Chamber to ask for shire rates relief, considers revisiting a Christmas carnival

Narrabri Chamber of Commerce recorded a historic ‘first’ on Tuesday night – an online meeting by phone hook up.

Members were socially distant by many kilometres, but successfully covered a range of key items on the agenda.

A request for business rates relief and the future of the Narrabri Christmas carnival were two issues discussed.

Seventeen members dialled in on Zoom to participate remotely in the regular monthly meeting.

Business use of online conferencing has long been a reality, but grown exponentially in the past six weeks as the COVID-19 pandemic regulations prohibited normal meetings.

“Zoom and other platforms are widely used, but for the Chamber it was a ground breaking first and members have discussed continuing to use the technology after the end of the COVID-19 restrictions, perhaps in conjunction with face to meetings or as a convenient vehicle for sub committee meetings,” said chamber president Russell Stewart. “But the first online meeting was a big success.”

Among items on the Chamber agenda was a motion to ask Narrabri Shire Council to waive third quarter council rates for businesses because of hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The chamber will also ask the council to consider stepping away from rate increases next year.

“Businesses have taken a crippling hit with the double whammy of the drought and the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mr Stewart. “The Chamber strongly feels that this is a time when they should be given some assistance from the council with rate relief.”

The motion to request a waiving of business rates was supported by members. “The chamber will also urge the council to freeze next year’s rates,” Mr Stewart said.

“The view was expressed that the council was in a good financial position to be able to offer rate relief, with the benefit of its investments and an annual income stream from mining tonnage levies.”

A member suggested council should look for ways to stimulate small business in the shire.

“There will be no-one left to pay rates unless something is done soon,” another commented.

The Chamber also supported a move from Narrabri retailer Shawn Wales to re-visit the staging of a Maitland Street Christmas Carnival this year.

Main street retailers have emphasised the importance of the annual carnival in boosting business towards the end of the year.

Last year’s traditional Chamber of Commerce Christmas Carnival was not staged with a ‘Back to the ‘Bri’ weekend event held in it instead.

However, a group of retailers organised a Christmas Fair in its place which drew Christmas shoppers into the CBD. The Chamber president and Mrs Wales will seek a meeting with senior council staff to discuss the possibilities of holding a 2020 Christmas Carnival and the necessary process, but in the context of possible COVID-19 restrictions still being in place. Mr Stewart thanked Tamworth based Narrabri Chamber member Derek Tinks, a technology consultant, for facilitating the Zoom hook up.