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SUB-COMMITTEE – FUTURE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FOR GUNNEDAH
TUESDAY 14 APRIL 2015 AT THE RUGBY CLUB: 6:30PM
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The meeting commenced at 6:35pm
Present: Jamie Chaffey, Wellington Sardinha, Jarad Ewing, Krysten Barros (minutes)
Welcome to Jarad Ewing (new member replacing Brendon Mackellar)
Jamie briefly explains the sub-committee/ sub-committee plans to Jarad Ewing.
1. Apologies: Daniel Martin
Motion: that the apologies be accepted. (Chaffey, Sardinha) Carried.
2. Minutes:
For previous meeting held 24 March.
Motion: that the minutes from 24 March be accepted as a true and accurate record. (Chaffey, Sardinha) CARRIED
3. Business Arising:
Survey
• Wellington has begun to draft survey questions.
• Wellington comments that local businesses are losing employees to the mining companies. They obtain a skillset
from apprenticeships in local companies and then leave to work for the local mines.
• Jamie suggests including a question relating to this issue in the survey and comments that there is a shortage of
trades in the community, which comes back to a training/education issue.
• Wellington currently looks for overseas workers to fill his apprentice roles. It is a time consuming process which
requires a lot of effort and cost. The apprentices must have a four-year employment contract which is an
advantage to the business.
4. Correspondence In:
Results from the Chamber Survey
• 130 responses.
• Question 1: What impact do you expect an increase in mining to have on the turnover and profitability of your business?
74% positive.
• Question 2: In the context of living and working in Gunnedah...are you in favour of the increased mining that is
anticipated? 74.8% yes; 25% no.
• Question 3: Do you see any net benefits if Gunnedah Shire Council is forced into amalgamation of Local Government
Areas. 28% yes; 37% no; the rest unsure.
• Discussion about Question 3:
• Jamie thought there would be a higher percentage for yes.
• Jamie: The Coalition has said they will not force any amalgamations.
• Gunnedah is currently in a better position then Tamworth.
• Jarad: land rates/value went up 20%. Gunnedah has had massive growth in the value of property, which has been driven by mining. Tamworth is now going through a period of growth. The Shenhua approval will make another huge impact.
• Question 4: Is the business you own or manage a current member of the Gunnedah Chamber? 55% Chamber members.
• Question 5: What types of activities would you like to see the Chamber of Commerce arrange or facilitate? 36% - more
networking; 38% - networking after work.
Council-Chamber meeting
• Jamie to circulate via email to sub-committee.
• Discussions about the China visit.
• Shenhua has offered to hold training sessions on etiquette. 5-6pm. More details to be circulated.
• 18 people visiting China on 17th July
5. Correspondence Out
Letter to Council suggesting the change in itinerary for the upcoming July Sister City trip (attached)
• Letter sent to Council. No response as of yet
Jamie Chaffey’s Recent visit to China
• Discussions with potential processing company interested in developing in Gunnedah
• They actively researched and approached Jamie.
• The company would like to visit Gunnedah to meet with local businesses and government groups as they are
looking to expand their company to Australia, in particular Gunnedah.
• Jamie comments that Gunnedah can’t close their eyes to foreign investment. This expansion will bring more
families and skilled workers to Gunnedah. Great benefits for the community in all areas
• Jamie has approached Council regarding the visit.
• Jarad is surprised Gunnedah has not received skilled workers from the Hunter Valley mines. Jamie comments that
employees will not accept jobs for less than what they have previously earnt.
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6. General Business
Presentation of draft layout for Report
Draft layout tabled by Jamie and discussed
• Title Page
• Contents
• Stats about Gunnedah
• Key Areas
• Research
• Results/current position
• Sensis comparisons
• Ask local businesses
• Talk to Local, State, Federal Governments
• Survey questions (one for each area)
• Factual statistics/ data
• NSWBC website/information/ data
• Opportunities
• 5 year plan
• Action plan
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Summaries of the key areas to be submitted by the May meeting to be discussed.
Final document formulated by Jamie and submitted to the sub-committee.
Allocated design/admin funds for document formatting to be discussed at the next Chamber meeting
Survey Question Brainstorm Outcome:
• Each committee member to compile 5 questions on their key areas by Friday.
7. Events
17th July 2015 – Tour of China, Sister City
Chamber of Commerce – AGM – 29 July 2015
Next meeting: Tuesday 12th May 6pm - extended brainstorming session directed to the document
Meeting closed: 8pm
LETTER TO COUNCIL SUGGESTING THE CHANGE IN
ITINERARY FOR THE UPCOMING JULY SISTER CITY TRIP
Mr Owen Hasler
Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Council
PO Box 63
GUNNEDAH NSW 2380
Dear Mr Mayor,
Thank you for the opportunity to join the delegation travelling to China to investigate the
potential benefits of establishing a Sister City connection with the Linhe District in Inner
Mongolia.
I note in your letter dated the 20th of March in the second last paragraph that you are open to
input into the itinerary and after discussion with my subcommittee for sustainability growth
last night I would like to suggest the following:
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When we arrive in the Linhe District, we could arrange to visit with their Chamber of
Commerce or equilavent business networking organisation
Visits could be planned to secondary industries, related to the agricultural sector, such as
processing industries, that are able to offer us value adds for potential utilisation for the
commodities produced in our region such as beef, grain and cotton.
Meetings with secondary industries, not related to extractive mining, could also lead to
discussions about potential investment opportunities that may exist for interested
investors from the Linhe District in respect of goods produced in the Gunnedah region.
We could meet with the peak body for tourism in the area to discuss the opportunities that
are available for Gunnedah as a sister city, and to discuss what we can offer the people of
that district.
Arrange to meet with the peak body for education for that area to discuss potential
exchange student opportunities and other educational opportunities that may be available
to students in the Gunnedah area and in turn provide options or details of what we can
offer students from that district.
We could arrange a tour or visit to places of important religious significance and perhaps
discuss any opportunities available.
Our members would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and the other parties
attending this Sister City trip to discuss the opportunities we can offer and other matters
that we are presenting to the people of the Linhe District.
Kind Regards,
Jamie Chaffey Chairmen Sustainable Growth Sub-Committee