For the first time, the five Eurobodalla business chamber presidents met as a group with the shire’s councillors and senior council staff at an informal meeting, described as “very constructive” by mayor Liz Innes.
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“This was a fantastic opportunity for councillors to meet with the chamber presidents, and to have an informal yet very constructive conversation about the challenges and issues we share,” Cr Innes said of the meeting at The Whale Restaurant, in Narooma.
“We hope to do it again soon. The chambers show great leadership and the meeting left me feeling really confident about the future of Eurobodalla.”
The chambers were represented by Jude Manahan (Moruya), Niels Bendixen (Narooma), Peter Lonergan (Tilba), Richard Adams (Mogo) and Paul Biddlestone (Batemans Bay). The Narooma & District Chamber of Commerce and Tourism president Niels Bendixsen described the forum as open and honest.
“For Narooma the key topics were around the closure of NAB and how we can stimulate activity along Riverside Drive in Forsters Bay for both our local community and tourism,” Mr Bendixsen said. Regarding the NAB closure he said two points of view emerged during the meeting, with some wanting to voice objection to the closure and others seeing an opportunity: “What other banks or lenders could step into that spot?”
He said the broader discussion, which encompassed the whole shire, centred on employment and growing businesses.
“Our shire is geographically widespread and it’s easy for each town to fall into silos of activity. Sharing and collaborating with council and with each other’s Chamber’s is vital if we want to move forward. This forum was an important step in making that happen,” Mr Bendixsen said.
Moruya Business Chamber’s Jude Manahan said it was the first time presidents had sat with the councillors as a group and discussed each chamber’s issues, opportunities and achievements: “It was an extension of the regular meetings the shire chamber presidents have been having for the past years.”
She said the meeting allowed the representatives to meet each other as individuals, as well as a representative – “put a face to a name so to speak, which always helps in communication” – a good starting point with ideas shared and suggestions registered.