Reports
SOUTHPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY INC. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 7 AUGUST 2006
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
I sincerely welcome members to this Annual General Meeting of the Southport Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 2006.
The year that has passed since my election as President has been a challenging, and usually a rewarding one. The unprecedented growth and revitalisation of the Southport CBD has seemed at once long overdue, but sometimes also a little surprising. Major new developments such as Pivotal Point, Southport Central, Brighton on Braodwater and Nexus are certainly making their mark.
It is tremendous to see the variety and diversity of local restaurants which have opened in the CBD over the past year; these things alone are seeing more of the local community stay in Southport for dining and entertaining options. I see also more residents from the wider Gold Coast community, now coming into Southport for the continental delis and bakeries, and for the cosmopolitan café community which is quickly developing here.
The changing face of Southport has brought with it many great opportunities for local business, but also many hurdles and “growing pains” which must necessarily be faced as our town does come of age.
The year saw the introduction, in three different incarnations as it turned out, of the Gold Coast City Council’s Whole of City Parking Strategy. The increase in hourly parking rates, even to the $1 per hour rate on which the Council eventually settled, has somewhat freed up on street parking in the CBD. At the same time, however, it has highlighted the severe lack of long term parking facilities in the precinct, and the difference of opinion in the community as to expected parking prices and facilities.
The Public Forum which we held on the Parking Issue last month was a great success, and attracted extensive interest and coverage from local media, and welcome attention and consultation from Council. Council officers have arranged to meet with us in the coming month to follow up on plans they have for Southport, and the likely limited upgrade of two of the local Council-run Athol Paterson and Mal Burke parking facilities.
I remain personally concerned that unless parking is offered at a market rate, commercial operators will refuse to enter the market, and our parking facilities will continue to be controlled by Council, and the various political issues which necessarily accompany that scenario.
The proposal for a light rail system to service the Southport CBD has the plain support of a number of Councillors, and with the prospect of election year funding becoming available from the State Government, the light rail issue is something which will require the Chamber’s close and considered attention over the coming months.
The Chamber has continued to reap the rewards of our association with Commerce Queensland over the last year. In addition to the introduction of numerous new members common to both organisations, we worked with Commerce Queensland to host several workshops on the new Workchoices legislation.
The year also saw the incorporation of the “Gold Coast Combined Chamber of Commerce”, which is “combined” at this stage only to the extent that it does not include the Chambers from the primary commercial centres of Southport, Broadbeach, Robina and Beenleigh.
The Combined Chamber has, to their credit, been quite active over recent months, and the notion of all local Gold Coast Chambers having an opportunity to have the one unified voice on city-wide issues, is certainly a sensible and worthy one. However, Southport’s size and commercial and retail makeup is such that we have, I believe, presently more in common with the Chambers who have chosen not to be involved in the Combined Chamber, than those which have.
The issue of our support for the Combined Chamber is, in any event, one that will again require the attention of the new Management Committee over the coming year.
One of the most pleasing facets of the Chamber’s activities over the last year have been the breakfast and networking functions. The feedback from new and prospective members has been very positive; they have found the membership base both very friendly and approachable, whilst at the same time showing more members at a decision maker level within local business. The monthly Business Showcase evenings have also been a great success, giving members the opportunity to display something of their own business, whilst hosting other members in an informal social setting.
Our bi-monthly breakfast functions again regularly attracted strong support. Our speakers for the year included Jim Raptis, Deputy Mayor David Power, Ugly Dave Grey and Noel Whittaker, along with two panel presentations on business and investment issues of direct relevance to the local community.
The year has also seen the Chamber spread its wings to form an alliance with the local chamber of commerce based at Southport in England. The joint “Southport 2 Southport” promotion which we are running with our English counterparts, is a great opportunity to promote the Southport precinct, and the Gold Coast generally, to a distinct business market with whom we have much in common. Our end of the promotion will be drawn at our December breakfast, with the winners flying off to England to represent us at the English chamber’s annual gala ball in February 2007.
Membership of this Chamber continues to be strong, despite opposition from other local business and networking forums and groups.
Our membership has increased, in the last 12 months since our last AGM, by some 10 percent. Last year saw also the admission of our first six corporate members, the Bruce Lynton Group, Complete Body Corporate Services, the Raptis Group, Price & Roobottom Solicitors, Telstra and THG Resource Strategists.
I would like to particularly thank those corporate sponsors for the important support, including financial support, which they give to the Chamber, and I am pleased to welcome Neweys Dry Cleaning and Telstra Australia Fair as a corporate members for the coming 2006/07 year.
I express also my gratitude to those members who have regularly donated prizes for auction or raffles at our breakfast functions. I note that our Christmas breakfast was again a resounding success, with Ugly Dave Grey helping the Chamber to raise a profit of approximately $1,000.00 which was donated to the Salvation Army.
