MOUNT Gambier Chamber of Commerce newly appointed president Hayley Neumann says the organisation will continue to tackle the issue of vacant shops in the heart of Mount Gambier.
The business leader said the organisation was striving to form a committee to drive initiatives to solve the high number of vacancies.
Despite an expression of interest process, Ms Neumann said the chamber was still searching for members for the proposed committee.
“We have not had the response that we would have liked, but we are still focused on the committee to get up and running,” she said.
“It is about finding people who have time to be on this committee. For many people, time is so precious.”
She called for people who were interested in the volunteer role to come forward.
“It is about making sure those shops are not empty,” Ms Neumann explained.
But she said the empty shop trend was being mirrored in many other regional centres.
“When you drive through towns you can see the empty shops, but so many other towns are doing something about it,” Ms Neumann said.
“Just look at the silos on the way to Adelaide with the artwork. This has created a lot of interest and business. We need to be more innovative.”
While some of Mount Gambier’s shopfronts were now camouflaged with artwork, she said this was not a long-term solution to the perennial problem.
She said there needed to be greater collaboration with the landlords to foster growth and revitalisation.
“We need them on board and to be part of this committee,” Ms Neumann said.
While welcoming the $20m expenditure and developments at the former Fidler and Webb site, she said other areas of the inner city also needed rejuvenation.
“It was sad to see Target go, but the amount of productivity these two sites are going to generate is fantastic,” Ms Neumann said.
“We are looking forward to these developments as a chamber.”
Following her appointment to the role, Ms Neumann – who was former treasurer of the chamber – conceded the past week had been a “whirlwind.”
“At the moment we are focusing on the outstanding business awards – we have had a record number of businesses that have nominated. This is fantastic,” she said.
Ms Neumann said the chamber was proud of the prominent business awards.
“We look forward to them every year and I have been a long term person who has gone to them every year.”
Moreover, Ms Neumann also called on businesses that were not members of the chamber to join.
“We are trying to reach other industries – builders are businesses too that we want to represent,” she said.
“We have had a few new businesses come on board, which is great.”
The chamber provides an avenue for networking within the business sector.
“We are hoping to do more events, including networking opportunities after work, as well as with Tourism Mount Gambier.”
Ms Neumann also welcomed new board member Candice Fennell.
The Mount Gambier accountant has taken over the prominent business advocacy role from Biddie Shearing, who stepped away from the position last week.
This follows the annual general meeting of the organisation, which has more than 130 members.
The Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce board members include Hayley Neumann, Ben Hood, Jane Read, Helen Strickland, Venny Langlands, Craig Bruins and Candice Fennell.
