Parra News March 14 2023
March 14 2023 edition of Parra News.
March 14 2023 edition of Parra News.
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LOCAL NEWS<br />
Volcano’s set for major facelift Call to address work shortages<br />
ELLIE BUSBY<br />
An artist’s impression of the proposed new look for Volcano’s Steakhouse.<br />
Image: Faculty Design.<br />
ELLIE BUSBY<br />
Popular <strong>Parra</strong>matta restaurant Volcano’s<br />
Steakhouse is set for a major<br />
facelift, with new additions on its<br />
way.<br />
Known for its fresh flavours and quality<br />
dishes, Volcano’s Steakhouse has recently<br />
lodged plans with the City of <strong>Parra</strong>matta for<br />
a whole new look.<br />
If the Development Application (DA) is<br />
approved, the steakhouse would receive a<br />
new fit out of the existing seating area and<br />
minor cosmetic changes to the façade of the<br />
restaurant. The changes would see a slight<br />
decrease in seats from 90 to 84.<br />
The new look has been designed by Faculty<br />
Design, a team of designers who specialise<br />
in retail and hospitality. The Statement of<br />
Environmental Effects said the proposed<br />
upgrades have been designed in a way that<br />
complements the location and will not create<br />
an eye sore to the surrounding area.<br />
Located at 311 Church Street, Volcano’s<br />
Steakhouse <strong>Parra</strong>matta is locally owned<br />
and operated. Its menu is full of classic<br />
steakhouse favourites, from T-bone to<br />
porterhouse. Visitors to the restaurant are<br />
also able to enjoy ordering from a range of<br />
burgers, ribs, salads and chicken dishes.<br />
The DA comes after businesses along<br />
<strong>Parra</strong>matta’s Church Street were heavily<br />
impacted by COVID, as well as by the<br />
construction of the Light Rail, with many<br />
reporting a decrease among their patronage.<br />
Business NSW, the peak policy and<br />
advocacy body that represents NSW<br />
businesses, is calling on the State<br />
and Federal Government to improve international<br />
students’ work hours.<br />
In January 2022, student work visa restrictions<br />
were completely removed to allow<br />
primary and secondary student visa holders<br />
to work over their normal limit of 40 hours<br />
per fortnight, in an effort to address workforce<br />
shortages.<br />
As of July 1 these restrictions will return<br />
for student visa holders, but capped at the<br />
increased rate of 48 hours per week.<br />
A further change means selected new and<br />
existing international graduate visa holders<br />
will also now be eligible to work for four years<br />
post-graduation, an increase from two years.<br />
Although Business NSW welcomes these<br />
changes, CEO Dan Hunter said more still<br />
needs to be done to address workforce shortages.<br />
“With a record number of job vacancies<br />
in NSW, nine in 10 businesses are unable to<br />
recruit staff they need to keep their doors<br />
open,” Hunter said.<br />
“We’ve all heard about businesses being<br />
forced to close early, reduce their trading<br />
days or shut their doors completely because<br />
they don’t have enough staff.<br />
“With businesses already juggling interest<br />
rate rises, ballooning energy costs and supply<br />
chain problems, labour shortage relief would<br />
be more than welcome.”<br />
As part of its ‘We Mean Business’ election<br />
campaign, Business NSW is now urging<br />
the State and Federal Government to work<br />
Business NSW CEO Dan Hunter said more<br />
needs to be done to fix the worker shortage.<br />
together to expand the NSW Skilled Visa<br />
Nomination program from 15,000 to at least<br />
30,000 places.<br />
“Businesses need to be able to operate<br />
without being handcuffed by a people and<br />
skills shortage,” Hunter said.<br />
The ‘We Mean Business’ policy platform<br />
represents the collective views of businesses,<br />
representing industries, sectors and economies<br />
right across the state of NSW.<br />
12 parra news » Tuesday, <strong>March</strong> <strong>14</strong>, <strong>2023</strong>