FORMER Queanbeyan Councillor and managing director of Dimitries Jewellers Steve Stavreas said his decision to join the re-branded Queanbeyan Business Chamber was made when one of his long-term customers was tragically killed crossing Monaro Street last year.
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The accident brought to a head issues that Mr Stavreas had been frustrated about for some time, he said.
"The motivator for me was the death of one of my customers on the main street. That made me look at more closely why we are experiencing problems in Queanbeyan.
"And I've come to conclusions that Queanbeyan has been allowed to develop in a particular direction that's been dictated by authorities outside of our community, like the RTA, and what appeared to be Council's impotence to take action and address the issue, which is addressable. It can be tackled," he said.
While traffic speeds along the main street was his initial concern, he said it was just one factor of many in turning around the CBD to better suit the community.
"One of the main changes that has to occur in the short term is the speed of traffic down the main street, but that's only one issue," Mr Stavreas said.
"In the course of my investigations, I was invited to join the Queanbeyan Businsess Chamber. I was satisfied that its restructure had the capacity to address and investigate some of these issues, and act as a strong lobbying group to work with Council and the State Government to hand the town back to the community."
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