Ararat business group set to lobby

A70-member-strong Ararat district business group will provide weekly updates to federal and state politicians about its views on how COVID-19 restrictions affect rural and regional business activity.

The Greater Ararat Business, GAB, Network will also include other influential people in public office in correspondence.

The move comes after a GAB Network meeting on Friday to discuss what a Melbourne stagethree lockdown meant for the regions beyond large provincial centres.

Network president Maria Whitford said the extended lockdown in Melbourne had sent shockwaves through the business industry and many operators were struggling to come to grips with implications.

“While it might seem on the surface that most rural areas might have escaped the impact of the Melbourne stage-three restrictions, the reality is this a major setback for many of our communities,” she said.

“On behalf of our members we need to lobby all levels of government to make sure everyone is aware that what is happening in Melbourne has an effect on small business outside restriction zones.

“It has a socio-economic ripple effect and has an impact on everything that involves all operational aspects that come from connectivity between the state’s capital and the outlying provincial, regional and rural communities.

“We rely heavily on a consistent flow, not only of people, but goods and services going both ways. This has never been more glaringly obvious than under the circumstances we face at the moment.”

Mrs Whitford said the organisation was prepared to provide weekly updates to all relevant government representatives to press the point that was ‘not okay’.

“We want to make sure there is in no way any misconceptions that what’s happened in Melbourne does not affect regional and rural areas such Ararat district,” she said.

“We’re going to have regular online Zoom meetings between our members during the next few weeks so everyone can voice their concerns and observations and we’re going to immediately pass that information on.”

Mrs Whitford said there were many aspects surrounding business recovery in regional areas that political leaders needed to consider.

“One of these, obviously, in helping the business community to emerge from all that has happened and is happening is the extension of the Jobkeeper scheme and the continued development of other supportive measures,” she said.