Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 7th October, 2003
Cliffhanger Restaurant, Bulli Tops

Meeting commenced: 8.10pm

Present: Gail and Ken Green, Ian Draper and Jo Haran, John and Pat Cranston, Janice Kelly, Darryl Bromley, Frances and John Vander, Fran and Bob Grover, Leila Visser, Danielle and Simon Beaufils, Mike Tribe, Pia Angelucci, John and Robyn Venn, Di Derenzie, Tony Armstrong, Sonja Keller, John Groom, Mike and Gail Brennan.
Apologies: Bob Proudfoot, Scott James Smith, Gail Tribe, Paul and Kay Taylor.

The meeting was opened with the president extending a welcome to Ian and Jo from The Palms Restaurant, and Danielle and Simon from Ruby’s (both under recent new ownership), and to guest John Groom (owner of A & R bookstore at Hurstville and resident of Stanwell Park).
Several matters were then addressed as follows:
Christmas Party: Sunday, 23rd November, to be hosted by The Palms Restaurant. Commencing at 7pm, with pre-dinner drinks and hors d’oeuvres at Articles Art Gallery from 6.15pm. Cost $35 per head. Need to notify attendance one week before – direct to The Palms okay.

Lawrence Hargrave Dr. closure:
Meetings with RTA and Greg Binskin taking place.
Greg Binskin managing the marketing aspects of the promotional activity being funded by RTA’s allocation of $2 million. The area will be marketed as three separate tourist destinations: Otford to Coalcliff, Bulli Tops to Darkes Forest, and Clifton to Thirroul.
Promotional ideas are wanted from Chamber members for activities to accompany a Hang Gliding Championship proposed for Sunday 30th November, which wll be run by Hang Gliding Association, and promoted by Tourism Wollongong. (e.g. John Groom willing to hold book fair in Stanwell Park, say in CWA Hall or Surf Club).
Other ideas are wanted, radical or otherwise, for all three areas, for implementation over next couple of years. This is an ideal opportunity to use $2 mill. not otherwise available.
RTA will install new signage from mid October; signage details on display at Wendy’s corner store (SP). Information kiosks will also be set up 1) outside Symbio, 2) Bald Hill, 3) near base of Bulli Pass, 4) Austinmer Beach. RTA has taken input/advice re signage from Tourism Wollongong as well as a community committee (which includes Darryl Bromley and Yvonne Terkildsen).
IRIS will undertake telephone survey in near future re impacts of closure.
RTA is placing notices in Illawarra Mercury and flyers in newsagencies, seeking expressions of interest in membership of new community consultative group; volunteers are needed from broad range of areas; selection process will be used to choose members. We need good representation from the business community, both north and south of the closure.

NICC Co-ordinator:
No decision as yet. Caught up in bureaucratic process at the moment, so unfortunately little chance of being in place for this summer.
Traffic control in Helensburgh: Wollongong City Council Planning and Development Section will send delegation up to discuss this matter. A date and venue to be nominated for a meeting during working hours in the next 2 or 3 weeks. Mike Tribe indicated interest in attending.

Membership:
32 members are currently financial. Some losses due to business closure, road closure, change of business ownership etc. and some new members. Numbers expected to iincrease to around 50 by end of year.

Treasurer’s Report:
Balance at last meeting: $ 20,171
Aug. + Sept.receipts
Meals $ 972
Membership $ 540
Total receipts $ 1512
Aug. + Sept. Payments (including GST)
Meals -$ 851
Contribution to website - $ 2500
Donation to Anglicare (Trivia Night) - $ 200
- $ 3551
Balance this meeting $ 18,132

Correspondence:
In Horizon Credit UNiOn : invitation to vote for directors.
Alex Darling (Wollongong Lord Mayor): outcomes of two community consultation meetings (at Coalcliff and Coledale) re road closure.
Out Letterbox drop advertising Black and White Cocktail Party (delivered by Darryl B)

Black and White Cocktail Party:
Ticket sales and cash needed now! This is a party for the members, so please support. Mike Brennan urgently needs to know level of support, with function only a month away. [Some tickets were distributed at end of meeting for members to promote and sell]

ELECTION OF NEW EXECUTIVE
Chaired by Ken Green; all positions declared vacant.
Positions were then filled as follows, all elected unopposed:
President: Darryl Bromley Vice President: John Venn Membership: John Vander
Minutes Secretary: Fran Grover Correspondence Secretary: Frances Vander
Treasurer: Ken Green Meeting Co-ordinator: Paul Taylor
Guest Speaker Organiser: Pat Cranston Media Liaison Officer: Pia Angelucci
Bob Grover then suggested Chamber examine its constitution and consider providing for Life membership or Honorary membership when justified on grounds of past service to the NICC. Committee will consider this, and send notice to all members if thought appropriate.

Other Business:
Tony Armstrong: Inadequate signposting for Lawrence Hargrave Drive memorial; could RTA be approached to rectify? (Darryl B.believes new signage pending will include this.)
On behalf of outgoing Executive Committee, Mike Brennan offered thanks to Darryl Bromley for his good leadership over past year.
John Groom (operates oldest book franchise in Aust. for A&R, 25 years with Westfield, resident of S.P. for 6 months): Proposed running a book fair in Stanwell Park, possibly in conjunction with Hang Gliding Comp. Estimates 1000 customers needed for viability – would need to draw from outside the area; RTA promotional funds could be used.
Ensuing vigorous discussion included question as to who would benefit from this; John Vander proposed a Writers’ Festival to benefit not just one business but whole area; other suggestions were made, including Sonja Keller’s proposal for such a festival or fair as part of a Winter event next year (normally a quiet time of the year for businesses depending on tourism and recreation).
It was concluded that a whole range of events is possible over next couple of years.
Following this discussion, certain dissatisfactions were aired by several members in relation to a perceived lack of support and/or commitment among the membership, and also a lack of communication between members and both the exec.committee and other members.
A resolution was passed that the new committee will come up with worthwhile solutions to the perceived problems of lack of communication and cohesion.

Meeting concluded at 9.50pm.