yes – we are open for business

The recent tragic bushfires in Yarra Ranges have been devastating and their effect will be long felt in our community. However there is a very real economic threat here and now for our local businesses and the locals they employ due to the major bushfire disruption in the area.

Many businesses in Yarra Ranges rely on the tourist trade, the Yarra Valley has been a prime tourist destination for visitors near and afar. The response from the Australian public to help those in bushfire areas has been overwhelming and generous, now is the time to contribute some of that generosity locally and come back to Yarra Ranges for a visit to help support our local economies.

Now is the time to come back, we welcome visitors to the Dandenong Ranges, the Yarra Valley, Healesville and the Warburton Valley.

Even in the Dandenong Ranges, another key tourist destination, visitors and locals have been missing, concerns about bushfires the key factor. On my local shopping trips traders have reported to me they are struggling, the streets are quiet and usually flourishing townships are like ghost towns. I hope that now the threat of bushfire has subsided locals will return to the Dandenongs, Healesville and the Warburton Valley and help support local traders who are really starting to feel the pinch.

I understand that visitors want to keep their distance, be respectful and don’t want to been seen as rubber neckers, but now is the time to come back to the Yarra Valley, the Dandenongs, the Warburton Valley and Healesville – we need your business and we welcome all visitors back to our wonderful region.

YES - we are open for business!