Street talk: Tongala Development Group members David Simpkin, Rhiannan Brennan and Ainslee Kelley in Mangan St, Tongala, with Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell.
Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has kicked off a year-long tour of listening posts across the electorate by visiting Tongala and Girgarre.
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The Sam on the Street tours are designed for Mr Birrell to engage directly with constituents.
The listening tours will also allow him to keep abreast of the towns’ projects and needs.
Mr Birrell met with members of the Tongala Development Group, the Girgarre Development Group and Gargarro Botanic Gardens committee.
“Meeting with these groups was a fantastic opportunity to stay up-to-date about what was taking place in Girgarre and Tongala,” Mr Birrell said.
“These groups have a range of plans and projects on their agenda to help progress their town and I’m looking forward to working with them any way I can to help them achieve their desired outcomes.”
The street talks aim to engage locals and are open to anyone who is interested in having a chat with Mr Birrell.
Garden views: Girgarre’s Ian Wadelton with Mr Nicholls at the Gargarro Botanic Gardens.
They are informal and will generally take place in the towns’ centre. Mr Birrell is aiming to visit and host listening tours in as many towns as possible during the next year.
“I want to thank locals like these in development groups for leading the charge to ensure small towns continue to progress,” Mr Birrell said.
“Both these groups continually work proactively with the community and all levels of government to ensure their goals and best outcomes for their towns are achieved.
“Projects developed by these groups are incredible and are driving economic growth, from the hay bale trail in Tongala to the painstaking work of Girgarre residents to develop the Gargarro Botanic Gardens.
“The garden project received millions from the former Coalition Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, which the Labor Government recently axed.
“We need the Labor Government to bring back direct pools of funding for regional communities to ensure community projects designed by locals are able to go ahead and stimulate local economies like the Girgarre Botanic Gardens is doing.”
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