In Melbourne people know Port Fairy and even Portland, which is fantastic, but our great city usually requires explanation.
- Tony Herbert
TONY Herbert wants to promote Warrnambool and its assets to the world.
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The Warrnambool City Council candidate says if he is elected he would advocate for the establishment of a marketing and promotion fund, at no additional cost to ratepayers.
“It will focus on the promotion of the national and international profile of Warrnambool featuring our natural advantages, world class products, innovative businesses, educational opportunities, industry, housing, lifestyle and events,” Mr Herbert said.
“This initiative will only be funded through efficiency and savings within the existing council budget by introducing innovative business practices into council run businesses. It will not be an extra cost to ratepayers.”
He said he had been concerned for a long time that Warrnambool's profile was too low.
“We also have not capitalised enough on the profile from the film Oddball,” he said. "We should be shouting this from the hill tops. This is all part of unlocking the potential.”
He said Warrnambool wasn’t as well known as other south-west locales.
"In Melbourne people know Port Fairy and even Portland which is fantastic, but our great city usually requires explanation,” he said.
"This has huge impacts. It affects where businesses locate and tourists decide to visit. Warrnambool's low profile is simply unacceptable.”
Mr Herbert said effective promotion would grow Warrnambool’s economy, population, confidence, investment and jobs.
“These are among the main roles of council,” he said. “Portland, Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat, Wodonga, Swan Hill, Echuca and Mildura are regional cities that have their act together and have much higher profiles than Warrnambool.”
Mr Herbert said promoting the city was more important now Deakin University had committed long term to the region.
“We fought for it to remain and now we have to work together with Deakin for it to be sustainable,” he said.
“(We can) grow student numbers through Warrnambool being marketed as a great place to study. Let’s get our show on the road."