Chamber proposes committee for Woy Woy

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is pushing to form a working committee for the Woy Woy town centre which would consist of retailers, commercial property owners and Council staff.

The Chamber's decision to support a working committee followed "a successful meeting with mayor Laurie Maher", said Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.

"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 Mr 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 Mr Wales.

The aim of the committee would be to identify strategies and civic improvement works that would 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," said Mr Wales.

"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.

"Mayor Cr 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.

"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 Mr Wales.

Media Release, 31 Dec 2011 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce