Economic concerns of Bega Valley tourism businesses were taken directly to the federal treasurer last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Three small business owners travelled to Parliament House Canberra last Thursday to meet with Josh Frydenberg regarding their concerns for tourism in the region, following the second consecutive peak season being severely affected, by bushfires and then COVID.
Garden of Eden Caravan Park manager Lyn Carlson said Merimbula-Eden Liberals president Scott Kennedy contacted her when the NSW-Victorian border closed on December 31 to ask her about the direct impact, and Mr Kennedy was the instigator of the recent meeting at Parliament House.
"Hopefully they will do something," Ms Carlson said.
"I was trying to get them to recognise Eden and that we are all suffering here.
"Nobody wants to come down this close to Victoria, so we are a dead end at the moment," she said.
Arranged through Senator Jim Molan, the delegation of business owners travelled to Canberra at their own expense, with Katrina Woods of the Broken Oar in Pambula Beach and Michael Mashado of Pickles Fishing & Outdoors in Eden also in attendance.
Mr Kennedy said the delegation outlined the case for an amendment to the government's coronavirus economic response package for tourism-related businesses significantly impacted by the NYE closure, due to these unique circumstances:
- Economic significance of tourism to the Far South Coast
- Very high proportion of holidaymakers from Victoria
- The high 'seasonality' of business revenues
- Good trading in December, bouncing back from last summer
- COVID related border closure, at the worst possible time
"We were just trying to do something for the town, at least we've given it a go to get them to hear us," Ms Carlson said.
"We need some more advertising to say don't be scared to come to Eden, we need people to come back. Eden is so beautiful, we have so much to offer."
The group also met with senior advisers from the Office of Tourism MP Dan Tehan and each of the meetings lasted approximately 30 minutes.
Mr Kennedy said the members of the delegation were identified by speaking to people and businesses about their stories.
"The businesses in delegation had no links to the Liberal Party and weren't known to me previously, but were able to provide a very good account of the impact of the border closure on Far South Coast business at the height of summer," he said.
According to Mr Kennedy the Merimbula-Eden Liberals will be following up the meeting.
"I've got no idea yet what the outcome will be, we weren't given any indication on the day whether support would be forthcoming," he said.
"I would love to get an outcome for the area - things have been tough through no fault of business owners.
"It's important as an extension of the party to keep my eyes open and if I see something, to take it forward," he said.
According to Mr Kennedy a number of other businesses and tourism bodies were approached in Merimbula, Bermagui and Tathra to join the delegation.
He said he was grateful to Sapphire Coast Tourism for a business survey provided on the topic which was sent to government on the day of the visit to parliament.
"A number of people were invited but couldn't or didn't want to attend, but I think the main thing is that the delegation told the story really well," Mr Kennedy said.
Read also: