Mr Oriti says he has enjoyed his time leading the chamber.

“My term as a board member ends on November 28, and I’m not proposing to seek re-election,” he said.

“We have a new executive officer, Mark Wilson and there will be a new president. I think it’s important they get free rein to pursue the new strategy for the chamber.”

Mr Oriti said that initially, the big issues for the chamber were about having economic development as a key focus of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

“That has been achieved through the economic steering group.  We are very pleased that the council general manager, Craig Swift-McNair and Jeffery Sharp, director of infrastructure and asset management have economic development as a key objective,” he said.

“That affects how they can grow the area and improve people’s lives.  I am very pleased with how the foreshore is progressing and with developments at Town Green, the breakwall and Kooloonbung Creek.”

The outgoing chamber president says the other big issue has been infrastructure, especially the orbital road from Ocean Drive to the airport in Port Macquarie.  He says it is quite firmly on the council’s agenda, and is obviously a huge project.

“On those issues, I am pleased with what the Chamber has been able to do. It’s always important that the council listens to business people and responds to their concerns.  By and large, this council performs pretty well compared to its peers,” he added.

“Port Macquarie and the Hastings is going in the right direction.  The future is assured.  We are in a pretty sweet spot in terms of State and Government policy and development.”

He thanked the Board of Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce for supporting him and said that being president had been a great opportunity for him.  Mr Oriti is a partner at Donovan Oates Hannaford Lawyers in Port Macquarie.

READ MORE: Variety key for business survival