Business Support
The Council in partnership with a number of organisations are engaged with supporting local businesses to thrive. Support for local business is currently provided through the following:
City of Victor Harbor – Visitor Services
Council has recently made significant changes to the way it delivers visitor services and destination marketing, while supporting local tourism businesses. The changes in this area have seen the Visitor Centre consolidate with the South Australian Whale Centre on Railway Terrace. In late 2022, following significant renovation works, Council re opened the Railway Goods Shed building as a modern and sophisticated Visitor Centre, also housing the South Australian Whale Centre.
Under the new model, visitor services are more closely linked to efforts around marketing Victor Harbor as a holiday destination. A newly created team is delivering and enhancing a range of digital marketing platforms such as the new tourism website, Facebook and Instagram accounts. This includes the delivery of a series of marketing campaign activities that are intended to change outdated perceptions of Victor Harbor as a holiday destination.
This change now provides an opportunity for local businesses to engage with the Visitor Centre Team on promotional opportunities for their business, particularly across the various destination marketing digital platforms that Council manages.
To discuss your tourism business needs, please make contact with our Visitor Centre Team on 8551 0770.
Business Victor Harbor
Business Victor Harbor is the principal chamber of commerce that operates within the City of Victor Harbor local government area. The chamber is a membership based organisation that represents and advocates for its members while also engaging with the broader business community.
The Council have recently provided Business Victor Harbor with a grant of $100,000 to support the employment of an Executive Officer enabling the organisation to establish itself as a well governed and representative chamber of commerce, while partnering with the Council on the delivery of the City’s Economic Development Strategy.
To find out more about how Business Victor Harbor can support your business please visit the Business Victor Harbor website or follow them on Facebook.
Connect Victor
Connect Victor is a recently opened, shared business space that connects professional, creative and entrepreneurial people into a co working space. This is a great place for new entrepreneurs and independent business operators to associate with like minded people. Visit the Connect Victor website for more information.
Regional Organisations
The Council has formed regional partnerships with neighbouring Council and higher levels of government to resource Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism and Regional Development Australian Hills and Coasts.
Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism is an industry led organisation that seeks to further enhance the tourism offering on the Fleurieu Peninsula while marketing the destination in partnership with the South Australian Tourism Commission. To make contact with Fleurieu Peninsula and receive update please visit the Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism website.
Regional Development Australia – Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island contributes and represents the broader region on policy and projects that drive economic activity. Further information on the role of the Regional Development Australia please visit the Regional Development Australia website.
Office of the Small Business Commissioner
The City of Victor Harbor is a proud participant of the Office of the Small Business Commissioner's Small Business Friendly Council Initiative and recognises that the Victor Harbor small business community is an important stakeholder.
As a participant of this Charter, Council is committed to:
- Implementing activities to improve the operating environment for small business within Council’s area.
- Establishing a business advisory group (if one does not already exist) to assist Council’s understanding of small business in Council's area;
- Implementing a procurement policy which recognises local small businesses wherever possible.
- Paying undisputed invoices from small businesses within 30 days.
- Implementing a timely and cost effective process to manage invoice disputes.