The new president of the Mudgee Business Association (MBA) hopes to boost membership, make sure the business group attends all Mid-Western Regional Council meetings so it can be proactive versus reactive, and network.

Bill Avery is a marketing consultant who works from home. He took over the reigns at the recent MBA AGM. He said he is passionate about growing and developing the MBA with a strong emphasis on building member benefits.

“I feel very honoured to have been elected to this important role. In particular it gives me a real opportunity to meet as many of our local businesspeople as I can. I believe the key to the ongoing success of the MBA is to work hard and build a strong membership base.”

Mr Avery said the MBA had fewer than 100 members although there are hundreds of businesses in Mudgee and “we should have 80 to 90 per cent,” he said.

The new president said he was planning to take a couple of days off of work to go around to businesses and find out what their issues are, discuss how the MBA can help them, and ask why they would, or would not, join the MBA.

“I want to find out from the horse’s mouth what the feeling is out there.”

As for being proactive at council, Mr Avery said a perfect example was the timing and nature of road works during the Mudgee wine festival, when a lot of shoppers have been around the CBD (Central Business District).

As for networking, he said he did not think Sydney Road businesses, for example, talked to CBD businesses and he would like to bring those members together.

“Mudgee has quite a diverse range of businesses, and we can all learn from talking to others.”

As for Stockland, he said there was a fear amongst CBD retailers although they would welcome competition if they thought it was fair competition. He said the proposed mall should be smaller and blend in with the CBD.