That’s the reasoning behind a community meeting being hosted in Mathoura this week by Tom Weyrich.
Mr Weyrich called the meeting to highlight that residents felt Mathoura was being largely ignored by key decision makers, and to brainstorm a campaign on how to turn it around.
Issues to be discussed come under the banners of local government and state and federal government.
Mr Weyrich said it spanned from emergency service coverage to infrastructure investment and even demanding Murray River Council be more of a champion for Mathoura’s needs.
One of the topics to be discussed is the Mathoura Police Station, which has been uninhabitable since early 2023.
Its condition was first made public by Mr Weyrich, when he was still a councillor with Murray River Council.
He said the lack of policing presence in the town was putting residents on edge.
He referred to an extended crime spree late last year, and more recently that the town was a haven for “hoon” drivers.
“Less than two weeks ago there were these cars doing burnouts all over town and harassing residents,” he said.
“Locals were constantly calling the police but nothing came of it.’’
Health is another key area of concern, and particularly which hospital residents will end up in if they require an ambulance.
While Mr Weyrich said there was no major complaint with access to the ambulance if needed, he said residents could never be certain whether they would end up in Mathoura or Deniliquin for treatment.
Also among what Mr Weyrich described as a “long list” of problems was unreliable television, internet and phone services and the loss of the Bendigo Bank agency.
“One of the problems is Mathoura has no seat at the (council) table,’’ he said.
“The former Murray Shire region is now the Moama ward of Murray River Council, and all three of its delegates are from Moama.
“In the last election, where I was not re-elected, 92 per cent of the votes came out of Moama.
“We clearly have an issue here, and we just want our fair share.”
Mr Weyrich said one of the potential solutions for Mathoura being overlooked was to change its local government alliance.
He said an idea to lobby for Mathoura to be included in the Edward River Council boundary would be put to the meeting.
While the meeting is for residents of Mathoura and Picnic Point only, Mr Weyrich said NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton had been invited and was expected to attend.
The meeting will be held from 7pm on Wednesday, October 8, at the Mathoura Visitor and Business Centre.
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