MINUTES FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Date:  5 April 2005

PRESENT:        Paul & Marilyn Grebert, Pauline Dawes, Rebecca Shelton, Jo Thompson, Joe Palermo, Les Dawes, Neil Harris, Peter Holstein,

APOLOGIES:        Graeme & Karan Morrison, Megan Hutchinson, David McFarlane, Lisa Jansen, David Carter,

MEETING COMMENCED AT             7.10pm

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Corrections made to published minutes (Tom Hawker was not present), updated minutes presented to meeting.

MOVED:            Marilyn Grebert                    SECONDED:                        Pauline Dawes

That the minutes be accepted. Carried

BUSINESS ARISING

No business arising from previous minutes

CORRESPONDENCE IN

Council      1.       Agenda Traffic Committee Meeting 2 March

                   2.   Minutes of Traffic Committee Meeting 2 March (2 copies)

                   3.   Agenda of Ordinary Meeting 15 Feb

                   4.   Minutes of extraordinary meeting 16 Feb

                   5.   Minutes of Ordinary Meeting 22 Feb

Council      6. Agenda of Ordinary Meeting 5 April

                   7. Business paper item 12.1for meeting 5 April

                   8. Business paper item 12.4 parts 1, 2, 3, & 5, (a-d) for meeting 5 April (Marilyn)

Council      9. Agenda Traffic Committee Meeting 6 April

Dept Regional Development

                  10. Main Street/Small Towns Grant (Neil has it)

CORRESPONDENCE OUT

Nil

MOVED:            Peter            Holstein                      SECONDED:                        Joe Palmero

That the correspondence be accepted. Carried

FINANCIAL REPORT

No report

GENERAL BUSINESS

Council Traffic Committee Minutes     

Council have proposed that a 1.2m medium strip to be placed down the centre of the road.  RTA is currently sourcing funding.

There is a Traffic Meeting at 9.30am on Wednesday 6^th April.

Marilyn was concerned that the letter forwarded to council, from local businesses, has given the Council too much ammunition to change the road.  With the medium strip in place there will be no parking.  Les bought up the fact that the standard for medium strips was 1.5m and this was not supposed to go ahead as it will take out all the parking on Tongarra Road.  Restricting the movement and flow of traffic will push more traffic around the perimeter of Albion Park Public School.

Neil suggested that the new co-ordinator position could be used to unite the business community and work with Council instead of ad hoc approaches to Council and decisions being made without consultation with the Albion Park business community.

Neil mentioned that there was around $690,000 coming towards Albion Park for Street Scape.

Paul will contact Neville Fredericks regarding his offer of funding for town planning.

Jane Robertson, Economic Development Officer,

Neil suggested a letter to Council requesting confirmation of the $690,000 plus Neville’s $20,000 and Councils promise to match Neville’s offer.   Also where the funding for the medium strip would be coming from and is it to be taken from the current Street Scape budget?

Neil Greg to be contacted by Joe Palmero to gather some clarification at the traffic meeting (6^th April) on what is happening with the medium strip and what will be happening to parking.  Michelle Greg and Tom Hawker are also to be lobbied.

Joe suggested that representations to local government members be made regarding long term traffic solutions; such as relocating the school and lobbying local members to gain additional funding for the by-pass.

Paul suggested that a round table conference be called to discuss short and long term traffic solutions and suggestions with Council Representatives, Local Government Representatives, State Government Representatives, Chamber, Business and Community representatives.

Grant for Co-ordinator

Main Street Small Town Program funding acceptance has been received.  Letter was dated 8^th March; we have only 30 days to respond.  The letter was received on 4^th April; Paul will provide the envelope to gain extra time. Neil will prepare and mail the reply.

Part-time co-ordinator for 2 years;  will co-ordinate the ideas from the planning meetings to get projects happening in town, increase chamber membership, galvanise the business community into a more focused group, boost economic development for the town, gain extra funding for town projects. Co-ordinator will have time to keep projects moving where current members are having to find time voluntarily in addition to their business commitments.  Liaise and build a positive relationship with Council.

Jo suggested that for the next meeting that everyone bring a suggestion or project for the co-ordinator to work on.  Neil read out the current 12 objectives listed for the co-ordinator.  Neil would like to see this list of objectives prioritised.

Co-ordinator position needs to be made a priority. 

Joe Palmero would like a list of Chamber Members as he has trouble contacting people when an issue arises.  Paul will produce a Committee List for the next meeting for acceptance.  Executive Committee members to have their contact details published on the website. 

Neil would like to respond to the draft section 94 plan. Joe, Neil and Marilyn to look at the plan and highlight items that relate to Albion Park.  This plan is available for public perusal on the Shellharbour City Council Website.

Paul would like to see all APCC information and minutes kept in one place.  Paul said Karan would be happy to have these stored at the Post Office.

Horizon would like the paperwork for the move of APCC accounts finialised.  David is to be approached regarding this.  Jo also suggested that some of the Chambers money be placed on short term investment to earn extra. Jo will bring along all necessary paper work to open the Horizon accounts to the next Chamber meeting and gather necessary signatures and identification.

Paul to organise an action sheet to be produced from the monthly meetings with names, actions and deadlines.

Joe would like to start lobbying local members regarding long term traffic solutions; such as relocating the school, lobbying local members to gain additional funding for the by-pass.

Peter, Neil and Joe want a representative from the Chamber placed on the Traffic Committee. 

Peter would like local and state government members asked to come to Albion Park and see what effect the proposed traffic changes will have on the township.

Les would like to see more Chamber Members advertising on the website.  There was discussion about charges, free advertising for Chamber Members with information about members businesses.

Peter would like to see more promotion within the community about what the chamber is doing, current issues, and membership benefits.

Paul mentioned that on the Visit NSW website, Albion Park is poorly described and there is no photographic image of the area. Home work for all members – what does Albion Park have to offer to tourists.  What image would you like to see.

Selection committee for the Co-ordinators Position Paul, Neil, Graeme (?).

Correspondence needs to be date stamped.  Paul to purchase a APCC date stamp and Common Seal.

MOVED:  Neil Harris            SECONDED:  Rebecca Shelton

MEETING CLOSED                         at 8.15pm.