Chamber supports network replacement

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has supported the introduction of Regional Development Australia, replacing the Area Consultative Committee network.

Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales has said that he hoped the new brand would be implemented on the Central Coast and have a greater "grass roots" focus for small businesses on the Peninsula.

"The formation of Regional Development Australia is seen as an opportunity by the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce for the Federal Government to ensure that such organisations have more relevance to small business," Mr Wales said.

"In the past, local businesses have struggled to connect with the old Central Coast Area Consultative Committee that was perceived as an out-of-touch Federal organisation that rarely funded business and community projects at a local level.

"Often the application criteria was too complicated to understand and beyond the capability and resources of local organisations to complete.

"It was seen to be too difficult to obtain funding for local projects and when funding was obtained, it was poorly promoted."

In March this year, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Mr Anthony Albanese announced that the Federal Government had agreed to the establishment of Regional Development Australia, based on the Area Consultative Committee network.

As a result, the vision, mission and role of the Central Coast committee were under review.

Mr Wales said the Central Coast committee had consulted widely in developing its submission to the Federal Government on the future role of the network.

"The Chamber provided input during the consultation process as part of the submission to the Federal Government to continue its role on the Central Coast", Mr Wales said.

"Our main concern was that the new organisation eliminate duplication of services and consult closely with Local and State Government bodies so that there is a coordinated approach to the funding of local business and community projects.

"Our local business people are pretty well fed up with all the talk about regional economic strategies when they see absolutely nothing for it at street level."

Press release, 23 Sep 2008 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce