INUNDATION A BLOW FOR CIT Y RECOVERY
SKIPS filled with destroyed furniture and products line Charters Towers Rd as businesses recover from the weather event.
From the intersection with Woolcock St empty dark buildings are sealed off with tape as debris lies in carpark spaces.
Businesses ranging from accounting firms to fast food restaurants and beauty salons were not spared from the torrential rain.
Top Brand Cycles store was inundated from the rain where owner Mike Prentice has traded on Charters Towers Rd since 1989. Mr Prentice said the continued rain meant he couldn’t operate for about two weeks and he lost stock.
“Most businesses rely on cashflow; when you stop trading you still have to pay your rent, wages, expenses and suppliers,” he said.
“There’s ongoing costs with no income going in.”
Mr Prentice said the high cost of premiums resulted in many businesses being without cover.
With the help of loyal customers and generous volunteers, the store was able to reopen on Monday.
“I’ “I’m overwhelmed so many volunteers were rocking up with mops and brooms … it was amazing,” he said. “What blew me away was the community spirit … I’m so grateful for those people who helped and staff who worked tirelessly to get it up and running.”
Townsville Chamber of Commerce executive officer Marie-claude Brown said 20 per cent of the 11,800 insurance claims made were commercial.
“As part of the economic recovery we need to be very aware of the impact of our dollar on our community; we have to take every dollar into account,” she said.
“Now is the time to really support local businesses.”
Ms Brown was concerned that the city’s businesses would not be able to survive the event.
“It’s happened during this very slow economic recovery of Townsville; for six years we’ve had slow conditions and for some it’s likely it’s going to be the last straw,” she said.
Ms Brown said the community needed to ensure the weather event didn’t curb the confidence that had been gaining momentum.