BUSINESSES in WARIALDA
Warialda, part of the Gwydir Shire, has a strong business community. The shire is situated in an excellent, central location to attract manufacturing
and other industries as it is approximately 50km from the Newell Highway, 450kms south of Brisbane, 1,200kms north of Melbourne and 640kms north
west of Sydney.
Warialda is serviced by supermarkets, hardware shops and
suppliers of agricultural products, as well as a range of services such as
accountants, bookkeeping, solicitors and doctors. The banking facilities in Warialda include the
New England Credit Union, in-store Commonwealth Bank facilities at the Post Office and Westpac
Bank facilities in the Newsagency. Other banking facilities are available in Moree or Inverell. With the introduction of broadband internet and improved mobile services, the number of homebased businesses has increased in the area.
Satellite connections are available in some rural areas. Several
businesses are starting to export innovative
products, aqua culture is expanding
and some
agricultural areas in the north of the shire are thriving whereas other
sections are struggling to survive.
Plumbers, electricians, builders, brick layers – in fact, most trades people are in
great demand as they are either not available or very difficult to obtain. One of the issues affecting the use of trades people is the
shire’s proximity to the Queensland border with Queensland trades people
unable to practice in NSW due to licence differences.
The lack of trades people, coupled with a strong Vocational Education program
in the shire provides an opportunity to upskill local youth with a view to
establishing businesses within the shire to service the trades area. Council
has recently conducted a Skills Audit to identify gaps in the shire for skills,
businesses and services. This information will be used
to attract businesses to the shire and identify training needs for long term
sustainability.
Warialda Chamber of Commerce
meets every second Wednesday of the month at Warialda Golf and Bowling Club.
For further information contact:
President and Treasurer:
Don Coote: 02 6729 1178
Secretary: Ann Willis: 02 6729 1900