Chamber backing investors
Economic development. Newly appointed Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rhondda Chappell insisted they were not buzz words but instead were the motivating objective of the entire freshly elected BCCI board.
"It is about growing business opportunities and making sure it is easy to do business within the township so that we can truly become a preferred place for investors in order to grow the economy," she said.
Ms Chappell said another goal for the BCCI was the need to get better at supporting the delivery of business ideas.
The project manager with Toll Mermaid Logistics in Broome plans to draw on her wealth of experience dealing in financial and human resources management to deliver the goods.
"We will be working with the Shire of Broome to ensure a broader approach is taken when considering business-related proposals," Ms Chappell said.
"We intend on supporting the Shire to move away from the traditional local government focus on regulatory hurdles to a more collaborative setting whereby businesses feel supported through any associated approvals process."
Asked if the fracking debate could harm the economy and drive business away, she said any divisive community issue could have a negative effect.
"The fracking issue is like any other - it suggests there is a lack of alignment," Ms Chappell said.
"The focus of the BCCI is on building alignment between stakeholders to deliver confidence to the market."
She did not consider herself an authority on what messages the town should be sending prospective companies carrying out or looking to conduct operations in Broome, including Buru Energy, Woodside and Shell.
"We believe that all investment and potential business are welcome in Broome, however, we encourage appropriate due diligence on the type of business they intend to operate to ensure that the impact they have on the Broome economy and community is a positive one," she said.
Ms Chappell said the strong tourism sector in Broome needed to continue to identify ways to grow the industry and adapt to market changes.
"I think that any region needs to ensure that they have a broad range of industry types to ensure sustainability during potential downturns affecting any one of these industries," she said.
The State Government was also on the radar as part of a BCCI push to give local businesses access to more work.
"From the chamber's point of view the current regional price preference needs to go further by the Government acknowledging the significant benefits that the support of small to medium businesses delivers to regional economies and setting policies accordingly," Ms Chappell said.
She said her own leadership would be focused on empowerment to develop depth within the BCCI.
"Evidence of this approach is the fact that the board members each now have a portfolio that they are responsible for, covering for example tourism, small business liaison and membership," Ms Chappell said.
"By creating this arrangement members are able to contact a board member who has an understanding of their business requirements and increase their voice at board meetings when strategic planning is being undertaken."
