Bay Chamber president to seek clarity and advise concerns re proposed Clyde closure

The Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce President, Mat Hatcher, is set to continue dialogue with NSW State agencies, the local Member for Bega and the Federal Member for Gilmore on Monday morning (Aug 2nd, 2021) in regards to the announcement on Friday July 30th that Transport for NSW will carry out full closures of the Kings Highway at Clyde Mountain from Monday 30 August to mid-November to remove unstable trees during the hours of Monday to Thursday between 8am and 4pm. Concerns around the proposed closure first came to light when the wider community were advised via Electronic Messaging Boards placed on the Kings Highway last week. The formal media release regarding the proposed closures was distributed at 2:20pm on Friday 30th July. By then, the results of there being no further information available on the internet, set phones and social media ablaze with major concerns voiced by the business community who have already borne the brunt of bushfire, flood and Covid losses. Seeking timely clarification for the Batemans Bay Chamber of Business and Tourism members, Mr Hatcher made immediate contact with Transport for NSW on Friday, along with phone calls to the Member for Bega, Andrew Constance and the Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips. Monday morning will see a Zoom call with the Chamber president and the Transport for NSW team where Mr Hatcher intends to relay to them the concerns of both the businesses and community, suggesting a possible change of timings, especially in the month of September before daylight saving begins on October 3rd. Following discussions with Transport for NSW Mr Hatcher will contact with both Andrew Constance and Fiona Phillips to advise of any outcome, with emails going out to chamber members and to the media to keep them up to date. "Timely and accurate information is what we need as businesses and the community need certainty. If there are going to be any impacts we need to know who will be impacted and how we can find the best work-around solutions" Mr Hatcher said. In light of the wide reaching concerns Mr Hatcher said "We (Batemans Bay Chamber) are also working on a campaign to promote the coast to Canberra and let them know this is happening. I will be speaking to ABC Canberra on Monday on this issue and to promote coast." There has been no comment as yet from the Mayor or Eurobodalla Council on the proposed closures, however, it is understood that Council has been long aware of the need for closures on the mountain, especially given the report that was presented to the Minister early this year advising of the works that were required on the Clyde Mountain to render it safe. It is not known when Council were first advised of the proposed closures and what response they may have offered on the suggested timings. The councilors contacted by The Beagle indicated that they "had no idea" of the proposed closures and hadn't been briefed. Since the closure of the Batemans Bay Visitor Centre the Batemans Bay Chamber of Business and Tourism has taken the lead in establishing its own Visitor Information campaign, developing its own Visit Batemans Bay website and successfully launching a proactive and effective social media campaign to attract visitors to the region. With this campaign currently underway in preparation for the upcoming September school holidays and 2021 summer any interruption by way of access to a region struggling with the financial impacts over the last eighteen months is of considerable concern.

Above: Mathew Hatcher, president of the Batemans Bay Chamber of Business and Tourism