OUTBREAK OF PANDEMIC POSITIVITY SPENDING SPREE
BUSINESSES across the North are reporting their best trade in years and up to a dozen homes were purchased each week during the early months of the pandemic across the farming region of the Burdekin.
Despite the devastating impact of COVID-19, regional communities are rallying together and spending local, with Mayor Lyn Mclaughlin believing there was a “buzz” about town.
Lyndy Mccathie, who is a part-owner of a real estate business in Ayr, said the past few months had been “frantic”.
She said during April and May, Nutrien Harcourts Mccathies sold between 10 and 12 homes each week, joking they needed “a little bit more stock now”
“We expected when corona started to impact that we may have slowed right down but it was anything other than that,” she said. “We’ve had excellent sales.
“It became quite frantic for us from about April.”
A variety of people have capitalised on the cheap homes — some lower than $200,000.
Ms Mccathie said a couple in their 70s had recently purchased for the first time.
She said she’d love to know why it had been busier because she would hang on to the answer forever if she did.
“I suspect people have been given some more time to do their own thinking,” she said.
“I know that our local hardware stores have reported being very busy with people doing home renovations.”
Burdekin Mayor Lyn Mclaughlin said a reduction in tourists had impacted some businesses but residents had supported local, with some reporting this had been their best trading for several years.
“I honestly believe there is a buzz around town and especially now with so many people working in the agriculture and horticulture industries,” she said.
“No one wants coronavirus in our community and people are happy to adjust their ways to ensure our community remains COVID-FREE.
“People who would normally have gone to Townsville are happy now to buy their stuff in Ayr.”
But she conceded there had also been some challenges with sporting organisations during COVID-19, while the arts and culture sector had been impacted.
Stefanie Squires, 23, and Robert Gottardi, 25, recently purchased their first home in Ayr.
“Our house was only on the market for a couple of days,” Ms Squires said.
Ms Squires said she and her partner preferred the lifestyle and work opportunities available in the region more than in a city.
“It’s quiet, it’s big but it’s not too big, we both sort of like being in a regional, small town, not a city, and there’s work because of the agriculture industry,” she said.
“With the harvest and everything people can still keep going.”
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said some businesses struggled with the lockdown, with about 20,000 locals on Jobkeeper.
But there were shoots of positivity, with venues along the city’s iconic Strand reporting queues of customers.
“Maggie Island’s busy,” she said.
“The hardware shops are busy.
“We’ve seen an increase in operational works for subdivisions.
“We think we’re on a spike.”
Cr Hill said there was a feeling of hope. bit of a building