Bowen Chamber of Commerce calls for economic development strategy

‘We’re mainly concerned about the growth of Bowen and what we’ve got to do to make it move forward’ – COC chairman.

Bowen business leaders have not held back in sharing their thoughts on a newly released town masterplan, labelling it a “feel good document” that fails to address a “dire need” to develop and diversify the local economy.

The Whitsunday Regional Council’s draft plan to “help shape Bowen’s potential” recently went out for community consultation, and Bowen Chamber of Commerce chairman Bruce Hedditch has been vocal about its shortcomings.

He claims it does not provide the roadmap for industrial promotion and economic development the town needs.

Mr Hedditch said empty shops and declining property values should be indicators “there is a dire need in Bowen for something to happen’.

He said the town was “losing too many people” to job opportunities in bigger cities, and needed to look into investing in other sectors, beyond the three key industries of horticulture, fishing, and mining, to boost local employment.

“Aged care is an industry Bowen should be looking at,” Mr Hedditch said.

“We’ve got two aged care facilities at the moment and they’re both full and very hard to get into.

“There’s big employment opportunities there. And we’ve got a TAFE that could provide the training.”

It was for these reasons the chamber had thrown its support behind the proposed $1.1bn Whitsunday Paradise residential development, Mr Hedditch said.

The development proposal is currently tied up in Planning and Environment Court due to a dispute with the council over infrastructure charges.

But the chamber was “really keen” to see it go ahead, to attract more potential customers, and employers to the area.

“You take away Adani (Bravus) and the Bowen Rail Company, and there’s not a lot of new developments happening in this area, so it’s all hanging on Whitsunday Paradise,” Mr Hedditch said.

“It’s not only a subdivision; it’s job opportunities; it’s more people moving to the area.

“We need more people living in the area to make the shops more viable.”

From enhancing the airport to reimagining the CBD, Mr Hedditch had many ideas when it came to helping Bowen prosper.

One problem, he pointed out, was that the council had a “poor image” with regard to development.

A Development Services Forum coming up at the Bowen PCYC on Tuesday, June 8, where developers, builders, and trades people will be able to raise questions and concerns with council staff would be“ a great step forward,” he said.

Whitsunday Regional Council could not comment on the Whitsunday Paradise court proceedings, citing confidentiality.

With regards to the masterplan, the council’s director of development services Neil McGaffin said the council “welcomes the input from the Bowen Chamber of Commerce regarding how the Master Plan can be improved, and looks forward to reviewing all submissions received from the public consultation phase”.