Yarrawonga Chronicle

Border brokers to support business

Towns split by interstate borders are used to living as one community and industries and businesses on the border face unique challenges.

Local challenges need local solutions and that’s why the Victorian Government is establishing a team of Border Brokers to work alongside Victoria’s Cross Border Commissioner Luke Wilson.

The team will include eight brokers who will work in the Hume, Gippsland, Loddon Mallee, Grampians and Barwon South West regions, which have all been impacted by restrictions on their respective borders.

Brokers will be jointly led by Regional Development Victoria and Agriculture Victoria – which already have strong mechanisms in place to support communities and industry.

“Victorian communities and businesses who live along the borders with NSW and SA have done it tough in the past year and a half – this team will add further support to help them to navigate the challenges,” Victoria’s Cross Border Commissioner Luke Wilson said.

“The Border Brokers will work with me to ensure a local understanding of the issues and that these local needs are represented across government.”

This team will ensure locals have a key contact on the ground to advocate on their behalf and will support businesses and industry groups to address issues and challenges.

Border Brokers will work across state and

COVID community support services

During these current nationwide difficult times, there is a range of support services throughout the community who can help.

Moira Shire CEO Clare Keenan said council was in regular meetings with multiple service agencies to discuss emerging and continuing needs and issues for residents and finding ways to give assistance wherever possible.

“During times of emergency council always plays a lead role in coordinating relief and recovery, and always in partnership with various local and state organisations,” she said.

“In particular, we have been meeting regularly with key agencies including Victoria Police, NCN Health, and Yarrawonga Health as well as representatives from Red Cross and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to ensure everything is being done to ease our residents through this latest lockdown. local governments and with chambers of commerce, key agricultural stakeholders, industry, regional tourism boards and community groups to identify and triage issues.

The team will work on solutions to challenges such as access to workforce and help to ensure supply of necessary goods and services to local businesses. The Brokers will also be able to connect locals with the comprehensive support that has been provided by the Victorian Government throughout the pandemic.

In addition, Brokers will be included in the membership of the Border Representatives Reference Group which the Government established last month. The BRRG brings together key stakeholders to identify local impacts and challenges experienced by border communities in response to Victorian/NSW border restrictions.

The Border Broker initiative recognises that border communities have endured challenges as a result of restrictions in place by the Victorian, NSW and SA governments, in order to keep locals safe.

For more information go to rdv.vic.gov.au/ cross-border-commissioner

Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said the restrictions in place along the border are necessary to keep border communities safe but understands that communities need support.

“That’s why we are responding with a team of Border Brokers,” Ms Thomas said.

“The Border Brokers will be a new point of contact on the ground to help our communities impacted by challenges from the pandemic. They will be a crucial step in ensuring our border communities continue to have a strong voice as we recover from the global pandemic.”

The Victorian Government will deploy a team of locally based ‘Border Brokers’ to support industries and businesses impacted by restrictions on Victoria’s borders with New South Wales and South Australia.

“In addition, we have gone into a new partnership with the City of Greater Shepparton and now have COVIDSafe Business Support Officers who will visit local businesses to assist with COVID safe plans and offer advice on how businesses can operate safely and within regulations.”

Ms Keenan said everyone has been hit hard by this latest lockdown – mentally, socially and economically.

“We need to support our Moira communities to ensure we can all return to normalcy when lockdowns ease and we are actively encouraging all members of the community to get vaccinated as soon as they can,” she said.

“People are rallying to look after those in isolation as a result of visiting Tier One and Two sites in and around Shepparton which is wonderful to see.

“Go to our Facebook page or website for the latest news on relief and recovery opportunities and initiatives for Moira Shire.”

Orchid show cancelled

The Murray Valley Orchid Club were to hold their Orchid Show on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19 at the Yarrawonga Showgrounds but unfortunately all shows have been cancelled due to Covid.

For information about the club or if you would like to buy any orchids please ring Garry (yabbie) Luke on 03 57458393.

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2021-09-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

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