By John Thompson
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New data has revealed that businesses in Murrumbidgee and Berrigan Shire are receiving half of what they ought to under the NSW Dine & Discover scheme.
Dine & Discover has been extended to August 31 in conjunction with current public health restrictions, but data provided by Services NSW reveals consumers have discovered little more than McDonald's and Hollywood’s latest.
Businesses in Murrumbidgee and Berrigan have received as little as 0.091 per cent of the $241.3 million worth of vouchers currently redeemed — despite making up as much as 0.16 per cent of the NSW population.
This means that the Southern Riverina is getting less than 50 per cent of its fair share of Dine and Discover, highlighting a fatal flaw within the program — one that favours cities and multinationals over NSW’s oft-neglected regions.
Dine & Discover was introduced in March to stimulate a hospitality industry crippled by innumerable restrictions and lockdowns.
All NSW residents are eligible for four lots of $25 vouchers — two ‘dine’ vouchers and two ‘discover’ vouchers, to be used for arts, entertainment and tourism opportunities.
One local eatery, which did not want to be named, said the vouchers were ‘‘not worth the effort’’ and that ‘‘only one person has asked about it’’.
And Tocumwal Chamber of Commerce and Tourism president Sergio Redegalli said the money the government invested in the vouchers would be better spent on marketing rural and regional areas to wider audiences.
‘‘The only way to get people to the bush is by telling them what’s here,’’ he said.
‘‘We have to encourage people in the state to get out and about, and that’s including people from our surrounding towns.’’
Mr Redegalli said many hospitality businesses simply are not well equipped to take advantage of the Dine & Discover program, due to limitations on sitting capacity.
The Murrumbidgee Council region (which has a population of 3,961) has received $77,005 from the use of Dine & Discover vouchers according to details provided to Southern Riverina News last week.
However, this figure is inflated by consumers additional spend, which averages $8.26 per $25 voucher.
A total of 2,248 vouchers were redeemed across 13 participating businesses. With only 1,479 vouchers being issued locally, it suggests some of the vouchers have been redeemed at local businesses by visitors.
Though it is just as likely the difference was bolstered by regular commuters travelling from other Southern Riverina communities.
In Berrigan Shire (population: 8,863), 16 businesses had received $143,311 from the use of Dine & Discover vouchers, including an average additional spend of $12.01.
It represents more than 9000 vouchers being redeemed in the region.
Of Berrigan’s residents, 4500 applied to receive the vouchers.
Finley Country Club is one of the Berrigan Shire businesses registered to accept the vouchers, and owner Rick Shaw said the application process was ‘‘easy’’ and that he received plenty of support in preparing for the scheme.
Though staff at the pub had to prompt many customers who had forgotten about the vouchers, Mr Shaw said since being implemented as much as 20 per cent of the eatery’s weekly customers were new faces.
He believes most of them are motivated by the ‘free money’.
‘‘We had people come from as far as Albury, and north of Cobram,’’ Mr Shaw said.
‘‘It’s been great at getting people off their backside and into local pubs.’’
The vouchers have also prompted a ‘‘flow-on’’ effect according to Mr Shaw.
Unlike a grant, he said the money couldn’t be ‘squirrelled away’ by business owners.
‘‘It’s been effective at keeping staff gainfully employed.
‘‘It has brought people, new people, into our venue and positively influenced the club’s day-to-day runnings.’’
Mr Shaw said many of those new faces had become regulars since visiting the club.
‘‘Business are always after that one extra customer; from there it’s up to them to get that customer back in the door.’’