Key identities come together to form association to make Wynnum an ‘icon’ in Brisbane
Watch out Brisbane! A new group is set to bring some massive projects to life in order to transform the city’s bayside. SEE WHO’S BEHIND THE PUSH
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It was a place where progress was scarce, the demographic was old and any move to modernise the suburb was shot down.
But now people are taking the previously quiet Brisbane bayside town of Wynnum seriously and it’s all thanks to a development boom, which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars deliver major projects in the area in recent years.
Projects which used to just be dreams for many baysiders, such as the now complete Wynnum cinema, are now a reality.
And now a group of key stakeholders in the area, including business, development and community figures, have come together to form Wynnum Commerce Inc with the aim of capitalising on the suburb’s momentum and making it an “icon” within Brisbane.
Led by chairman and architect Michael Jullyan as well as president Bernie Neylan, from HamBros, the group also includes prominent developer Justin Ham, Wynnum Business general manager David Bateson as well as corporate identities such as Bartons director Mark Beitz, Scott Power from BMD and Wynnum Manly Leagues Club CEO Craig Thomas.
Already with several meetings under their belt, the group has been formed with the aim of bringing funding for several iconic projects in Wynnum.
But the list of plans doesn’t stop there with movements already being made to host more major events such as concerts and festivals, including taking the popular Wynnum Fringe to the next level, as well as a beautification of Wynnum Central Train Station in the works.
The group is also the first of its kind in the suburb since the Wynnum Chamber of Commerce and the Wynnum redevelopment Taskforce.
Mr Jullyan said the non-for-profit organisation was established to create a framework to assist and promote the local area.
“The redevelopment taskforce had a shelf life when that ended the sub committees keep going in their individual own right, there ended up being too many voices so WCI formed to co-ordinate and assist and to form a larger umbrella group which when needed can speak with a unified voice,” he said.
“Groups like Wynnum UpLate and Wynnum Fringe have autonomy and subcommittees formed through WCI sit within it.
“There are now about 10 such subcommittees each with an individual task or initiative.
“COVID has given us a local focus and travel visits close to home makes it a perfect time to update brand Wynnum and showcase our offering.
“WCI has invited the public to participate as individuals and we have a very broad base of representation – non for profit, community and people based to try and sensitively guide direction we as locals take and have a say in the future of Wynnum.”
Mr Ham said now was the time to build on the recent progress as the people in the group did not want to miss out on the momentum Wynnum had built over the past three years.
“Wynnum has always been sort of the ‘poor cousin’ compared to Manly but now we’re not,” he said.
“But there’s so much more that can be done and this group is eager to make it happen. It’s not going to be like the failed groups such as the Wynnum Chamber in the past, this group is here to stay and the members are committed to the cause.”
Mr Beitz, who was sceptical about the group after being part of similar entities that collapsed in the past, said the energy of the people leading the charge blew him away.
“Already after attending a few meetings, you can tell it’s different, there’s so many things that’ll benefit the area in the works and they’re not pie in the sky ideas,” he said.
“In recent years we’ve said we want to try and become like areas such as Bulimba but now I think we’re passing that and we want to become an area of our own.”
Some of the Wynnum Commerce’s major plans will be revealed in the coming weeks.
WYNNUM COMMERCE INC
Leaders: Bernie Neylan, Justin Ham, Michael Jullyan, David Bateson
Committee Leaders: Kevin Leipens, Shaunagh Kellaway, Vicki Wilson, Nici Bickley, Holly Bainbridge, Phil Goldberg, Tom Oliver, Kathryn Steinhardt, Sharyn MaCauley, Louise Clark, Justine Kennedy, Daniel Oxley, Brenda Ryan
Corporate Leaders: Mark Beitz, Scott Power, Craig Thomas, Brenden Connell, Derek Hall
Government Representatives: Ross Vasta, Joan Pease, Peter Cumming
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