AFTER the Murray region lost a billion dollars in tourism revenue and 10,000 jobs due to border closures and the Covid pandemic, the Murray River Council (MRC) has decided to lobby the state government for it to be declared a green zone.
At the July council meeting, Murray Regional Tourism chief executive officer Mark Francis said the region’s visitor economy had previously generated $2.1 billion for the year ending March 2020.
However by March this year, a billion dollars had been slashed from that number, with $250 million being lost in Kerang alone.
During the May lockdown there had been a loss of $270 million, and the latest lockdown is forecast to have cost the economy between $190 million to $270 million.
Approximately 759 jobs were disrupted during the July lockdown, and in the Covid crisis overall, ten thousand roles in the region had been paused or lost.
With heavy restrictions still affecting the region despite the border bubble, the council have decided to launch a $100,000 campaign to promote the region and argue their case through the Melbourne media.
Greater Murray Ward councillor Thomas Weyrich said he doesn’t understand why the Victorian government won’t change the region from a red to a green zone, especially due to the MRC district not recording a single Covid case.
“I think we need to show a bit of leadership and guts, and let’s put it to the Victorian premier to reconsider his position because of the dramatic impacts it’s having on the Murray River Council,” Cr Weyrich said.
“Not only to small businesses, but to the people too.
“We’re all fed up with it. Everyone’s had a gutful of it.”
Moama Ward Cr Nikki Cohen said the council and public had been resilient, but changes needed to be made as businesses and institutions “couldn’t keep opening and closing”.
Greater Wakool Ward Cr Neil Gorey said he supported the media campaign due to local government often being advocates for business in state government affairs.
He also encouraged other border councils to come on board to give greater lobbying strength to the campaign.
“The continual impacts of lockdowns have impacted border communities unfairly and there have been many requests from businesses for council to give support,” Cr Gorey said.
MRC resolved for the mayor and deputy mayor and CEO to request a meeting with key MPs and Victorian ministers to get the campaign started.
Mayor Chris Bilkey also said while council was using the media as a platform, effort had to be made at offering solutions on either side of the border, for state governments to have confidence in keeping the region green going forward.
“Whilst we resolved to allocate money towards this public push, we are hopeful that any funds will predominately be used towards a recovery campaign for our area when we reopen,” he said.
“We won’t be throwing money at a quick fix because in reality, there isn’t one.”
Mayor Bilkey said the stories of local individuals and businesses would be used to showcase the economic importance of the region, so then there could be a way to drive conversations around longer term solutions.
