The council is taking up Rod Brown’s idea, enlisting him to arrange ministerial meetings and write a submission on why Goulburn’s Trade and Investment office should be kept open.

He’ll also be pushing the merits of three local projects to back his case. Small business minister Katrina Hodgkinson announced two weeks ago the Goldsmith St service would close on June 30.

The move has sparked community and Council outrage. Mr Brown runs Cockatoo Network, a Canberra based firm specialising in regional development, investment attraction, submissions to government and project scoping.

The registered lobbyist addressed Council’s meeting on Tuesday night. General manager Chris Berry said Cr Geoff Peterson had initial contact with Mr Brown about a local government column he wrote, partly concerning Goulburn.

“When he heard about the office’s closure he contacted me and, after talks with Cr Peterson and the Mayor, we thought it was worthwhile getting him in for a chat,” Mr Berry said.

The council will pay Mr Brown for his services, estimated to be three days’ work. The consultant told councillors he was shocked by the state government’s decision.

He had discussed it with Cr Peterson in greater detail.

Mr Brown suggested strongly worded letters to state regional development minister Andrew Stoner, copied to federal minister, Simon Crean.

“Their (the office’s) job is to provide the glue to connect people to government,” he said. “Their role is essential and to run that function out of Wollongong is an absurd proposition.”

But words were not enough. Letters had to contain a compelling case and be backed up with direct representation.

He suggested Council press three significant projects - its warehousing and logistics potential, a “security precinct,” building on the Police Academy’s and jail’s presence, and Goulburn’s ability to store archival material for the National Archives and National Museum.

“I’m told that industries in Blacktown would respond favourably to an approach by your council to relocate to Goulburn,” Mr Brown said.

“The federal government is interested in regional development and Mr Crean is particularly interested in smart solutions.”

He said only a small percentage of archival material was displayed in Canberra museums. It followed that Goulburn could not only store a large percentage but display some as well.

Letters to government should be supported by Goulburn MP Pru Goward.

“You need people in Sydney thinking about Goulburn and this region because unless you start making a noise, you will be forgotten,” Mr Brown said.

Councillors were equally adamant the office should remain open. Cr Margaret O’Neill pointed out the Fahey Liberal government opened the service and the onus should be put back on that party.

“We shouldn’t lie down. NSW is not just Sydney and Wollongong. They need us,” she said.

“…If we accept this, what else will they do? The bottom line is we have to get stuck into this because we’re losing jobs left, right and centre.”

Cr Peterson told the meeting it was no good “kicking butts;” a firm but respectful submission would carry more weight.

He said Goulburn was ideally placed to take advantage of regional development opportunities and take a slice of the mining tax destined for the sector.

But the ability to capitalise had been “ripped out from under them.”

Cr Penning stressed the need to be “in the government’s face” all the time so the same thing didn’t happen again.

They decided to write a submission to both levels of government, with Mr Brown’s assistance, on the Trade and Investment office’s importance to the region.

The consultant will also secure ministerial meetings. A strategy will be developed to continually press the importance of development in this region to state and federal government.

Mr Berry said Council didn’t call for expressions of interest in the work due to its urgency.