The President of the Redfern Watrerloo Chamber of Commerce released the recently adopted Strategic Plan 2010-2013 for the Chamber together with the Objectives and Strategies and our immediate Budget Priorities. The Plan has been adopted by the RWCC Executive and was released on 19 April 2009.

The Plan and associated documents have been developed through consultation with our members and business people and following the facilitated meeting held on Thursday March 25^th 2010. 

The RWCC looks forward to working with the City of Sydney and other major stakeholders to realise our shared vision for a re-vitalised business area which provides services to the local community and to visitors to this distinctive precinct in the City. 

"We are looking forward to working with FROST on the Redfern Brand consultation and anticipate with excitement, the positive outcomes that will no doubt result from this initiative" Ms Pidcock said. "Our Chamber will grow in strength and effectiveness in direct correlation with our success in growing our membership". 

The Chamber encourages every business to join us in our endeavours, and to support us, and other members of the business community, by becoming a member http://www.rwchamber.com.au/forms/Membership%20Application.pdf and by attending our networking events.

Attachments:

RWCC Budget Priorities 2010	[RWCC Budget Priorities 2010]	30 Kb
RWCC Objectives & Strategies	[RWCC Objectives & Strategies]	49 Kb
RWCC Strategic Plan 2010 - 13	[RWCC Strategic plan 2010 - 13]	337 Kb

It is with pleasure that I present this report to members. 

Since my election as President in August 2008, together with the other members of the Executive Team, the focus of the Chamber has been directed in two main areas

1. Capacity Building and Networking

2. Response to the Redfern Business Precinct  Study

Capacity Building and Networking.

We have held four networking events in the past twelve months. These have been sponsored by the hosts of the functions and were designed to revitalise the Chamber by giving members opportunities to meet, in an informal atmosphere, to hear about issues of interest and importance to business in the Redfern Waterloo area, and to meet with colleagues.

The functions were:

·         Wednesday 22^nd October 2008 – Hosted at Resource88: Centre for Sustainable Practice

Guests learned of renovation and re- development of this 1850’s sandstone building and of the vision to build a community of practice of small businesses, providing services with a focus on sustainability.

·         Wednesday 18^th February 2009 – Hosted by Tudor Inn Hotel

We were delighted to welcome Hon Kristina Keneally MP as our guest speaker for this function and she spoke to members and colleagues about a wide range of issues effecting the development of the area. In her capacity as Minister for the Redfern Waterloo Authority, she outlined the government’s vision for the Eveleigh site and welcomed the recent appointment of Mr Roy Wakelin-King to the position of Chief Executive Officer of RWA – who was also in attendance.

·         Tuesday 2^nd June 2009 – hosted by Australian Technology Park and Redfern Waterloo Authority

Mr Roy Wakelin-King outlined for guests the future developments planned for the Eveleigh site and demonstrated the newly developed website which provides up-to-date information on current and proposed development.

·        Tuesday 28^th July 2009 – Hosted by Landcom at Green Square

This exciting development is being delivered as a joint project of Landcom and the City of Sydney and guest speakers for the event were Ms Monica Barone CEO City of Sydney and Mr Paul Andersen, Project Director of Green Square Town Centre. This is an exciting and iconic urban renewal project and guests at the event learned about the vision for this project in particular – and how it fits within a wider vision for the city being developed and delivered by City of Sydney through the Sydney 2030 Strategy.

Response to the Redfern Business Precinct Study.

This study, commissioned by the City of Sydney and undertaken by Environmetrics, was drafted in late 2008. A workshop to discuss the findings and recommendations was held in December 2008, convened by City of Sydney and attended by all major stakeholders, including RWCC.  After a long period of endeavour by RWCC, marked by the continuous efforts of the Executive under the leadership of two previous Presidents, we are now delighted to say that the issues of the Shutters, which are a feature of many shopfronts in the area, is to be addressed with action.

At the meeting of Council, on 10^th August 2009 a motion moved by Councillor Doutney and seconded by Councillor McInerney was carried unanimously. Council resolved that:

“………

 (D) receive and note the Redfern Business Precinct Study

(E) note the imminent employment of a Business Co-ordination Officer and the community’s views that community interests would be best served if that officer were stationed in the area;

(F) work with major stakeholders such as the Redfern Waterloo Authority, the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce and South Sydney Football Club to implement the Study’s recommendations, giving priority to:

(i) working with property owners, the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, the Redfern Waterloo Authority and Police to improve the shopfronts along Redfern and Regent Streets and take initiatives to remove or enhance the shutters and roller doors on the existing shops and, in particular, consider an exciting public art project on the shutters;

(ii) commencing a commercial branding exercise for Redfern which will inform a marketing strategy and direct a targeted business tenancy initiative, the $17,800 remaining in the 2009/10 Business Support Grant program being allocated towards this project; and

(iii) developing a detailed and unified Calendar of Events for the area and identify a key community event or festival.”

