BEAUDESERT business leaders are on a mission to connect with the town’s retail sector to strengthen their ability to advocate for the town’s needs.
The Beaudesert Chamber of Commerce Retail & Professional Services Focus Group will meet for the second time on April 11 at 5.15pm at Station Master House on Brisbane Street.
At the focus group’s inaugural meeting on March 22, President John Powell said the Chamber genuinely wanted to increase its engagement with Beaudesert’s retail and professional services sector.
“This is not as a token measure to attract membership, but to build on our Chamber’s legacy of advocacy in the community by helping new and existing businesses to grow, to support
better planning decisions and to drive better employment opportunities in our region,” he said.
“The Chamber wants to hear from local retailers and professionals about the challenges they face and how we can support them. Joining our focus group will help our efforts to strengthen our community and deliver a joint approach to all levels of government, planners and developers.”
Key items discussed at the inaugural focus group meeting included town centre revitalisation and parking, drainage works program and business interruption, plans for new shopping precincts as new developments expand, planning for new jobs to support Beaudesert’s expected population growth and better engagement with the Scenic Rim Regional Council.
Local business representatives at the first meeting included Mr Powell, Sue Weymouth from Beaudesert Newsagency, Chris Grimmett from Kalico Country, Jo Sellens from Backroads and Clint Spence from Beaudesert Mitre 10.
Next steps for the Chamber after the inaugural focus group meeting included reaching out to Council and Scenic Rim State MP Jon Krause, emailing interested businesses to expand on their support base, grassroots promotion of the group by businesses present at the first meeting.
For more information about the upcoming April 11 focus group meeting or to discuss the matter contact John Powell on 0432 348 332.