On behalf of the Chamber, I wish publicly to thank members of the Management Committee for their efforts over the last year. We are fortunate to have a strong and diverse Committee, which provides a real forum for different points of view, all of which have Southport’s business interests at heart. The few casual vacancies on the Management Committee which arose over the past year, were usually hotly contested by a number of eager and very qualified contenders. The Chamber is well placed to have such an embarrassment of riches, and it reflects the broad membership that we enjoy, ranging from local small to medium businesses and professionals to developers and larger and national businesses.
Finally, I must mention the devotion which Angela Newstead displays in her position as Secretary of the Chamber. Angela is in many respects the face of the Chamber, so far as our members are involved. Her tasks and obligations are many and diverse, and from here often daunting. I wish to publicly thank her for her efforts over the last year.
Ladies and gentlemen, this Chamber is in a very strong position to continue to play an important role on behalf of the business community of Southport, at a time of unparalleled growth and change in the region. Southport and its business community has much to be excited about.
Luke Preston
Presidents Report to the July 2005 Annual General Meeting
Dear Members,
I extend a warm welcome to all our members and guests present today.
At the outset, I would like to thank all our Chamber members and the management committee for their significant support and efforts in contributing to the success and continued growth of the Chamber over the past year.
2004/2005 saw some good progress and developments on certain issues (and regrettably an unfortunate lack of progress on others!) which will have a positive impact on local Southport and Gold Coast business generally now and in the future.
The transformation and enhancement of the face of Southport has progressed steadily over the past year. A unique mix of significant residential/commercial developments are underway and occupation has already commenced in certain completed projects. The June opening of the Griffiths University Oral Dental Care facility adjacent to the Gold Coast Hospital and the State Government’s announcement of a new teaching hospital facility in Parklands linked to Griffith University are exciting new developments which further enhance Southport as a leading centre for education on the Gold Coast.
Such progress unfortunately brings challenges. Whilst the Gold Coast City Council is slowly addressing some of the problems, Southport businesses (and their employees) have had to deal with significant and increased inconvenience in going about their business, particularly in respect of a shortage of long term off street parking facilities and, especially during peak periods, increased north-south traffic flow congestion. We have had input to the GCCC on our concerns and suggested improvements with, as yet, limited positive results. Traffic management, public transport and long term off street parking in Southport will need to be closely monitored on an ongoing basis to see if actions taken by the GCCC now, and hopefully sometime in the future, yield the necessary and desired results.
The provision of additional long term off street parking in Southport and the hospital precinct is becoming a critical issue. I believe that the GCCC policy of ‘demand management’ in rationing resources and trying to influence public/consumer behaviour in the absence of providing efficient and effective alternatives is short sighted, particularly in respect of established centres like Southport. Such policies merely result in causing increased inconvenience and could cause businesses to relocate to other areas on the Gold Coast. This is the exact opposite of what we want to achieve in Southport ! Southport businesses have over the years contributed significant amounts in rates and taxes to the GCCC and their expectation of the provision of adequate local infrastructure (which has been paid for many times over) to support their business activities is only reasonable. I have no doubt that businesses are prepared to pay higher prices for facilities and services, but they should be provided in advance and be accessible!
Other areas which will may require the focus and attention of the Committee in the year ahead include the Cruise Ship terminal, on which some form of State Government announcement appears imminent, and the potential holistic development of the Southport Broadwater and Foreshore as an holistic world class integrated recreational and entertainment precinct for residents and visitors to the Gold Coast.
The past year also saw the establishment of the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce of which we are a foundation member. Its formation was driven by the desire to present a unified voice by business on whole of city issues and its formation has gained a high measure of support at State and local government level. After a promising start in which considerable progress was made by focussing on whole of city infrastructure related issues and achieving tangible outcomes and support for Gold Coast businesses, some problems have arisen which will need to be resolved. The Southport Chamber also remains committed to supporting Commerce Queensland and participating on its Regional Council in addressing whole of city issues through this channel.
Our business breakfasts and networking program with its focus on quality speakers and topics of relevant local interest were well supported by members. Increased funds were raised through sponsorships, raffles and new member subscriptions (potentially up some 30-40% if all subscriptions are renewed!). Donations of raffle prizes by members was most appreciated, especially the contribution of a Daikin air-conditioner from Acclaim Air Conditioning which raised approximately $1,500.00. A new “Corporate Membership” subscription was introduced this year which has been well supported and has contributed positively to the cash flow of the Chamber. The financial position of the Chamber, as you will hear shortly, remains strong and will provide the incoming President and his committee with the opportunity to use the funds proactively to possibly enhance membership benefits and activities and the public profile of the Chamber.
Finally I would like to thank our secretary, Angela Newstead, for her support and enthusiasm over the past year. She has been a great help to all on the Committee, especially myself, and on behalf of the Chamber I would to present her with a cheque in recognition of her efforts.
I thank you for your support and submit my report to you for your approval and acceptance.
Alec Watson
26 July 2005