Issue #369 – Wednesday, 1 March, 2017
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
Hot food is on the menu Chicken parmigiana, hand-cut chips and a fresh garden salad from Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare was on the menu at UnitingCare Wodonga’s first One Dish Restaurant event on Friday, which turned out to be a huge success.
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Tourism’s cash gone governments to discuss the proposed termination of the cross-border entity and negotiate a positive outcome. “We need Destination NSW to hear the voices of the stakeholders who have benefited significantly from the model and commit to ongoing funding for this proven approach,” she said. “MRT delegates will meet with them and we are confident through that discussion that we will negotiate a successful outcome that’s in the best interest of the Murray region.” MRT plays a significant role in the Murray region by boosting visitor growth and enhancing local tourism economies, Ms Greiner said. “We create jobs in the region, and tourism is one of its leading economic forces,” she said. “Tourism impacts on many businesses as it has a flow-on effect on accommodation, restaurants and transport such as care hire and flights. “These are a few examples of how tourism spreads across many areas of the economy so it is a key driver of any regional economy.”
Fresh spoke in the wheel Young Charlie McGrath was part of the Lake Hume Cycle Challenge’s most successful event to date, which saw close to 800 participants at the weekend. The 17th event was another huge success, with almost 800 riders taking to the routes at the weekend, exceeding last year’s participation. For full story, see page 20. Picture: ADAM WILSON 12340396-FA09-17
Businesses and jobs in the Murray region hang in the balance after Destination NSW (DNSW) cut long-term operational funding to Murray Regional Tourism (MRT). Since its inception in 2010, DNSW has provided long-term funding of $90,000 per annum to MRT, which operates in a cross-border partnership with key stakeholders including Visit Victoria, 13 NSW and Victorian local government areas and local tourism businesses. The funding came in three-year increments, with the most current one expiring in June - but DNSW has pulled the provision of the long-term operational funding to MRT. With over 17 per cent of the region’s jobs in the tourism sector, this could have a detrimental effect on the tourism economy. MRT Board Chair Wendy Greiner told Albury Wodonga News Weekly that the cross-border entity received “no indication” that DNSW would not
continue with long-term funding and was “surprised” by the announcement. “DNSW did a review of the destination network and that exposed a number of new models including what they are calling Destination Riverina Murray,” Ms Greiner said. “But we don’t understand because this cross-border partnership we have is unique and is the only one of its kind in regional Australia, and it’s been a highly successful model. “It’s enabled us to promote one compelling and consistent brand for the entire Murray Region. We never saw this coming.” The cross-border approach has seen visitor numbers increase from 4.5 million visitors in 2011 to 5.1 million visitors in 2016, according to Tourism Research Australia NVS/IVS, and a substantial increase in total expenditure from $1.02 billion in 2011 to $1.5 billion in 2016. But despite the recent revelation, MRT has secured a meeting next week with the Tourism Minister Adam Marshall, Albury MP Greg Aplin and local
Albury Wodonga NewsWeekly’s Special Liftout - Page 7
NSW SeniorS Week Friday 3rd to Sunday 12th March, 2017
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By Monique Kuzeff