|
Halls Creek, Kununurra and Wyndham could have a community bank under the umbrella of the Bendigo Community Bank. The first meeting of interested parties to form a steering committee to look at the possibility of forming a community bank branch took place in Kununurra last Thursday. The meeting brought together a broad section of community and business representatives along with senior staff and councillors from the Shires of Wyndham-East Kimberley and Halls Creek. The main objective of the meeting was to seek overall comment, business and community input and to begin the process by which a Bendigo Community Bank Branch could be formed. The committee will be responsible for dissemination of information and mustering support by way of pledges from the commercial and private sector, so that they can become involved. |
Kununurra is currently serviced by three major banks along with agency banking. Wyndham and Halls Creek operate banking agencies only. Proponents see an opportunity for an entire community and region to become involved at ground level in a bank that can be called their own. The never ending bank branch closures in small country towns is becoming an ever present threat, thus a proposed Bendigo Community Bank based in Kununurra with an agency in Wyndham and a proposed sub branch in Halls Creek would be a way that the community could take financial matters into its own hands. The newly formed steering committee's focus is to identify and secure a viable banking service solution for the region. Cr John Buchanan from the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley was elected chairperson of the steering committee with Cr Trish McKay from the Shire of Halls Creek the deputy chairperson. |
Other members of the steering committee include: Matthew Scott, Peter McConnell, Ian Trust, David McKerrell, Clinton Vagg, Malcolm Edwards, Grant White and a yet to be nominated member from the Kununurra Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The steering committee made a firm commitment at the meeting to ensure as much information as possible will be disseminated to the residents of both shires in the coming months. Pledge forms and information packs will be made available in the New Year. A series of public meetings in all towns with representatives from the steering committee and Bendigo Bank will take place between February and March.
|