Dorrigo Chamber of Commerce Inc. held its AGM on September 4 at Dorrigo Wholefoods, and the following committee members were elected: President – Patsy Green; Vic President – Carolyn Meehan; Secretary – Sheila Guymer; Treasurer – Peter Lynch; Committee Members – Peter Gibson, John O’leary, Richard Harrison, Rory Birt, Mia Harper and Maggie Cairns.
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President Patsy Green spoke about the past year’s activities.
Presidents Report 2017
Another year has passed very quickly and when I sat down to write the president’s report I wondered just what we as a chamber had done in the past 12 months. At first I was not sure that we had achieved much at all. Then I looked back through newspapers and emails and presentations that we have either hosted or been a part of in some way and realised that we have indeed achieved a lot for a small group of dedicated volunteers.
Made in Dorrigo Street Market has been running since 2012 and was held again in December last year and April and July this year. All the hard work of this small chamber sub-committee was recognised in January, when we received the 2017 Bellingen Shire Australia Day Event of the Year award.
Spruce up Dorrigo completed the revamp of the Coach Terminal with the official opening in September last year attended by our local member, Melinda Pavey.
We held several community meetings with specific topics:
- A Question and Answer Event with the local council candidates in August last year.
- The Future of Business in Dorrigo with Robyn Simon from ETC and Steven Saunders from Coffs Council and Tourism Coffs Coast in January.
- Addressing our regional skills shortages – A Regional Development Australia information gathering forum held in May
- Safer Communities/Safer Towns with Safe work NSW and Fair Trading in June.
- More recently, the Bike Tourism info session and Waterfall Way TV Commercial marketing event.
Members of the chamber executive team have been involved in meetings with NBN Co, council and the other local chambers regarding the rollout of the NBN network and lobbying for lightning fast lightning free internet for the plateau.
We continue to work with government departments and industry representatives to move into phase two of the Run of River Hydro project.
We are working with council and government on upgrades to Waterfall Way, including pushing for the monument to be converted to a true roundabout, overtaking lanes and pull over sites on the mountain and much more.
We have been and are working with council to ensure Dorrigo receives its share of funding for projects that our community wants and needs.
We have strong working relationships with other community organisations including Lions and Rotary and actively seek mutual opportunities to improve our town.
As a member of the NSW Business Chamber- Local Chamber Alliance, we have been able to be a part of think tanks and brainstorming sessions on what our region needs to promote the entire area to visitors and potential residents.
From these sessions the Coffs Coast Infrastructure Alliance has been formed. This not-for-profit organisation has the aim of assisting groups and organisations, including chambers, land councils, and local government with support for grants and government funding applications for projects that will not only benefit local areas but also bring benefits to the whole region. Each chamber in the region i.e. Coffs, Nambucca, Woolgoolga, Urunga, Bellingen and Dorrigo, have been invited to hold a seat and voting right on the alliance. We also have access to representatives on the regional chamber committee and are included in any meetings held locally.
Over the past two years we have commenced working more closely with the other two Chambers within our local government area to ensure a stronger voice in local council matters.
We continue to promote Dorrigo as an RV-friendly town and to ensure we remain RV friendly, we are currently submitting a letter to council regarding the recent removal of access to potable water for these travellers at the site outside the showground.
We have continued to promote Dorrigo and its businesses through our website Dorrigo.com along with our facebook pages: Dorrigo tourism, Business and community; Made in Dorrigo and Spruce up Dorrigo. Advertising and editorials in the Dorrigo Gazette, Bellingen Courier Sun, editorial and advertising in Touring Australian Magazine Winter/Spring 2016 and Summer/Autumn 2017 editions; interviews on ABC MNC Radio and an impromptu spot on PRIME7 Friday evening news a couple of months ago when they were in Dorrigo doing stories on the renaming of Shephards Road and a Funny Friday Spot at Dorrigo Sweet Shop; all this helps get Dorrigo known in the wider world.
Our member base has remained steady with new businesses opening and private individuals joining us and a few leaving for various reasons including selling their business or moving away from the area. We welcome all our new members to the chamber and encourage everyone to have an active role in promoting Dorrigo.
We do also occasionally enter competitions. In September last year we won a spot on the 50 Best Small towns in Australia and more recently we became finalists in the local chamber category of NSW Business Chamber Regional Awards. These awards were held in Port Macquarie August 25 where we were one of three local chambers vying for this award. Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce, Macleay Valley Business Chamber and us out of a total of 27 local chambers eligible to enter. Unfortunately, we did not win, but his was a major achievement for a small town. And who knows, we might just win next year.
Finally A huge thank you to the 2016-17 Committee, the sub committees and all the members. I look forward to what the next 12 months brings for the chamber.
Thank you
Patsy Green
President
Dorrigo Chamber of Commerce Inc.
