MINUTES FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2 March 2005

 

Present:          Megan Hutchinson Graeme & Karan Morrison, Rob Linnehan, Daniel Norris, Ben Linnehan, David Carter, Peter Holstein, Steve Bott,  Marilyn Grebert, Mark Wheeler, Lisa Jansen, Gary & Robin Humphries, David McFarlane  Pauline Dawes

 

Apologies:     Paul Grebert, Ray Sheehan, Jo Ellen Joe Palermo, Michelle Greig, Neil Harris, Les Dawes, Michael Raftery

 

Meeting commenced at 7.15pm

 

Previous minutes not circulated

 

BUSINESS ARISING

 

Minutes not posted due to a technical error.  Will be sent tomorrow

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE IN

 

Council minutes

Shellharbour Visitors guide anyone who wants to advertise contact Megan

Illawarra area consultative committee “links for small business”

 

CORRESPONDENCE OUT

 

Application for Coordinator – Letter sent out

 

MOVED:            MEGAN HUTCHINSON                     SECONDED:                        DAVID CARTER

 

That the correspondence be accepted

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

 

David advised that there was no change o the financial position.  Members are encouraged to pay heir membership fees.

 

We are financial

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

Megan:

 

a petition has ben circulated concerning the no right hand turn at Mc Graths lane.  The shop keepers have advised that this was done without consultation with them.  They are worried re parking for their businesses.  Westbound vehicles must now go in a circuitous route to get to them.  Seriously harms viability of all businesses.  Megan said that the Chamber has been aware for some time of this issue.  When we started the chamber it was over traffic plans by council.  Megan said that it has been over 2 years since the streetscape committee met.  This would have been the appropriate committee to address this issue. The Chamber has tried to raise various options however Council and RTA were not prepared and are not prepared to budge on the issue.

 

Rob Linnenhan, the author of the petition, said that he spoke to someone on council who will put it before the traffic committee tonight.

 

Megan: It only highlights what is an ongoing problem, which is traffic in Albion Park.    

 

Rob said that he would not accept that the RTA is non negotiable.  The RTA has a minister to whom they are accountable.  Should we be approaching him?

 

Megan advised that we have gone through the local member. She related the letter we sent king for the removal of parking restrictions during school holidays.  In essence the reply we got was be grateful or harsher restriwill be put in place.

 

She rang Brian Weir to see if section 94 monies  be used to assist private land holders re streetcape.  No response from Brian Weir.

 

Gary said that after some work for the underground power was done, pavers belonging to his landlord were taken. Do not know where they have gone.

 

Megan said  it is obvious we are not getting anywhere with the current approach, maybe need a new approach.

 

Gary raised issue re Princes Highway losing its parking and the RTA moving into 3 lane of traffic. He said that not a week passes when someone does not lose a car door opening it onto traffic.

 

Megan,  A letter to council asking why streetscape committee not been held for 2 years.  Moved such a letter be sent.

 

 Megan advised that she and Graeme attended a business dinner held at Addison’s. Shellharbour round table dinner, it was a chance to socialise with the likes of Brian Weir, Arthur Webster, the mayor and major employers of Shellharbour.  The meeting was well attended; Neville Fredericks gave a power talk on Tullimbah. Said Albion Park was to be world news in that the Tullimbah project had attracted a lot of interstate and international attention.  The problem being of course that the dramatically inadequate traffic facilities at Albion Park will also be highlighted.

 

The plan for Tullimbah is to build shops after some houses constructed. An IGA is  envisaged, though will have to be subsidised till the housing development can sustain the supermarket.  There has also been discussion with TIGS and the likes of Warrigal care.

 

There was a meeting last Wednesday re healthy cities.  The first we heard about it was in the Lake Times that day.  We received no advance publicity.  Megan rang the organiser.  Said only 15 people turned up.  He said he did not have a publicity budget.  Our concern is that it might give the appearance no one cared when in reality no one knew about the meeting.

 

Pauline

 

Web page, now up and running, had been achieved.  Now been reactivated.

Need a current list of committee.  Would anyone be interested in advertising businesses, a lot of development?  Business involved in chamber can have links to own page, would be included in membership fees.  Would also be able to have own small ad on the site.

 

Peter,

 

Expression of Interested closed on Friday.  Mine is in, see what happens.  Qantas, Council only found out about it the day before.  Peter raised the issue of screening passengers. Some security has to be done as non screened persons would not be allowed into major terminal.  Peter dos not understand motive.  He believes it is only an excuse for a runway upgrade?

 

Megan:

Subway is going in the village. It may be opened for Breakfast.

 

Neville Fredericks wrote to council last October offering $20000.00 to be matched by council for a cohesive traffic plan development.  No acknowledgement by council.  At the last meeting Tom Hawker said that he would follow it up.  He was given a copy of Neville’s letter 2 days after the last meeting, no reply to date.

 

Peter; Any plan to stop traffic going east turning right into private driveways?  Megan Yes.  Original plan was for a medium strip from Russell St to Lights. This would have prevented right turn for traffic turning right.

 

 

Meeting closed at 8.20pm.