Charters feels drought’s bite
CHARTERS Towers is showing the effects of the drought with businesses doing it tough.
The main street is littered with empty shops as business owners express their dismay at the economic downturn.
Fushia Belle Boutique proprietor Caroline Matthews said with farmers struggling the flow- on effect was tangible.
“I think people are buying necessities only,” Ms Matthews said. “It is very difficult, tough … tough.”
The contracting economy has forced her to be more frugal.
“You work harder yourself and you employ less which then has a flow- on effect again in the town,” Ms Matthews said .
“I think you only have to look at our town and see how many businesses have closed.”
In the face of desperate times, Ms Matthews hoped for improvement to stimulate a dire situation.
“I would love it to rain, but every week I hear of another family moving away, and that is tragic,” she said.
“We’ve got to find some way to get some industry and jobs here and attract people back.
“I’d love to see something that meant all our young people didn’t leave town.”
Diana Lynch, owner of Poppet Head, recounted a similarly challenging experience. “It is very difficult,” she said. “The last 18 months has been a real struggle for us.
“We’re keeping our heads above water ( but) we’ve had to restructure our business.”
Ms Lynch has had to let go three employees and has been forced to source less stock at lower cost.
The adjustment has been “hard and very challenging”.
Ms Lynch said she had seen severe strain on her long- time customers.
Tightening of belts and prolonged stress has done away with alleviating luxuries such as dress shopping.
“I’ve had women just crying,” she said.
“The women are really feeling it and they need a treat and they can’t – it’s very hard.”
Charters Towers Chamber of Commerce president Ken Hudson attributed the slump in trade to more than the drought.
“It’s also the downturn in the mining, because a lot of people in Charters Towers are employed by the mines,” Mr Hudson said.
“The ( lack) of employment in the town is what is driving the ( downturn).”
Mr Hudson said there were promising ventures in the near future and named a planned ethanol plant in Pentland as an example.
“At the moment it is quiet but there are things in the area that are going to go ahead, just not right at this moment,” he said. in here