Tim Dalrymple at his business in Moruya. Photo: Moruya Business Chamber.
For the third time in a row, Moruya businessman Tim Dalrymple has been re-elected to serve as president of the Moruya Business Chamber.
Tim, who also operates Sportfirst and the Moruya Laundromat, says the chamber faces some big issues in the coming year with not only the lingering effects of the bushfires and COVID-19 lockdowns on local business, but also three major infrastructure projects coming to the area.
“We hope to see a good recovery when the lockdown ends, and hopefully strong trade over the Christmas period if tourists can return,” he says.
“And of course, there is the work involved in getting ready for the impact of the Moruya Bypass and working with the government to make sure we secure the best outcome possible for Moruya.”
Designed to bust congestion for motorists and freight operators travelling through the picturesque NSW South Coast, the Moruya bypass is tipped by the former Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack as creating a better and more reliable highway for all users, particularly during peak holiday periods.
The preferred strategic corridor for the Moruya Bypass. Photo: Supplied.
Over several months last year, feedback was sought from the community on the location, design and potential social, economic and environmental impacts of the bypass.
Tim says the chamber agreed to take the approach of “route-agnostic” due to the politically-charged nature of the discussions and the fact they “don’t really have much influence over the final decision.”
He says their focus is to ensure Moruya remains an appealing destination for tourists despite the bypass.
“We still want people to come into town and support the local retail and hospitality businesses. That needs to be our focus. That, and housing.”
The airport and hospital are also set for welcome makeovers, but Tim says all of these developments will also exacerbate Moruya’s major housing shortage.
“One real issue is when these are being built, that’s going to mean a relatively large number of people moving to the area. They’re going to have to live somewhere in the Eurobodalla Shire.
The Moruya bypass aims to reduce congestion in the town. Photo: Karyn Starmer.
“We already have a huge housing shortage, not unlike a lot of regional areas at the moment. It’s impossible to find rentals in Moruya.”
Last summer, Tim says the rental situation was so dire that the real estate agency next door to his shop had signs in the windows that read, ‘No rentals available’.
“In other words, don’t even bother coming in to ask. And they’re not the only ones.”
Tim says there are discussions taking place in the higher echelons of state and local government that aim to address the housing shortage, but “we don’t really know what’s going on in that regard.”
The chamber’s Annual General Meeting was held online this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Other office bearers elected at the meeting on 23 September were vice president Phil Herrick, secretary Jude Manahan, public officer Rohan Gleeson and committee members Jan Provis, Stuart Scobie, Deb Everson-White, Glenda Collins and John Murray.
Loading ...