We are able to undertake our work because of the generous funding received from the City of Sydney. The projects completed with the current allocation of funds include there-branding  of the RWCC, the development of a logo and identity – which will be further developed in the future – and the first stage of the restructuring of the website to make it a more usable tool for  members and for the Chamber.

Your Chamber has also been successful in applying for and being granted funds for the 2009/10 year under the  City of Sydney Business Grants Scheme. We applied for funds to help further build the capacity of the Chamber by increasing our membership base, by enhancing the functions of the website and by backing up the intellectual property and records of the Chamber with appropriate IT.

We are grateful to the City of Sydney for its support and believe that these funds will help ensure sustainability in the working of the Chamber into the future.

Other Activities

The Chamber was delighted to support the NAIDOC Week Picnic on The Block this year. We had representation at the planning and review meetings, and sponsored a visit by the Taronga  Zoomobile. The Zoomobile brought some beautiful animals - and a message of environmental responsibility - to the children (of all ages!) who were delighted by the visit. The presentation by a specialist Aboriginal Education Officer from the Zoo was a real highlight.

The announcement that the Aboriginal Housing Company’s Concept Plan for the Pemulwuy Project was approved was a cause for special celebration. We congratulate the AHC and look forward to the realisation of this vision of renewal and revitalisation.

RWCC representation on the Redfern Town Centre consultation panel ensures that the voice and concerns of the business sector are considered in this important development.  Although consultation has not been as extensive as we had expected over the last year, we were waiting for the report to be released and there has been more activity in this regards in the last few months.

Finally, we welcome the opportunity to engage in an accessible and open way with RWA and City of Sydney. Consideration of plans for the revitalisation and redevelopment of this very important precinct need to be approached in an integrated manner with sensitivity to the rich history, diverse community and broad range of interests that are features of the place.

Vision for 2009/10

We have a lot of work to do and we need your engagement with us if we are to be a relevant and effective voice in the Redfern Waterloo area.

We need new members for our Executive – all positions except that of President, (which is for a term of two years) are up for election at our AGM.

We need to update our constitution, and wish to engage with you in discussion about your hopes and expectations for your Chamber. There is a lot happening, and we are engaging with many stakeholders who are working to contribute to this area at a very significant time in its history and development.  If we are to represent your interests, we need you to be actively involved with us.

Renew your membership, join up if you are not yet a member, and encourage your business colleagues to join with us to grow the Chamber to an even more active and significant voice for business in Redfern the  Waterloo area.

Special guest: Ms Jan Campbell Business Precincts Manager City of Sydney.

Ms Campbell will give us an update on progress towards adopting and enacting some of the recommendations in the Redfern Business Precinct Study, in particular in relation to the shutters on shops on Redfern and Regent Streets.

With so much attention focused on current and proposed development in our area, it is vitally important that the views of the business community are considered.

This function creates an opportunity for you to discuss major issues of interest and concern with colleagues. You can find out first hand, what is happening and you can have your say in a public forum.

Details:

Date: Wednesday 23rd September Time: 5.30pm - 8.00 pm

Venue: Redfern Oval Stadium Chalmers Street Redfern NSW 2016

RSVP: Friday 18th September (for catering) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Come along to join us at this event, support your Chamber and meet your colleagues in the Redfern Waterloo Business Community

Notice of AGM

The  the 6th Annual General Meeting of the Redfern Waterloo Chamber of Commerce is to be held on 23 September at 6pm September 23rd 2009 Redfern Stadium Community Room Chalmers Street, Redfern. This is the new Council community room above the coffee shop on the northern end of the Redfern Oval stand

Networking Event – Jan Campbell from City of Sydney on the Redfern Business Study & Council’s Response

The AGM will be part of one of our regular networking functions which starts at 5.30 on 23 September 2009. The speaker at the meeting is Jan Campbell the City of Sydney’s Business Precincts Manager. Jan will talk about the “Redfern Business Precinct Study” and Council’s actions with the Chamber to address the issues raised. Jan will speak at 6.30 immediately following the AGM.

Membership Renewals Due

We have recently sent our 2009 – 2010 renewals to our members as well as invitations to join the RWCC to our supporters. Please get your renewals in before the AGM as only those who are members can vote at the AGM.

Nominations for RWCC Executive

Nominations are open for Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and up to six (6) Executive members. There have been unfilled vacancies on the RWCC Executive last year so please consider if you are able to assist the RWCC by nominating for the Executive. A Nomination form is in the Notice of Meeting document.

2009-2010 - An important year is ahead

With the Council and RWA planning to work together with the RWCC this year on responses to the Redfern Business Precinct Study and in the branding and marketing of Redfern, we hope you can join us at the AGM and to hear Jan Campbell’s presentation on the Study and to discuss the ways forward afterwards.