FREMANTLE Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim Milsom says he’s been lured north by a challenge he couldn’t turn down.

Mr Milsom announced his resignation from the chamber this week to run the Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation in Onslow and says he didn’t expect it to create such a fuss.

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing for two days. People have even been crying,” he says incredulously.

There’s no doubt many local business owners have been banking on Mr Milsom’s no-nonsense approach to help pull Fremantle from its economic torpor.

He’s certainly been a boon to the chamber: his achievements include converting a $10,000 loss upon arrival to a $60,000 profit this year, all while increasing chamber staff from two to seven.

He says initiatives such as the Fremantle business awards and digital training courses—which had 2500 businesses enrolled—help generate business and networks for the organisation.

He acknowledges the city’s retail sector hasn’t been easy to invigorate and shop owners are running out of patience, but he’s confident the groundwork has been done.

“You’ve got the Attwell Arcade going ahead, which is going to be 300 new employees, and MSC down on Cliff Street’s being built and that’s another 300 new employees.

“And Fort Knox was announced this week so they’re going to be starting 260 apartments in December, and Quest is definitely going ahead and Knutsford Street is going ahead.”

Mr Milsom’s proud of the relationship he’s helped forge with the council and the chamber’s increased influence at the state level.

He says just this week he cornered WA transport department director general Reece Waldock with his concerns the millions slated for the Roe 8 extension could have gone instead towards a new Fremantle bridge.

He reckons there’s no point building an eight-lane highway to bring trucks to Fremantle port only to squeeze them in at the two-lane Stirling bridge. He says a revamp of the old traffic bridge would sort the lot out.

Challenge

But if tackling Freo’s economy is a challenge, he knows it pales compared to challenges he’ll face in Onslow.

Despite little experience working with Aborigines, Mr Milsom was asked by senior executives from gas and oil giant Chevron to help calm anger over a native title deal the locals reckon isn’t being honoured.

The deal involves millions of dollars for giving the company access to its billion-dollar Wheatstone project.

Despite the cash injection Buurabalayji Thalanyi businesses are posting losses and Mr Milsom says he’s been tasked with turning them around.

He finishes in Fremantle on October 24 and will help find his own replacement.

Mayor Brad Pettitt says Mr Milsom has been a pleasure to work with and will be greatly missed.

“Importantly, he was a strong voice for collaboration and partnership and has played an important role in the recent revitalising of Fremantle.”

by STEVE GRANT