News

Porepunkah Security Incident Support

2 March 2026

Council has signed a funding agreement with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions for Regional Development Victoria for an amount of $100,000 to deliver a series of activities that focus on increasing economic resilience, promoting local tourism initiatives and supporting the local business economy in Alpine Shire in response to the Porepunkah security incident in August 2025.

Increasing Economic Resilience initiatives $60,000:

  • Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) subscription subsidy. In association with Tourism North East, 310 businesses will receive free ATDW listings for one year (see further details below)
  • Small Business Counselling Support. Free individual coaching will be provided to small businesses (see further details below)
  • Voucher campaign to promote local businesses. This campaign will encourage visitors to purchase local products from our website year-round. (see further details below).
  • Cinema and radio advertising in Wangaratta and Albury. Promotion of the region to visitors from Wangaratta and Wodonga will be undertaken through cinema and radio
  • Business photography and promotion support
  • Local voucher campaign. This campaign will encourage visitors to purchase local products from our website year-round.
  • Mount Beauty and District Chamber of Commerce Inc. to support the delivery of ‘Adventure Week’ in May 2026
  • Myrtleford Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. to support the development of a ‘Vision for Myrtleford’.

Increasing local tourism $20,000:

Supporting local business economy $20,000: