The Redlands Coast is beyond unique, and we all know that – that is why we live, work and/or play here. We have beaches, harbours and habitable islands only 10 minutes away by boat. An incredible connected business community, an international award-winning winery and concert venue, our own cultural precinct and exceptional health and medical venues. We are home to many schools and colleges, with even more being built, and access to some amazing fresh produce and seafood at our doorsteps. As well, Redlands will soon even offer us an Olympic venue! It’s a great time to be a Redland-er.
More so, though, it is a great time to be involved with, and connected to, the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce and its vision and mission – to make the Redlands a BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD!
2023 was huge year for the Redlands Connected Business Community, with so much happening on the Redlands Coast! There were new business openings as well as continuation of huge investment considerations on the Redlands Coast.
One notable development is Fiteni’s ‘Botanix’ Site, at Wellington Point (a massive shout out to them for taking out this year’s “Community Engagement” Award at the national UDIA awards for their new community driven approach to this development. Well done Fiteni!)
We welcomed a new media presence with the closure of the Redland City Bulletin, who hit the ground running and have taken the Redlands news by storm. There has been the finalisation of the master plan for the Birkdale Community Precinct from Council. Hub 68 dug ground on the new works on their site, a new satellite hospital and school started to be built and opened in Redland Bay, under the State Government and Sirromet announced its new plans for a second concert stage venue.
Craft Brew House, in Birkdale, took out 2023’s Business of the Year at this year’s Redlands Business Excellence Awards. We had a local manufacturing business of the Redlands appear on the international Shark Tank arena, and another local business, one of our own members, tripled their floor space in an impressive expansion of their Pilates studio. And our very own committee member, Grace Tobin won the Stan Green award through Capalaba Rotary for her customer service within the community through the Chamber, Redlands Regional Jobs Committee and Busy Schools Cleveland.
We truly do possess an impressive array of people and businesses on the Redlands Coast and what the Connected Business Community has achieved in just 12 short months is mind blowing.
It is what gets us up and out of bed each morning, so that our children can grow up and fall in love with this area the way that we all have.
And behind it all is the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce. A community based, not for profit volunteer organisation, offering to you the support, connection, engagement and championing that you all need and deserve; individually, professionally and as a region. The Chamber has held 32 events this year across 14 different locations and venues on the Redlands Coast, but we also did so much more than that. The Chamber works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the Redlands Coast is the leading engagement, advocacy and support organisation for the business community.
As we head into 2024, I would like to present a wrap of the Chamber’s 2023 achievements and outcomes for members. These would not have happened without the amazing volunteer and support committee.
- Internal training undertaken by the committee; including First Nations Awareness Training, Mental Health First Aid Training and Grants and Funding Training to support the Redlands Connected Business Community
- Newly formed Membership/Sponsorship Ambassador Sub Committee that has been on the ground visiting and listening to each and every business on the Redlands Coast, with new digitised reporting, that is adaptable for immediate member feedback and data collection
- Collaboration through the Champion Redlands Coast sub committee of over 50+ stakeholders engaged to drive the flagship priorities of the Redlands Coast forward, including; Housing Choice, Tertiary Presence, Health Precincts, Commercial Spaces and Tourism Accommodation.
- Successfully secured an additional 18 months of funding for the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee until June 2025, in conjunction with he State Government to drive linkages of training service providers for upskilling and learning opportunities, the creation of supporting resources for employers and employees for workplace diversification, work experience, recruitment and the advancement of the only FREE local online jobs board for the Redlands Coast, including over 2000 listed jobs and more than 3200 registered job seekers, since its inception.
- Engagement of a second paid support officer at the Chamber for continued event management and administrative support
- Increased collaboration with North Stradbroke Island Chamber of Commerce and Southern Moreton bay Islands Chamber of Commerce
- Introduced Auspicing services by the Chamber to community traders groups that require sponsorship for grants applications
- Advocated to government in detailed submissions of feedback and/or support for, housing policies, infrastructure needs, carparking, sports facilities, local business area revitalisations, commercial space leasing options, increased facilities management and regional funding options.
In 2024, we look forward to another successful and exciting year.
For more info: visit www.redlandscoastchamber.org.au
