Destination tourism and The Levee will form part of the discussion that aims to identify new economies and determine what infrastructure would help.

Organiser, Maitland Business Chamber, was confident such measures would fuel employment too.

“The question is, how do we prepare for things like the mining downturn?” chamber president Craig McGregor asked.

“Maybe it’s tourism or it could even be IT services,” he said.

The Levee is but one project under way that aims to boost both the tourism economy and retail as kind of a hybrid space.

Mr McGregor said it was an ­example of how Maitland could look beyond traditional industry to a more diverse employment landscape with the growing health, fitness and youth economies all catalysts for jobs. 

The chamber has displayed ­remarkable lobby power in the past with key infrastructure projects.

It helped secure $45 million for New England Highway roundabout improvements that will ease congestion and reduce costly delays on ­transport.

The executive also showed persuasive power when Maitland missed out on a share in mining royalties.

They successfully lobbied the state government to broaden the Resources for Regions criteria that in turn reaped $9.9 million for stage two of The Levee. 

The forum is scheduled for October when a new business executive will determine its strategic plan.

“Each year [chamber executives] tend to ask themselves what are the key things Maitland needs,” Mr McGregor said.

“I stepped and said, ‘Why don’t we open this up’?

“I said: ‘Let’s sing with one voice and work together’.”

More specifically, the conversation will surround tax reform, youth ­unemployment, education and the tourism economy.

The chamber is also expected to ­further distil its recent proposal for superannuation reform that would allow young adults to dip into their retirement nest egg for vocational and business training.

“We’re more than just a breakfast club we’re advocates for getting Maitland a better deal,” Mr McGregor said.

The forum, What’s the Big Idea, will take place on October 21.

People can contribute to the ­discussion in the countdown on social media under the hash tag #morethannetworking.