Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce announces new management committee following AGM

New businesses opened up shop in Mackay during the Covid era and now the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce president reckons the region’s traders are primed for profits.

The new Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce management committee (from left to right) Ash-Lee Johnson (Mackay Regional Council), Maree Sturdy (Treadwell Tyres), Katie Duncan (McKays Solicitors), Geoff O’Connor (SBB Partners), Madeleine Connors (NE Foods | The Dispensary), Elizabeth Dent (DGL Accountants), Cathy Sullivan (Mount Pleasant Centre) and Vicki Smith (Concept Consulting).Absent: James Wortley (Enlightened Financial Solutions). Picture: Contributed

The Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce has announced its new management committee for the next two years and president Geoff O’Connor reckons they are going to be good ones for traders.

“Mackay is very much poised to take that next jump,” he said, noting a number of businesses had established themselves during the Covid era and were now ready to grow.

“They are now getting some traction as they go into year two and three of their trading cycles,” he said.

“As an accountant locally, we are still seeing great profits come through and people have invested heavily in items in Mackay to get their businesses ready.”

The chamber has worked extensively to lead the rejuvenation of the city centre and waterfront and Mr O’Connor said this vision and other projects would propel the chamber’s activities over the next two years.

“We’re going to implement our strategic plan,” he said.

“To build and sustain a thriving business community.

“We are trying to get out to all our stakeholders and we are trying to hold all levels of government accountable.”

The chamber advocates for Mackay business and met with Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert to oppose the recently shelved land tax.

“We were very grateful for her time,” Mr O’Connor said.

“We need a lot of private investors to invest in Mackay, with the Mackay waterfront PDA and those things coming on board, we need private investors to come to town and look at commercial and residential, but commercial to start with, about it being a viable investment for them, so the introduction of the land tax would be a deterrent to that.

“We were very thankful that it was stopped.”

The chamber remains neutral on the proposed $12bn pumped hydro scheme for the Pioneer Valley but Mr O’Connor said the announcement was a surprise.

“There has been a lot of work done up in the Pioneer Valley by the local government, particularly with businesses, we have got some cool things coming online up there where businesses have invested in that area, to have this (the pumped hydro scheme) thrown in their face, there are concerns there,” he said.

Looking to the October budget, Mr O’Connor said he was looking for additional support for the region’s health system and more funding for housing and mental health.