Second Mildura Open Day to welcome potential new residents

Published on 02 July 2015

Nine families will visit Mildura this weekend as part of the Regional Victoria Open Day program, the next step for potential new residents who visited the Regional Victoria Living Expo held in Melbourne earlier this year.

The families will be hosted by Mildura Rural City Council, Mildura Development Corporation, Mildura Tourism and Mildura City Heart in a joint project aimed at showing people what our region has to offer.

Economic Development and Tourism portfolio Councillor John Arnold said last year’s Open Day had been a great success and hopes this year will be just as rewarding for the visitors.

“Last year we had four groups of people come along, so we’re really excited to see nine groups heading our way this time,” Cr Arnold said.  “We have some retirees and empty-nesters, families with children and professional people who are all looking to make the move to a regional area.

“The aim of the weekend is to give them a taste of what it’s like living here.  We will showcase what makes our lifestyle so great with everything from housing, to employment, to leisure activities on the itinerary.”

Cr Arnold said Councils who host Open Days on average see at least 2 families relocate or purchase property in their region within twelve months.  Cr Arnold also said the visitors are all “qualified buyers” who are giving up their own time, at their own cost to come and spend the weekend in our region.

“We received funding from Regional Development Victoria to participate in the Regional Victoria Living Expo in Melbourne in April and to host an Open Day weekend. In addition, some local operators have offered discounted accommodation, vouchers and incentives for the attendees,” said Cr Arnold. “Guests are responsible for paying for their own travel, accommodation and meals, so their commitment to making the move is really genuine.

“Three of the groups coming this time are already investigating potential businesses to purchase and some of the others are actively seeking employment.  We are hoping the guided tour of our region will give them the extra confidence to take the next step and move here.”

While nine families are coming this weekend, another fifteen have shown keen interest in coming at another time in the near future.  Included in the itinerary are visits to our shopping, sporting and medical precincts, our arts and cultural hubs, local residential developments and some of our great riverside attractions.

Local Member Peter Crisp, Mayor Glenn Milne and representatives from a range of employment agencies, real estate agents and community groups such as the New Comers Club will also host a small informal luncheon.

While the Saturday itinerary looks very busy for the guests, they will have plenty of time to explore by themselves.

“If even one family decides to make the move, then we will consider this a success,” Cr Arnold said. “Whenever someone new moves to town they bring with them new skills, new ideas and also the potential to bring others to our region.”

ENDS


Media enquiries 
Angela Umback
p) (03) 5018 8689
e) angela.umback@mildura.vic.gov.au

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