As the drought continues to take its toll on regional communities, local retailers have lamented that business is diminishing.
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Corowa Curtains and Décor owner and standing president of the Chamber of Commerce, Stuart Whisson, says that the repercussions of a once in a generation drought are having a ripple effect throughout the entire community and as a result business is waning.
“Over the last few weeks we’ve really started to feel the effects of the drought,” he told The Free Press.
“Normally we’re flat out at this time of year but things have really dropped off.
“This period is where retail businesses rely on making money in order to survive.”
Mr Whisson and his partner Kay have owned the business for over 20 years and said they have periodically had to endure tough times due to drought with little support.
“We have no choice but to just ride it out. There’s little in the way of support and grants that we’re eligible for.”
A new bush stimulus package - including $1 billion in concessional loans for small businesses and hundreds of millions of dollars for community infrastructure projects across the country - was unveiled by the Morrison government on Thursday in its latest response to the worsening drought.
Drought-stricken farmers will be given access to concessional loans with a two-year interest-free period to help restructure crippling debt as the government moves to add more support for families to manage and recover from years of low rainfall by improving their current loan settings.
The loans would be available to farmers to feed, water, freight and stock their businesses, or anything that might keep their operations going.
Only businesses that support or supply farmers in drought-stricken areas would be eligible for $500,000 loans under the same interest and repayment arrangements, but Mr Bratt along with Scott Arnold - owner of Corowa Computers, Electronics and Outdoors – believe the new government loans package should have been made available to all businesses effected by the drought.
“The farmers are hurting and when the farmers are hurting everyone in town is feeling it,” Mr Arnold said.
“I think the government loans should have applied to all local businesses affected by the drought.
“Right now business is in an unknown but we’ve got to take a punt and hope that things improve and we’re able to sell stock as it gets close to Christmas.”
NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay echoed this sentiment last week, stating that all small businesses should be allowed to apply for a no-interest loan from the State Government’s emergency drought-relief funds.Shadow Minister for Finance and Small Business, Daniel Mookhey said last Thursday: “We can’t stand idly-by and let regional small businesses hit the wall.“With the drought this severe, compassion can’t stop at the farm-gate: it has to reach main street too.
“We desperately want regional small businesses to get all the help they can straight-away.”
According to The Future of Small Business report released last week, the struggle of regional businesses is pervasive.
The report states that 64 per cent of regional businesses state their revenue over the last 12 months has decreased or remained unchanged, and for the 12 months ahead almost a quarter (23%) expect their revenue will decline.
Despite the adversity, Mr Bratt remains resilient that things will get better.
“We’ve got no other choice than to be hopeful that we’ll be able to ride it out and things will get better,” he said.
Local retailers can now list their details on the NSW Government’s Buy Regional hub, which is an initiative to connect city shoppers with rural small businesses in the lead up to the Christmas buying rush.
The Buy Regional campaign is an online hub that showcases regional shops and sellers together in one place, to make it easy for shoppers to both find the perfect Christmas gift and support regional NSW.
City dwellers are being encouraged to visit www.nsw.gov.au/buyregional and browse six categories; wine, fashion, food, gifts for kids, art and design and Christmas hampers, to find gifts for their friends and family and support regional NSW towns.
Member for Albury Justin Clancy has urged local retailers to get involved in the campaign.
“Regional businesses can participate in the Buy Regional hub and social media network for free, so people wanting to help can give retailers in drought stricken areas the present they want most this Christmas – customers,” Mr Clancy said
“We’ve recently seen the great success of online communities like #buyfromthebush and the NSW Government’s Buy Regional hub is bringing all of these fantastic initiatives together to provide an easy to browse directory of regional businesses.
“The Buy Regional hub includes information to help local businesses create an online presence if they choose to, but there’s no reason why you can’t list your details and take orders over the phone or via email.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said Sydneysiders are also being encouraged to buy meat, produce and hampers from regional NSW for festive get-togethers and Christmas day feasts.
“We’re telling Sydneysiders to favour the flavour of regional NSW and ask their butchers and greengrocers for meat, poultry and produce provided by NSW farmers or to check out the Buy Regional hub for honey, preserves, veg, meat or even fully-stocked hampers, all sourced locally,” Mr Barilaro said.
“People want to help and Buy Regional is providing a very simple but effective method of showcasing regional businesses to a large audience with Christmas gift dollars that they’re ready to spend.
“I encourage all small businesses in the Albury electorate to provide their details to the Buy Regional hub so Sydney shoppers can check out what you have to offer this Christmas.”
The Buy Regional for Christmas hub is at: www.nsw.gov.au/buyregional.