By JESSE GRAHAM
YARRA Glen and Healesville’s chambers of commerce could merge as of next year, with the group’s presidents meeting last week to float the idea.
On Wednesday 14 October, Yarra Glen Chamber of Commerce President Alex Lagerwey joined HCC members at the Healesville railway station for its meeting with Healesville president Ben Duff.
Mr Lagerwey told the Mail that the two chambers were floating the idea of merging in the near future.
He said the idea was in a preliminary stage, and that both chambers were sounding it out to their respective members, with Yarra Glen to discuss the issue on Tuesday 20 October.
He said a potential merger would help to create a larger body to advocate for businesses – not just tourism – in the lower Yarra Valley, in a similar vein to the Warburton Valley CEDA (Community Economic Development Association).
“Business and production makes up 50-60 per cent of the economy – business is the engine room of the economy,” Mr Lagerwey said.
Mr Duff said that floating the idea at the railway was symbolic, as the railway line would connect the two towns when redevelopment works between Yarra Glen and Tarrawarra were completed at the end of next year.
“This is why we’re starting here, we’re talking about it here tonight,” he said.
“You can’t get a bigger link than this … and I don’t think people realise how big this is going to be.”
He said linking the two towns would also allow more sharing of business know-how between larger and smaller Yarra Valley businesses.
Mr Lagerwey said that another link would be a rail-trail between Lilydale, Yarra Glen and Healesville, which the council would investigate with a feasibility study by the end of the financial year.
He said the idea was raised “on a conceptual level” with the Yarra Glen chamber, and that it had received a positive response thus far, but would be discussed further.
Mr Duff said if the idea was supported, the two chambers would aim to establish a mission statement, and begin moving “as soon as possible.”
The members then took a ride on the Yarra Valley Railway’s Walker RM22 Railmotor and held a barbecue at the station.
What do you think of the proposal to merge the chambers? Write a letter to the editor to editor@mailnewsgroup.com.au or to 244 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, 3777.
