A new voice for Queanbeyan (and its business community) is on the cards. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
A body dedicated to making business easier in southeast NSW is planning for a debut in early 2026.
In October, a meeting to consider a proposal to re-establish the Queanbeyan Business Chamber was held. Several weeks later, preparations for a (re-)launch are moving ahead.
For publican Anthony McDonald, the meeting was one example of the ongoing discussions about reviving the chamber.
He will serve as the chamber’s inaugural president, while local business figures Connie Black, Jan Browne, Scott Winsor and Jonathan McIlroy have taken on support functions in a steering committee.
Mr McDonald told Region that when the previous chamber closed its doors, the town’s businesses were left without a dedicated voice.
“I could imagine that it would mean that for a lot of businesses, of varying degrees of size and maturity, they were feeling that their views were unheard,” he said.
“There wasn’t that opportunity to get together with like-minded people, to talk about things that are concerning them and put them forward to the decision-makers.”
While the new chamber will determine its initial priorities and projects after it forms a committee, Mr McDonald believes that being a friendly face will be key to its success.
“We need to make sure that anybody who’s in business feels welcomed and valued,” he said.
“First of all, we need to give people an opportunity to get together and to network and to understand and to create new relationships.
“I think, going on from that, we need to be good listeners so our membership base will let us know where their concerns are.”
While those priorities are yet to be determined, he pointed to issues facing Queanbeyan CBD (including the delayed Monaro Street refresh project), traffic flows and parking availability, widening Pialligo Avenue from Yass Road, promotion of local events and support for the town’s retail sector as things it could investigate.
Mr McDonald says the returning Queanbeyan chamber is expected to launch in early 2026. Photo: Supplied.
Mr McDonald also said the Queanbeyan Business Chamber would function as a “pretty board church” and help push for the town’s unique priorities.
The born-and-bred Canberran says the regional NSW town has its charm.
“It’s quite diverse, and it’s different to Canberra … Here in Queanbeyan, we have a really diverse manufacturing base, and building, construction and civic industries.
“Retail is a bit of a struggle, being so close to Canberra – we are dominated, to a certain extent, by the big retailers in Canberra.
“I think that there are some real, tangible benefits from doing business in Queanbeyan.”
Over the holiday season, the steering committee is taking the legal and administrative steps to officially launch the chamber.
“We’ll get out and start beating the drum early in the new year,” he said.
“As a new committee, we’ll need to get some rhythm about us. That’ll take a little while, of course, … [but] that clarity will come.”
Mr McDonald felt there had been a good response to the work already started by the committee on organising networking opportunities, and education events on AI and cybersecurity.
“It will talk to the opportunity to influence the decision-makers,” he said when asked what he saw as the chamber’s appeal.
“It will talk to the opportunity to obtain knowledge and further education … It’ll talk to the capacity that generates stronger relationships with our big neighbour in Canberra.”
