March 22, 2013
The South Burnett Tourism Association is at a crossroads after its outgoing President yesterday called for the organisation to be wound up.
In an email circulated to SBTA members last night, President Cathy Davis said members would be given the opportunity to debate two options about the group’s future at the Annual General Meeting on April 10.
The options were to wind up the Association, or look at an alternative proposal to partner with the South Burnett Wine Industry Association.
“The current executive favours winding up the association and maintaining the membership group of the SBTA as a resource and communication link through South Burnett Directions,” Mrs Davis said.
“As you may remember, Mayor Kratzmann outlined his vision for an enterprise board for the South Burnett to encompass business, industry and tourism at our general meetings in Kingaroy on 11/7/12 and Nanango on 12/9/12.
“There have also been public information sessions held in Nanango and Murgon in December outlining the structure and role of this new organisation, and a board has now been appointed.
“Jason Kinsella (President of the South Burnett Wine Industry Association) floated a concept that the SBTA join the SBWIA as they have an executive in place. Jason has agreed to outline his proposal in a paper to be distributed for your consideration by March 29.”
Mrs Davis said briefing papers on both options will be forwarded to members by March 28, and nominations for the SBTA’s executive committee or alternative proposals for the group’s future would need to be sent to the Association by March 27.
South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann told southburnett.com.au today he was surprised the SBTA would consider winding up, and would be sad to see the organisation fold.
But he said South Burnett Directions could not provide support for the SBTA.
“South Burnett Directions is a high-level policy and strategic advisory group,” he said.
“Its purpose is to look at big-picture issues and projects, not look after individual community or industry groups.”
SBWIA President Jason Kinsella said if the SBTA was currently unable to get enough members to form an executive, then the SBWIA executive was happy to fill those roles for a short period of time until the SBTA got “back on its feet”.
He said the SBTA and SBWIA were both in the tourism business and should work together, pointing to Stanthorpe’s Granite Belt Wine & Tourism Association as an example of what could be achieved.
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