Business recovery will take months

BUSINESSES in the Huon have felt some relief since the Riveaux Rd bushfire threatened the region, but visitors need to keep coming to the region, one business owner says.

Geeveston J B Nicholas and Son Butcher owner Matthew Nicholas said the town finally appeared to be on the road to recovery after a tough few weeks.

The recent fires saw many Geeveston residents evacuate the town while a number of businesses closed and other shop owners reported a slump in trading.

Geeveston’s streets were buzzing with visitors supporting local businesses last weekend, but continued support was still needed, Mr Nicholas said.

“It’s all good for Mrs Smith in Hobart to say she’s going to visit this weekend, that’s great.

“But the truth is we’re going to need economic rehabilitation for months to get back on track,” he said.

Mr Nicholas said the best way to ensure the town did not suffer any further from the fires would be for Huon residents to shop locally and help propel a depleted economy.

A third-generation family butcher, Mr Nicholas, who also owns the Geeveston IGA, opened up the grocery store’s shelves for fireys to take whatever they needed while the fires were at their worst this month.

He said it was because of “a bit of luck and good management from firefighters that minimal properties were lost in the recent fires”.