A LOCAL councillor has backed the reopening of Gawler’s Bunyip newspaper by calling on all tiers of government to recognise the importance of local print mediums, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gawler councillor Nathan Shanks moved a five-point motion at a special council meeting earlier this month that urged elected members to recognise the ‘vital role’ regional newspapers play and to explore further advertising opportunities for the publication.

“Losing a historic 157-year-old local publication is disappointing at any time,” Cr Shanks said.

“In times such as these, it’s not only disappointing but concerning. There are too many people in our community that rely on The Bunyip for their local updates and I knew that my fellow councillors felt the same.

“The Bunyip’s closure and COVID-19 where the only two topics people would discuss with me for the week following the ‘Goodbye for Now’ article. People were devastated about the closure.”

Cr Shanks hoped council and The Bunyip staff would continue to support each other.

“Right now, more than ever, our local council’s message needs to be put out to our community as effectively as possible,” he said.

“By council partnering with The Bunyip, I’m hoping we are able to not only connect with your loyal hard copy readers, but your digital subscribers and your 15,951 followers on Facebook.

“Some of the Bunyip’s Facebook posts have had a 230,000 reach. In my opinion this is not a platform we could have accessed from another local supplier.”

Cr Shanks congratulated The Bunyip team on the paper’s reopening this week.

“I saw firsthand the amount of passion and work that was put in to achieve this outcome and I wish you all the best,” he said.

“Gawler needs its local paper.”

Councillors Cody Davies, Diane Fraser, Kelvin Goldstone, Paul Little, Brian Sambell, Nathan Shanks and Jim Vallelonga voted in favour of the motion, while councillors David Hughes and Paul Koch voted against.