Local resilience shines through challenging times
Published on 16 July 2020
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke has commended residents throughout the Federation region and wider border communities.
He stated that the last ten days had no doubt impacted considerably on the daily lives of residents in the wider Federation region and neighboring shire communities.
“Although the impacts vary from resident to resident and business to business on each side of the border, once again I believe our communities have shown great resilience and adapted to address the challenges covid-19 continues to present to us,” he said.
“It is pleasing to hear from residents how smoothly the checkpoint system is working and although the first 72 hours was tough as expected, the process is now working with minimal interuptions for border residents going about their daily lives. What is also heartwarming to hear is that throughout the uncertainty border closures caused earlier last week in our communities, many local residents have not only supported their at risk neighbors by performing some daily tasks for them or helping them get their permits, they have also taken wood in some cases, snacks and coffees to the NSW Police on the frontline protecting our borders and hence our communities.”
Mayor Bourke said the generosity and kind nature of such behavior was what Federation residents were known for. “2020 has undoubtedly been the toughest year many of us have endured in a long time,” he said. “Coming off the back of years of drought for our region, as well as bushfires over the summer period for many regions across the eastern states, and now COVID-19, as Mayor I continue to be proud of the resilience and kind nature displayed through these tough times. If the past is anything to go by, as a community we continuously come together to support one another in times such as this and that is something that no event can ever take away from us – the kindness and support we continue to give each other.”
Mayor Bourke said Council’s focus would continue to be on ensuring the safety of its community by adhering to State and Federal advice, as well as identifying and implementing support measures for its tourism and business community who have been heavily impacted throughout 2020.
“Council continues to listen and engage with tourism and business operators and is well aware for some that COVID-19 is crippling our local tourism industry,” Mayor Bourke said.
“We will support our operators to recover, and in Council’s draft annual budget that is currently out for community exhibition and feedback, Council has committed an unprecedented amount of tourism marketing funding to highlight the unique experiences and tourism offerings of our region and to encourage visitation in the tourism market as soon as it is safe to do so. Council is actively seeking advice from the NSW Government in relation to travel restrictions on Border towns."