A CAMPAIGN to promote the Murray River region to the Melbourne media would not benefit the shire, says a Moulamein business owner.
The Murray River Council (MRC) held a meeting on July 16, to discuss how to support border region businesses impacted by the border closures between New South Wales and Victoria.
Moulamein Lakeside Caravan Park co-owner and manager Joe Peeters said he wasn’t sure how much benefit the $100,000 campaign to Melbourne media would be.
“I can’t see them (MRC) being able to convince the powers to be to change the zone to a green zone because of how much of the infection (from the Sydney outbreak) has filtered through to the rural areas,” Mr Peeters said.
At the council meeting, Greater Murray Ward councillor Thomas Weyrich said the council had to act “swiftly” suggesting that a full page ad be published in the Herald Sun or The Age newspapers in Melbourne.
He said it should outline the region’s plight, ask the Victorian premier why they’re not a green zone and the reasoning behind it, and to say there has never been a case of Covid in the MRC region.
Mr Peeters said he agreed.
“Moulamein hasn’t had a single case. Why we’re considered a red zone is a bit of a mystery,” Mr Peeters said.
“I can understand why it’s been done so by the Victorian government.
“The Delta variant is too virulent/rampant to play with.”
Mr Peeters said it seemed like not a lot was achieved with the meeting.
“I think there could have been more done, so far as for council assisting the businesses in the bubble,” he said.
“All we’ve been given so far since the beginning of 2020 one $1500 rebate.
“I pay $7000 in rates alone, so $1500 is nothing.”
On July 13 NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet jointly announced an economic support package worth billions of dollars aimed at helping businesses and people right across the state fight through the current COVID-19 lockdown.
The commitment from the state government has increased to $5.1 billion, including more than $1b from the Commonwealth as part of a business and employee support program.
One part of that package was the extension of the previously announced business grants program, where eligible businesses with Australian wages below $10 million can claim grants between $7,500 and $15,000 to cover the first three-weeks of restrictions, and takes the potential size of the program to $2.1b.
But Mr Peeters said his business was not eligible.
“I’m not a micro business and so in regards to the larger $15,000 and 30 per cent reduction – I think it’s only eligible to people with staff,” he said.
“We (Joe and Sandy Peeters) as owners are not paid a wage, so I think that will make us fall between the cracks.
“There is no package available for me, at the time [of the first lockdowns] I used to be able to have JobKeeper.”
Mr Peeters said he is liaising with his accountant to see what financial assistance could be provided to the business.
