The following is a response to The Newsport article 'Talk's cheap in progressing Port' (Wednesday 21 November, 2012) by Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce committee member and local businessman Martin Tranter.

While the response does appear in the 'Have Your Say' section of the article, because of the importance of the issue we felt Martin's comment deserved its own space.

Here's what Martin had to say.

It is not accurate or fair to suggest that there has been no tangible process towards addressing a range of the questions posed by the comprehensive MBS review.

Primarily the Chamber committee, TPDD representatives, our local Councilor and stakeholders have each contributed substantial volunteer time outside of their normal business activities to endeavour to create an Economic Development Group (“EDG”).   The short term success of such a group which depends again on the volunteer resources of business and industry stakeholders was always going to be stretched over the last tourist season.   

It would be disingenuous to suggest that any business in the region has rested on its laurels over the last period.     

Your readership needs to understand that expecting those same businesses who are already tirelessly committing to the management of their own businesses to have suddenly generated a war chest of funds or to have magically formulated a solution to the many long term issues raised in the MBS report is not realistic.   Nor does it continue to be realistic to have a time clock on solving the issues raised by the MBS report. To suggest otherwise is to misrepresent and / or to play down the complexity of the long term issues.

But do not understand my comments to be apologetic for the slow progress to date.
Rather it is to remind both you and your readership that for businesses to resolve the MBS identified issues will take a long time not a short time.

Consider the following:

• The MBS reported quite accurately that there appeared to be a divided or secular approach by the groups in Town or a failure to disseminate information to the wider community.
• Whether due to the EDG, MBS or otherwise, the amount of co-operation and communication between TPDD and the Chamber has increased exponentially since May 2012.   Both groups have also upped the ante in providing information through media platforms to their members and the wider community.   Both groups are also taking extremely proactive roles in trying to advance the business interests of their members and thereby the region.
• The EDG if it achieves nothing else other than to continue to be the forum for communication between the tourist marketer, the business representatives and Council (who should be our economic partner) will be a success.
• The suggested secularisation of the past I think can be largely attributed due to the average business not understanding the different roles or purposes of  TPDD, the Chamber and Council.   The EDG has asked each of those entities to provide to it, a break down of the 5 different goals and strategies intended to be actioned by the parties over the next 12 months.   TPDD and the Chamber have now supplied that.  If we are to be both time and cost effective in trying to address solutions it is necessary for us to clearly understand what the other is working on.   That way there is both responsibility for actions and tasks and avoids duplication.
• Once the different groups are better understood by each other, then the EDG can be an active force or think tank for change.  Whether by encouragement of new innovations or ideas or long term strategies or visions or suggestions of inter business corroboration.

All businesses and the community have the right to expect the town to respond to the MBS report.  But we must be patient and realistic in regard both the rate of change, and also acknowledge that you should not expect change unless you, and your business are prepared to drive that change  and to volunteer your own time to make a difference. .

Lastly, notwithstanding any strategy adopted by any group,  each business if it wishes to be viable owes it to itself to make sure it undertakes its own marketing.    It is not the responsibility of any group or Council to market your business.  Nor should you sit back and rely on others who are actively marketing to provide a flow on effect to your business.

Martin Tranter

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Talk's cheap in progressing Port