New Chamber chief calls for unification

The Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce has welcomed a new year with a new president as local photographic business owner Peter Carter takes the reins.

With more than 10 years in Port Hedland, including opening his own photography business, Pilbara Photographics, and sitting as councillor for the Town of Port Hedland, Mr Carter said he was excited to inject much-needed new blood into the Chamber and give a new direction to the team.

“I put my hand up to give it a go because I look at my own small business and others around me and I think I can make a change for us all,” he said.

“There’s a lot that can be done for small and medium businesses in town. We just need to be in it together and I think I can do that.”

Mr Carter said he hoped to combine the efforts of all Chamber members to ensure the regional town businesses had the best opportunities and benefits possible.

“2018 is an exciting year for every business in town, both small and large,” he said.

“There’s no doubt Hedland has been though the ringer and every business has suffered in the last three or four years, but I believe we hit bottom so the only way to go is up.

“For businesses in town, the best thing we can all do is offer good service and people will come.

“If we rip people off they won’t come back, so if we give good service people will continue to come back and we can grow again.”

With goals to combine the members’ voices to gain better insurance rates and other financial help for all businesses as well as the Chamber’s Web Business Hub beginning construction, Mr Carter said he would endeavour to make 2018 a strong one for Port Hedland.

“Let’s work on something sustainable for the town. That’s what’s important,” he said.