May 22, 2015
Former Wondai Shire Mayor Percy Iszlaub is spearheading a push to create a new peak group to represent the interests of Wondai residents.
He wants to create a Wondai Progress and Development Association to fill the vacuum left by the closure of the Wondai Chamber Of Commerce in March last year.
Mr Iszlaub told southburnett.com.au today the main problems the Chamber Of Commerce faced were that there were only a small number of businesses in Wondai, and many were finding it “too tough” to attend meetings or assume executive positions because of the demands on their time.
He believes the best way forward would be to form a new, more broadly based organisation involving representatives from local service clubs, community groups, sports clubs, the Wondai Show Society, business houses and local residents keen to see the town progress.
This would allow the new-look Association to represent not just the interests of business, but the interests of the community as a whole.
“Since amalgamation, Wondai has suffered a bit of a loss of identity, like many other South Burnett towns,” Mr Iszlaub said.
“Most towns in the region have addressed this by creating peak organisations which speak to Council and government about their local issues, and take action on community projects themselves.
“But ever since the Chamber closed, Wondai is one of the few that does not.”
Mr Iszlaub first floated the idea of a Progress Association at a community meeting in April last year, but said he had let the matter rest for 12 months “to give people the time to think about the idea and get comfortable with it”.
But he believes the time has now come to get the project underway, and intends to hold talks with local groups over the coming months.
“There are several projects a Progress Association could sink its teeth into straight away,” he said.
“I’ve been approached about the idea of building a waterfall in the CBD parklands, and I have a personal interest in putting a commemorative plaque on the site of the historic Wondai bore.
“Looking further ahead, there will be many opportunities for Wondai when the Rail Trail comes through that we’ll want to be ready to address.
“We’ll also want to talk to the Council about future stages in the Village Green project when they roll out.
“And I’m sure there are many other matters that a positive, constructive group working together for the development of the town can take up.”
- Wondai residents interested in helping to form the new Progress Association can contact Percy on (07) 4168-5696.
