Best Chamber in the Hunter

THE Scone Chamber of Commerce won the award for “Local Chamber of Commerce” at the Hunter Business Awards in Newcastle on Friday night.

Ben Wyndham, president of the Scone Chamber of Commerce said the award recognised the leadership role the Chamber had taken in negotiating with the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) design of the bypass.

“The RMS’s impact statement was deeply flawed and glossed over the negative impacts of the bypass, justifying a slipshod and “cheap” project design,” said Mr Wyndham.

“With Council’s help and over 140 submissions, we forced the RMS to do proper impact studies and engage properly with the community,” he said.

“The local business community has responded really well to the bypass issue but it is the social events, networking events and Business Training opportunities that I think have pulled the Chamber back into it’s role as a focal point for business and industry,” Ben Wyndham said.

In accepting the award Mr Wyndham paid tribute to the efforts of the Chamber’s part-time Executive Officers who “consistently put in the extra hours and the extra effort to make sure the members are looked after.”

The Scone Chamber has also clocked a meteoric increase in membership, jumping from 22 financial members in January to over 80 in August.

The Scone Chamber of Commerce now progresses as a Finalist to the NSW Business Chamber awards in Sydney in November.