That’s the reasoning behind a community meeting being hosted in Mathoura next week by Tom Weyrich.
Mr Weyrich called the meeting to highlight that residents feel Mathoura is being largely ignored by key decision makers, and to brainstorm a campaign on how to turn it around.
Issues to be discussed come under the banners of local government, and state and federal government.
Mr Weyrich said it spans from emergency service coverage, to infrastructure investment and even demanding Murray River Council be more of a champion for Mathoura’s needs.
One of the topics to be discussed is the Mathoura Police Station, which has been uninhabitable since early 2023.
Its condition was first made public by Mr Weyrich, when he was still a councillor with Murray River Council.
He said the lack of policing presence in the town is putting residents on edge.
He referred to an extended crime spree late last year, and more recently that the town is a haven for ‘hoon’ drivers.
“Less than two weeks ago there were these cars doing burnouts all over town and harassing residents.
“Locals were constantly calling the police but nothing came of it.
“When the hoons were done, they just dumped the cars in the middle of the road and left. One is still there 10 days later,” Mr Weyrich said on Wednesday.
Health is another key area of concern, and particularly which hospital residents will end up in if they require an ambulance.
While Mr Weyrich said there’s no major complaint with access to the ambulance if needed, he said residents can never be certain whether they’ll end up in Mathoura or Deniliquin for treatment.
Also among what Mr Weyrich describes as a “long list” of problem is unreliable television, internet and phone services, the loss of the Bendigo Bank agency and the decision by council in 2022 to evict residents at the Mathoura Liston Caravan Park.
They were to leave the site until maintenance to bring the area back to safety standards was complete, but council later abandoned the upgrades as it was cost prohibitive and showed little promise of return.
Mr Wyrich maintains with the right management and operation plan in place, a caravan park in Mathoura could be beneficial and profitable.
“When plans for the abattoir at Barham and an arts development in Moama hit brick walls, council pushed and pushed until they made it happen,” Mr Weyrich said.
“We just need them to push for us (Mathoura).
“One of the problems is Mathoura has no seat at the (council) table.
“The former Murray Shire region is now the Moama ward of Murray River Council, and all three of its delegates are from Moama.
“In the last election, where I was not re-elected, 92 per cent of the votes came out of Moama.
“We clearly have an issue here, and we just want our fair share.”
Mr Weyrich said one of the potential solutions for Mathoura being overlooked is to change its local government alliance.
He said an idea to lobby for Mathoura to be included in the Edward River Council boundary would be put to the meeting.
While the meeting is for residents of Mathoura and Picnic Point only, Mr Weyrich said Member for Murray Helen Dalton has been invited and is expected to attend.
The meeting will be held from 7pm Wednesday at the Mathoura Visitor & Business Centre.
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