Trafalgar shopping strip commitment
A Liberal-Nationals state government will invest $200,000 into the Trafalgar central business district if elected next month.
Shadow Small Business Minister David Southwick announced the funding to Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce and Industry members recently, with the support of Liberal candidate for Narracan Wayne Farnham and The Nationals candidate for Narracan Shaun Gilchrist.
The commitment is part of the Coalition’s $30 million Local Shopping Strip Recovery Plan, that will be used to help struggling businesses get back up and running after COVID lockdowns.
Mr Southwick described small business as the “lifeblood of any community” and called shopping strips “the heart and soul of those communities.”
“We’ve got to ensure when it comes to recovery, when it comes to certainty, when it comes to a state that is open for business again that we’ve got to be supporting the small businesses,” he said.
“Any kind of recovery starts with ensuring that these shopping strips are supported.”
Mr Farnham said the money would be invested into “beautifying” the strip, with strong consultation from local business owners themselves, as well as council.
He said the aim was to get people to stop and shop in Trafalgar, rather than passing through.
Mr Farnham paid tribute to the efforts of Trafalgar businesses through COVID and the difficulties they faced.
“Our commitment is doing more for the small businesses so we can get more people in, so your economies can be better and so we can create employment and we can keep people in the town,” he said.
Mr Gilchrist also pledged ongoing support for local businesses.
“We will continue as Coalition partners to make sure that these things are addressed on an ongoing basis,” he said.