Chamber Dinner - Annual General Meeting
CHAMBER PUSHES FOR WOY WOY WORKING COMITTEEThe Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has today confirmed its push to form a working committee for the Woy Woy town centre consisting of retailers, commercial property owners and Council staff following a successful meeting with Mayor Laurie Maher. "The Peninsula Chamber has for some time been highly concerned at the drop in retail business in the old section of the Woy Woy town centre", said Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales.
"This led to an eight person delegation of Woy Woy retailers and commercial land owners meeting with the Mayor and senior Council staff just before Christmas with the view to exploring ways to stimulate long term sustainable business activity in Woy Woy".
"It was a highly pro-active discussion and the Council has agreed to support the creation of a working group that will liaise with Council over the next 12 months", said Matthew Wales.
"The aim is to identify strategies and civic improvement works that will help to stimulate the old retail sector of Woy Woy and empower retailers and commercial land owners to push for those initiatives".
"The Chamber understands that funds are very tight. However, if you don't identify the things that need to be done, then we will never be in a position to lobby for funding in the future", said Matthew Wales.
"Councillor Laurie Maher was particularly supportive of the involvement of the business community and this will lead to the formation of the working committee early in 2012".
"It is important that both retailers and land owners are involved in the process so that you have broad business support", said Matthew Wales.
"We are also very grateful for the strong support of Deepwater Plaza General Manager Julie Marr who instigated this process".
The Chamber has acknowledged that it is vitally important to link the old retail section of Woy Woy with Deepwater Plaza in order to strengthen the local economic base.
"It is our view that you need to link all segments of the Woy Woy town centre not only physically but through co-operative marketing", said Matthew Wales.
CHAMBER HAPPY WITH RETAIL SALESThe Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has welcomed strong retail sales across the Peninsula town centres following what has been described as a "solid" Christmas for business. "We are generally very pleased with feedback from retailers following what has been a pretty solid Christmas retail period", said Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales.
"There is no doubt that it has been a difficult year for many but it appears that Christmas sales have been strong particularly in the Umina Beach main street and at Deepwater Plaza Woy Woy".
"Umina has been pretty well packed to the rafters over the Christmas break which has translated into brisk business for many retailers", said Matthew Wales.
"Chamber members have commented that the entry of anchor retailers like Woolworths, Coles and Aldi have meant an increase in foot traffic and have attracted people from out of town who don't normally shop in Umina's main street".
"Good news also from Deepwater Plaza who seem to have recovered from the impacts of the commuter carpark and Charlton Street roundabout construction to record strong sales equaling their strong 2009 figures", said Matthew Wales.
"These a good signs for 2012 and the Chamber intends to ramp up its relationship with Gosford City Council in order to improve business conditions especially in the old retail section of Woy Woy".
The Peninsula Chamber has said that it still sees 2012 as being a challenging year but one with many opportunities.
"It is our view that retail conditions are slowly improving and business should look to review their business models and find ways to revamp and refocus their offer to shoppers", said Matthew Wales.
"With the roadworks now finished in Woy Woy, we expect that some of the retail dollars will flow back to the main Peninsula commercial centre and it is clear that Umina Beach is attracting shoppers from outside the area because of the easy access, great parking and positive attitude by retailers"
"All in all, the year looks pretty promising and the Chamber will continue to push for CBD improvements in co-operation with Gosford City Council", said Matthew Wales.
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PARKING / TRAFFIC KEY ISSUES FOR UMINA VILLAGE MASTERPLANRelease to follow.
CHAMBER WELCOMES FORSHORE SCHEDULE
The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has today welcomed advice from Gosford City Council that the next phase of the Ettalong Beach foreshore upgrade will commence mid 2012.
“Following a recent meeting with Gosford City Council’s Project Officer, Derek Hill, the Chamber has been advised that the next stage of the Ettalong Foreshore upgrade will commence in August 2012 utilising the $2M Federal Grant money secured by Federal Member for Robertson, Deborah O’Neill at the last election”, said Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Matthew Wales.
“The Federal Grant was a key election promise made by the Federal Member following representations by the Chamber of Commerce”.
“Council has confirmed that environmental and engineering investigations are nearing completion with all the required permits from the State Government, including Fisheries for minor reclamation works, due to be issued shortly”, said Matthew Wales.
“The Federal Grant of $2M has been allocated by Council to undertake the detailed design and construction of the seawall and cycleway/footpath in Ferry Park Precinct between the Lemon Grove Outlet and Beach Street Outlet.
The Ettalong Plan of Management identifies an area at the northern end of Ferry Park of approximately 1150m2 for reclamation and a 40m extension of the stormwater outlet including a Gross Pollutant Trap (GPT)”.
“It is these works that have taken Council some considerable time to detail and gain approval for”, said Matthew Wales.
“We understand that the works will take approximately six months to complete so we are obviously urging Council to commence work as soon as possible so that there is minimal disruption to the foreshore leading up to the Christmas period”.
“This has taken a long time to finalise but would not have been possible without the $2M Federal Grant. The Chamber will continue to lobby the Council to make further funds available for other key foreshore projects including the restoration of the failing revetment walls along Lance Webb Reserve”, said Matthew Wales.
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