Cash strapped for show

By Melissa Donchi
YARRA Valley and Dandenongs Tourism Marketing Board has been left without any funding to showcase the region at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show.
Regional Marketing chairman Jeffry Farman said the Department of Primary Industry had rejected its application for funding on the basis that it is now concentrating on supporting producers focused on export and would not be doing anything with domestic producers.
“Our region has been chosen as the showcase region at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show but despite granting a total of $50,000 for another region to promote itself last year, the Victorian Government has refused to give our region any assistance,” Mr Farman said.
“One would think that if that State Government was serious about this region then assisting with great promotional opportunities like this would be a priority.”
The feature region showcase is a relatively new development for the show, introduced just last year as part of the $108 million dollar redevelopment of the Melbourne Showgrounds.
Mr Farman said the showcase was a big opportunity for local primary producers and tourism operators in the Yarra Valley.
“We have been given a valuable opportunity for food, wine and horticulture and tourism businesses to sell their product to the 55,000 people that go through the show a day and our region should be given every opportunity to showcase all that it has to offer to both domestic and international visitors,” Mr Farman said.
Mr Farman said they would now explore other avenues of assistance.
“Because the State Government has given us no help, we will now be going to our local Federal MP Fran Bailey, who is a great advocate for our region, to ask for assistance,” he said.
Ms Bailey was unavailable for comment.
A Department of Primary Industries spokesman was unable to provide a comment.
Seymour MP Ben Hardman was unable to provide a comment to the Mail by the time of going to press.