Business chamber says Gunnedah council funding not forthcoming

Outgoing Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce president Ben Hennessy says the organisation has done well to stay financially viable without the contribution of a major funding partner like council.

Unlike neighbouring business chambers, he said local government assistance for the Gunnedah organisation has been minimal.

“The chamber receives very little financial support from Gunnedah Shire Council,” Mr Hennessy said.

“We don’t get a fixed cheque at the start of the financial year like some other regional chambers receive.

“Neighbouring towns receive $65,000 a year from their council to help fund business chamber activities.

“We don’t and I’m proud we’ve able to maintain true autonomy and independence.”

Mr Hennessy said the chamber was provided some “in-kind” assistance when staging the 2022 gala ball in Gunnedah with the Tongan princess but he stressed this was an event which council approached the chamber to host.

In previous years the chamber has also received one-off donations of several thousand dollars funded by council under its small grants and business partner programs.

Mr Hennessy suspected affordability was probably behind the lack of funding – an issue given greater prominence with Gunnedah council’s proposed 37.67 per cent special rate variation now on the table.

He urged the recently elected representatives to think carefully about the decisions they make on the proposed rate rise.

“Our current elected councillors have a lot of work to do, it will be a very important term ahead,” Mr Hennessy said.

“I hope they have the tenacity and insight for the task at hand because rolling out (the rate rise) will have significantly far reaching impact on our town and community and are prepared for the blow back that probably will come.

“We’re already reeling from affordability issues, (the rate rise) is going to be another big cost for the community to bear.”

Despite the financial shortcomings from council, he believed both organisations were striving for common goals in the community.

“I truly believe council and the chamber in their purist sense are both pushing for the same ideology – betterment for our town and district, growth and expansion, opportunity for all, an affordable and safe place to live – they’re all things important to us in the chamber,” he said.

Gunnedah Shire Council’s manager economy and growth, Susan Frater, said council regularly supports the chamber with “annual agreed requests for support” such as Christmas Fair sponsorship. She said both organisations also work together on other projects as Small Business Month and there is scope for more collaboration in the future.

“The way our budget process works there’s not much opportunity to action ad hoc projects with them – but our economic development team is engaging with the new executive for planning for the New Year,” Ms Frater said.

“Council and the chamber have a strong relationship; they are a key stakeholder for our team and we both work together to support business and employment in our shire.”