Degrees MasterCard Credit Card by GE Money
•    No transaction fees, and no withdrawal charges or any currency exchange charges.
•    $0 p.a. annual fee.
•    20.99% p.a. interest rate on purchases.
•    Interest free period of up to 55 days.

Summary of news and initatives from GWS in January 2013.

AN estimated 100,000 visitors from overseas, Australia and interstate are expected to visit Penrith, in 2013, to attend a number of major events, which include the Australian Youth Olympics, Dame Kiri TeKanawa at The Joan Sutherland Centre, 2013 International Rowing Regatta and the Bicentenary Crossing of the Blue Mountains.

Caves to be privatised

THE NSW government proposes to privatise the world famous Jenolan Caves. The Environment Minister, Robyn Parker, said proposals would be sought early this year to take over management of the caves, including from business, local government, charities, individuals and the not-for-profit sector. The successful applicant would be offered a long-term lease on the hotel and another 30 buildings on the site, as well as access to the caves.

Placements continue to grow

THE Blacktown Regional Economic and Employment Development (BREED) Taskforce Inc reports that the number of work placements provided each year continues to grow. In 2012 over 3,500 students were placed into businesses across the Blacktown region.

Farmland in parklands

FARMLAND within the Western Sydney Parklands will be rejuvenated in a move that will create 100 jobs, provide up to $45 million of investment and boost tourism through the creation of a farm gate trail. The Horsley Park Urban Farming Master Plan will see 159 hectares of existing farmland land within the parklands set aside exclusively for glasshouses, poly/greenhouses, market gardens and orchards.

Firm wins an award

ENSITECH, an Emu Plains manufacturer won the Small Business Award at the 50th Australian Export Awards. The company produces high-quality products which change the way users do business by providing a safe, efficient alternative to dangerous and contaminating industrial practices. It is the award-winning developer of the TIG Brush® Stainless Steel Weld Cleaning System and the Ensitech Surface Finishing System.

Homes and jobs

MORE than 10,000 homes will be built for nearly 30,000 people at Marsden Park near the North West Rail line. Marsden Park will benefit from a new town centre providing commercial uses, two new villages with shops plus conservation and park areas. Four new schools are planned and combined with the shopping precincts around 3,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created. An adjoining industrial park being built has the capacity for 17,000 new jobs.

Business Park approved

THE Western Sydney Parklands Trust proposal has been approved for a 21-hectare subdivision of the proposed Horsley Drive Business Park, at the corner of The Horsley Drive and Cowpasture Road, Wetherill Park. The proposal is expected to generate $15.6 million in capital investment value for the region and generate approximately 100 construction jobs and the potential to provide 600 future operational jobs.

100 leading scientists

NEARLY 100 of the world's leading scientists gathered at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) Campbelltown campus for a symposium on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The event, hosted by the UWS School of Science and Health, covered a range of topics including the medical and industrial applications of this versatile imaging technique.

Sold for $11.5 million

CASULA Central, a retail and commercial business centre on the Hume Highway, at Casula, has been sold to a private syndicate for $11.5 million on behalf of receivers, KordaMentha.

First of its kind

THE Ingham Institute, at Liverpool, and UNSW’s executive director of the Translational Cancer Research Unit, Professor Afaf Girgis, recently received the Inaugural Australian Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) Psycho-Oncology Award. The national award is the first of its kind in Australia.

New dwellings

SOME 3,100 new homes for 9000 people are planned near the South West Rail line, at Catherine Field. The site will have a neighbourhood centre, housing shops and a community centre, the heritage Oran Park House will be protected and an environmental corridor established along South Creek. Three new schools are planned.

Management school opened

THE S P Jain School of Global Management, at Sydney Olympic Park, is a global business school, with campuses in Dubai and Singapore. S P Jain’s tri-city model offers students the unique opportunity of studying in three cities in the Asia-Pacific region. The campus can accommodate 500 residential students.

Portals to be considered

PARRAMATTA City Council has granted approval for portals to be built in the Lennox Bridge, in the Parramatta CBD, to provide pedestrian access under each side of the bridge along the riverfront and associated road works and landscaping within the foreshore reserves. Two hundred and ten submissions were received of which ten were in favour.

Manager of CBD economy

PARRAMATTA City Council has advertised for a manager, of the CBD economy. The successful applicant, who will join a small team of strategists and project managers inside council’s economic development unit, will help in producing a high-level strategy for the CBD and data that expands council’s understanding of the 24/7 economy. The two-year temporary position will have a salary of $101,580 plus super.

Seeking funds for precinct

PARRAMATTA City Council will prepare an expression of interest for round four of the Regional Development Australia Fund for the development of the Riverside Theatre and Entertainment Precinct, integrating the redevelopment of the council-owned Lennox Bridge Car Park site, across the Parramatta River. The car park site will include a council-owned and operated Discovery Centre, a privately-owned 1200-seat convention centre and associated retail and public domain improvements.

MOTORISTS can now have their car serviced at Thomson Ford and Thomson Kia and make a donation to Parramatta Mission at the same time.