Katoomba Leura Online

The Food Co-op in Katoomba is celebrating its 30th birthday, making it probably the oldest in NSW (Afalfa House in Enmore is the other co-op in the running) and on  of the oldest in Australia (Maple St Co-op in Maleny QLD was founded in 1979). Founded in a garage in 1980, the co-op has thrived in its current location in Ha’penny Lane since 1998.

To celebrate 30 years, a Community Fair at Philip Hall Blackheath is planned for Saturday 12th March with entertainment and events from 10am to 10pm.  Entry is free.

This article popped up in a search, and even though it is a couple of years old, I thought I would post it as it is quite a nice overview on the Cittaslow movement in the mountains (link is to WA Today as I can’t find it on SMH). It has several interviews and references to locals like Hominy Bakery, Logan Brae Orchard and the Co-Op at Katoomba. Read it here.

The Gazette is reporting a no confidence motion in the food co-op board. I don’t know the particulars of this fight, and it looks like it has a personal element, but just from the point of view of an ordinary member, it looks like a problem.

The last newsletter talked about raising prices and membership fees in order to fund a new location and a change management consultant. This sounds like such a bad business decision it could be on a TV show. It smacks of the last communication you have before the news comes that the organisation is now insolvent and the new managers are attempting to refocus on ‘core’ business.

I suspect if there was a little less “world’s best practice for co-operatives”, and a little more common sense, the co-op would continue to do well.