Chamber president John Nikolic and Griffith Mayor Doug Curran are unified on the need to oppose water buybacks. Photo: Supplied.
There was once a time when Griffith Business Chamber versus Griffith City Council ongoing stoushes were the town’s own version of wrestlemania.
Those days are long gone, it appears, with Mayor Doug Curran announced as an executive member of the business representative body this week.
Chamber president John Nikolic had already joined forces with the mayor to oppose further government buybacks of irrigation water, something that remains a top priority for the two men who are now trying to collaborate on several other issues.
“The chamber has now set its policy priorities for 2025, which remain opposing water buybacks (shortly to become a federal election issue) and addressing the housing and worker shortage. In addition, in 2025, the chamber will also be focussing on ways to assist our local retail and hospitality businesses,” Mr Nikolic said.
Mr Nikolic is a director at law firm Cater and Blumer, who moved to Griffith from Canberra and took leadership of the business group in 2022. He announced a new-look executive committee that would advocate on the above issues.
John Nikolic is originally from Canberra. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Farmer Jason Dossetor joins the team and enhances the group’s agricultural expertise. He is also one of the town’s top tennis players, having once beaten Nick Kyrgios in doubles at the annual Griffith MIA Open.
The committee also includes former councillor Manjit Singh, eyecare specialist Thomas Ford, Toyota dealer Dean Owen, building designer Carmel La Rocca, gardening expert William Phillips, marketing ace Amanda Quarisa and consultant Danny Roller.
As a spate of shops have closed across Griffith recently, Mr Nikolic said reviving retail is another top priority for his team.
“We know that local business, particularly in retail and hospitality, continue to suffer from diminished demand from high costs of living, as well as escalating costs of doing business. What the chamber wants is for broader economic growth to be shared at the local level, by continuing to connect the community with their local businesses, which provide the amenity we all enjoy,” he said.
But the chamber president said it wasn’t all doom and gloom.
“Performance over the Christmas and new year break has been strong, based on available data. Local shoppers spent $87.2 million in December 2024, up from $82 million in December 2022 and $83.5 million in December 2023. Notably, visitor spending was steady at $22.9 million in December 2024 (slightly up from $22.5 in December 2023) and there was a decrease in online shopping in the month December 2024,” he said.
“We hope that the chamber’s ‘Buy Local’ advertising campaign in late 2024 played some role in that success story. To some extent, this reflects strong background growth in Griffith – gross regional product has continued to increase strongly since 2020, increasing 9.5 per cent between 2021 to 2023.”
Mr Nikolic added that the chamber was planning a range of initiatives to assist local businesses in 2025.
“Currently, we’re looking at holding specialist events for retail and hospitality, including presentations on spending trends (based on data provided by council) and a presentation on how to tackle and harness online sales. We’re holding the Griffith Business Awards again this year, with categories pitched specifically at local retail and hospitality businesses. We’re also investigating options for a ‘buy local’ gift card in Griffith too, promoting local businesses. We also think there are opportunities to reinvigorate Banna Avenue, with modest investments from council to increase tree plantings and put in place pop-up street furniture.”
Loading ...
