By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council has called for a “fair go” for tourism funding.
The Wyndham Business and Tourism Association (WBTA) has thrown its support behind the council’s stance, which was included in the community engagement report for the council’s 2019-20 draft budget.
The report stated: “Wyndham’s tourism industry generates almost $490 million per year, yet we are unable to access important tourism funding from the Victorian government.”
The council’s economy, innovation and liveability director Peter McKinnon said funding for the state government’s tourism marketing programs focused on the Melbourne CBD and regional areas “with no reference to the visitor experiences available in suburban destinations such as Wyndham”.
Mr McKinnon said the council would also welcome more funding from the state government for the $86 million Werribee Open Range Zoo master plan, the Werribee National Equestrian Centre’s soon-to-be-finalised master plan and “better signage” on the Princes Freeway.
Head of the WBTA’s tourism subcommittee, Nicole Tehan, said Wyndham was unable to apply for regional funding grants due to being classified as part of “Metropolitan Melbourne” – which includes 17 municipalities – by Visit Victoria.
“Wyndham’s visitor economy is positioned to grow at a significant rate in the short to medium term,” Ms Tehan said.
“We encourage the state government to invest in Wyndham’s tourism product and supporting infrastructure to ensure economic return, the generation of new employment opportunities and high-quality experiences for all those who visit this fantastic region.”
A state government spokesperson said: “The government is proud to support events and attractions in Wyndham through a range of different agencies and programs”.
