Funding for a tourism marketing campaign, Uralla Shire Mayor Mick Pearce, left, and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Monday, 10 February 2020
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has responded quickly to Uralla Shire Council’s calls last week for government assistance to undertake a marketing campaign promoting the town, which is struggling due to bushfires and water contamination.
Mr Marshall said Uralla Shire Council had received a $100,000 grant through the State-Government’s new Bushfire Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Fund, which would be perfect for such a campaign.
“Uralla’s economy, which relies heavily on the hospitality and tourism sectors, has faced a triple threat in the past three months with drought, arsenic in the town water supply and bushfires all acting as a deterrent to visitors stopping in town,” Mr Marshall said.
“Last week the State Government announced the first phase of its new fire recovery program, of which Uralla received $100,000, which can be put towards small-scale local activities that will kick-start the social and economic recovery of their communities.
“I think Uralla Shire Council’s idea of a co-ordinated tourism campaign promoting Uralla as ‘open for business’ on social media and in traditional media outlets is a fantastic idea which will deliver real benefits for businesses.
“I support the initiative wholeheartedly and urge council to immediately get planning on how it wants to roll this campaign out, because the sooner visitors start returning to town, the better it will be for everyone.”
Mr Marshall said there was also direct support for local businesses suffering the fall-out of bushfires.
“The Bushfire Working Capital and Recovery Loan of up to $50,000 and is specifically designed to provide an immediate injection of money to help return and continue business operations by covering salaries or wages,” he said.
“The terms of this loan are up to five years, with a two-year interest free and repayment free period which means by the time repayments need to be made hopefully town’s like Uralla are out of the woods and experiencing positive turnover.
“I am fully committed to helping each and every community affected by fire in this electorate recover and am keen to work with councils as they identify programs which they think will help them get back on their feet.”