Chambers at war over plans by central chamber to name itself the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce

A stoush is brewing among local chambers of commerce over one body’s plan to name itself the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce.

A STOUSH is brewing among local chambers of commerce over one body’s plan to name itself the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce will vote at a special meeting next month on whether or not to drop the “Central” part of its name.

President Martin Hall said the new name was nothing more than a “change in company name” and would better reflect the organisation’s influence and membership in the region.

However, Southport Chamber of Commerce president Ian Kennedy and Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Hilary Jacobs oppose the move.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall, pictured with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, believes a name change would better reflect the organisation’s influence and membership. Picture: Richard Gosling

They state the name change could mislead people into thinking the central chamber represents the whole of the Gold Coast and that their chambers had merged together or folded.

Mr Hall said the name change is necessary to reflect the evolution of the chamber, which is an amalgamation of six former chambers of commerce, including Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Nerang, Robina and Varsity Lakes.

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The chamber has 200 members, including ASX-listed Village Roadshow.

“We believe it is time to represent what we are doing and where we are going,” he said.

Mr Hall said that includes a “robust” strategy the chamber is putting forward, centred around education, the economy and engagement.

New Southport Chamber of Commerce president Ian Kennedy (centre) is opposed to the central chamber renaming itself the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce.

“We are not going after members from other chambers,” he said.

“We all have the interests of the Gold Coast at heart and while we are changing our name it is important for the other chambers to promote themselves.

“There is an opportunity for the other chambers to elevate themselves.”

Mr Hall was a supporter of a merger of the Southport Chamber of Commerce and central chamber last year, which failed to be implemented.

“It went quite far … unfortunately it fell over like the leaning tower.

“It was various issues … it did not line up at the end. It was disappointing at the time.”

He denied the name change plan is a result of the merger failure.

Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Hilary Jacobs says plans by the central chamber to rename itself could mislead people.

Ms Jacobs and Mr Kennedy have written to Stephen Tait, who heads up the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland, which is the peak body for chambers in Queensland, asking for it to intervene.

“The Southport Chamber objects to any one chamber holding the name Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce where that title does not accurately reflect the geographic boundaries of that chamber,” Mr Kennedy said.

He said the name change could mislead businesses into thinking the central chamber represents the entirety of the Gold Coast, including Southport.

”We respectfully request that CCIQ take steps in this case to maintain the position that Chambers’ names accurately reflect the areas they represent.”

Ms Jacobs said the name change could lead people to infer the southern chamber has folded.

“It is possible that there will be an assumption flowing from the name change that our Chamber no longer exists, that we have merged, or we are a subgroup of the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “As we all know this isn’t the case.”

Mr Hall said the new name has been registered with ASIC.

He said the CCIQ is aware of the name change.

Mr Hall has offered to meet with the other chamber presidents to “allay any fears”.