‘Reliable and fast Wi-FI services’ were among the priorities raised by respondents to a hub-related survey.

A conference room, office space, a commercial kitchen and business-related services were also in high demand for such a project. 

The Heathcote Business Incubator Hub proposal was raised as part of the process to update the Heathcote Community Plan.

The City of Greater Bendigo recorded 50 responses to a survey intended to gauge support for the idea.

About a third of the respondents were considering opening a business in Heathcote in the next 12 months.

The survey showed the community was already home to a ‘significant group’ of home-based micro businesses, the owners of which could stand to benefit from the project.

“We’ve received a fantastic response from residents who agree there is a need for a business incubator and better support for business owners,” Advance Heathcote secretary Sandra Slatter said.

Heathcote Community House co-ordinator Vicki Forde said many of the volunteers the organisation worked with had business ideas. 

Examples ranged from aquaponics to furniture design.

“Something like this will stimulate that conversation, stimulate their creativeness and also encourage them in starting or finding out if it’s feasible,” Miss Forde said.

Kerry Sapsed turned to the community house for help to transform her passion for tea into a community enterprise.

These days, she operates Thyme for Tea out of her Heathcote home.

Mrs Sapsed said she had the necessary authorisation to operate from her kitchen.

But being a home-based business limited the potential to scale up orders. 

“If I want to go greater and make large quantities a commercial kitchen would be a huge benefit,” Mrs Sapsed said.

Without the capacity to produce large quantities of tea, the business is limited in its ability to trade online.

Mrs Sapsed said the town’s telecommunications also posed challenges for day-to-day business.

“A lot of small businesses can’t do just the paperwork from home, let alone trying to look after our other wares,” she said.

Douglas Thomson is running a web design and social media business on an ADSL1 internet connection, having experienced even slower speeds on the NBN Sky Muster satellite service.

The High Voltage Studio web developer said a hub with a decent internet connection would be beneficial for his business.

His other priorities for the proposed hub included a designated meeting space.

A community discussion has been arranged for next Monday to establish the next steps for the proposal. 

“If there is a commitment to continue with the business incubator initiative, we’ll be looking for further input from those surveyed to determine the types of facilities and services local entrepreneurs want,” Trevor Budge, of the City of Greater Bendigo, said.

The discussion is scheduled to take place at the Heathcote Community Bank Stadium Oval Room on High Street from 7pm – 8.30pm on January 22.