AS the owners of the Bindoon Bakery, soon to be Bindoon Bakehaus and cafe, Anne Maree and I are devastated to learn that our councillors have voted to exclude the Targa West Rally from Chittering’s calendar of events.
Prior to making such a significant decision, we would have appreciated the councillors canvassing our views given the impact this decision will have on our business.
What has been cancelled is the most significant weekend of the year for us in terms of the bakery’s turnover, staff employment opportunities, and the goodwill we have come to enjoy and appreciate over the two days.
In addition, the rally drivers and crews would call into the bakery months prior to the event and our staff enjoyed the interaction and camaraderie that has built up over the years.
It is unthinkable that the goodwill that has been established has been cast aside for a very small group of disgruntled people.
The impact on our business and our staff has very obviously not been fully considered when the councillors decided to scrap the rally for Chittering and we would very much appreciate this decision being reconsidered in time for this year’s event.
Something that is of even greater importance to the town of Bindoon is the social interaction we enjoy with people who turn out to visit the Bindoon Oval to look at the cars or stand on the roadside to watch the rally.
What has been created over the years is truly amazing. We have families living in Bindoon that make an effort to arrange to get together with their neighbours over the two days of the rally.
It has taken this rally to bring people out of their houses to have some fun while watching an exciting sport that is being conducted in a responsible and controlled manner.
We wish we had been aware of council’s view prior to us investing such a lot of money in a new bakery in the town.
We have worked very hard to put Bindoon on the map as can be evidenced by our awards and our increased trading, and the advertising we gain from the rally cannot be discounted.