The forum was designed to discuss the Edward River region’s opportunities for growth and new direction over the next decade.
‘‘This isn’t just about Deniliquin, it’s about Wanganella, Blighty, Pretty Pine, Booroorban — it’s about the whole region,’’ Ms Sefton said.
‘‘We’re saying ‘the whole region is open for business’.’’
The forum, held at Deniliquin’s Coach House Hotel, was the next step on the way to a community strategic plan, following a community consultation period performed by regional and rural communications firm Seftons, which was undertaken by Edward River Council toward the end of last year.
Following that consultation was the release of the Seftons Report — a hefty document which sought to encapsulate the status, ambitions and values of Edward River Council, its people, organisations and businesses.
Outside of council meetings, Monday was also the public’s first chance to meet its new Edward River Council, after seven new and two returned elected officials were sworn in last month.
In attendance were Mayor Peta Betts, Deputy Mayor Paul Fellows and Crs Pat Fogarty, Shirlee Burge, Linda Fawns, Harold Clapham, Peter Connell and Marc Petersen, with Cr Tarria Moore an apology.
Panellists included Vicki Meyer, Deniliquin Freighters, who was recently appointed to the board of Infrastructure Australia, Frank White from Big4 Deniliquin Holiday Park, director of Regional Development Murray Edwina Hayes, and Riverina-based logistics and freight expert David Bardos.
The expected fifth panellist, Neil Bruce from Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, was unable to attend, however was going to provide the perspective of value-adding and innovation to local industry and history.
Local business leaders Ms Meyer and Mr White began with what inspired them to get into the industries they are in.
‘‘We started off with one idea and some paddocks and then another idea and another idea and it just slowly increased,’’ Mr White said.
He highlighted the necessity for locals to punch above their weight when it came to new ideas.
Ms Meyer said the role of her business has ‘‘changed dramatically’’.
‘‘The business has changed dramatically from the business that I came to in late 2002,’’ she said.
Both agreed COVID had made life a nightmare for local business — Mr White said it was impossible to find staff, while Ms Meyer said the logistics of keeping COVID from hitting their team meant she had to navigate the closed NSW-Victoria border and redesign the way her staff interact as they come and go.
Ms Meyer said lobbying was also a big part of her job, to ensure the transport business was able to continue to operate through disasters such as floods and the pandemic.
She said being informed was a key way to advocate for the business, and ensure a sustained relationship with key decision-makers.
Supporting businesses adjacent to transport was also important — such as sponsoring various organisations — to ensure the viability of those sectors.
‘‘Ethics, kindness and co-operation’’ has always been her motto.
When talking about location, Mr Bardos said capitalising on Deniliquin’s prime positioning between port cities Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and capitalising on that, is a major advantage.
However, he acknowledged the price of freight has gone ‘‘through the roof’’, and producers can look for something closer to home.
‘‘Logistics with disruptions (such as shipping freight costs) adds a lot of pressure, and given we have so many opportunities banging on our doors, we should use them,’’ he said.
He said it’s all about collaboration.
‘‘Edward River can be a leader in consolidated freight, which means we need to understand our infrastructure and how it benefits the wider supply chain,’’ Mr Bardos said.
As a prompt, he asked the audience, ‘‘who are the players to make that happen?’’
‘‘There needs to be competitive value so we can proposition someone to invest in us.’’
Edwina Hayes was able to supplement that, with her expertise on what would stimulate and support the region’s businesses.
She said it was so positive to see the foundations of optimism being built in the community, in not only the Sefton report but council’s Agribusiness Master Plan and other strategic documents devised in the past five years.
She said with the cost of international freight, small-scale manufacturing, development for conservation and alternative business models are an ideal way to stimulate the local economy.
All panellists believed in targeting and identifying key decision-makers in government and bureaucracy, and building relationships with them.
The idea is to sustain those pathways so the region is ‘‘on the map’’ in the minds of leaders.
‘‘About 10 years ago, we had a shrinking population and services due to the drought, and now it’s not so bad we need to advocate,’’ Ms Hayes said.
Ms Sefton agreed it’s important those networks are aware ‘‘of what the region wants’’, part of which is about developing a clear vision.
Council’s general manager Phil Stone said the forum may appear to be a box-ticking exercise, but as the community sharpens its focus, it will allow local government to do the same.
Mr Stone said council has set itself an ambitious target — an April deadline to introduce a Community Strategic Plan ahead of the annual budget.
