By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S most prominent lobby groups needs an urgent increase in its number of members if it is to survive, the new executive director has claimed.
Chris Potaris took over as the executive director of the Committee for Wyndham last month and told Star the group was surviving almost completely on council grants.
“Over the last three years we’ve received about $110,000 from Wyndham Council, whereas a group like the Committee for Geelong receives about $2 million per year,” Mr Potaris said.
“There are approximately 9,300 businesses in Wyndham and yet I have 40 members. Does that make sense?”
Mr Potaris said the group needed an immediate injection of 20 new members and at least $300,000 to achieve its goals.
Mr Potaris took over as executive director from Nik Tsardakis on 3 December last year.
Over the past 15 years he has worked with Victoria Police, as the head of security with V/Line and as a CEO of several national organisations.
He is currently the director of an iPhone and Android application development company.
Mr Potaris said he was currently working on a formal submission on behalf of Wyndham businesses and the community in response to the East Werribee Employment Precinct.
He said he will be concentrating on growing the committee so that it can create better outcomes for residents.
“I have a clear vision for the Committee for Wyndham and from February I will start a very aggressive campaign to recruit more members,” he said.
“I will go door to door and meet all businesses to drive that membership growth.”
Email admin@committeeforwyndham.com.au for more information.
