On Monday, executive members of the SBC were contacted by the Southern Subcommittee to inform them that they were forming the Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber (MUBC).

While there have been recent murmurings that such a move was imminent, memories are strong of the last time a breakaway Milton Ulladulla business group was formed.

Milton Ulladulla Chamber of Tourism and Business folded in 2005, beset by lack of funds and internal wrangling. 

The chamber was then absorbed into the larger Shoalhaven

organisation.

While it has sat within the SBC since then as a sub-committee, most other towns and villages in Shoalhaven have either their own chambers or stand-alone business entities. 

Interim chair of the MUBC, Lexie Meyer, said Milton Ulladulla members had reached the stage where they felt they could best serve the local business community by standing alone.

“We thank the SBC for their support and will continue to work collaboratively with all of the business chambers in the Shoalhaven to attract new funding initiatives, assist businesses to grow and encourage new industries to the area,” Ms Meyer said.

“We are committed to bringing the best to the Milton Ulladulla area. 

“On regional issues the Shoalhaven and Milton Ulladulla Business Chambers will work together to create a body formed of representatives of the 10 or so chambers in our local government area.”

The new committee is made up of Ms Meyer, Freddie Simon, Pauline McIlveen, Robert Richards, Sarah Watterson, Keith Greenwood, Darren Sparks, Kay Dewar, Cathy Dunn and Dee Biggins.

“We are a bunch of local business and community people committed to the economic, tourism, social, creative, educational and environmental development of the southern Shoalhaven,” Ms Meyer said.

On the subject of funding, Ms Meyer said she was confident the group could operate well within its means and members had the combined experience to both manage and generate funds.

“We’ll also now be able to attract funds in our own right, and we hope to grow membership and spread our net wider by partnering with local service, community, sporting and creative groups.

“We’re going to pull our horns in and do little things often. We need to be fast and flexible to respond to the needs of local business.”

She said the business environment in Milton Ulladulla was very different from that in Nowra.

“It’s time for us to cater to that different business culture. Many people here don’t have one full time job, but rather a pastiche of work which could be self-employment, seasonal income and part time work.”