Yesterday Anthony Fox, the president of the Armidale Business Chamber, said big retail businesses like Big W ( who announced the closure of it's Armidale store earlier this week) have a moral obligation to regional towns like Armidale.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, suspended Armidale councillor Debra O'Brien (and co-owner of Boobooks) said she wouldn't rely on them to support the local economy.
"Regional towns can't rely on big business because they don't have any loyalty to the town," Ms O'Brien told the Armidale Express.
"I wouldn't rely on big business because as soon as we hit trouble, they're not going to say 'gee poor Armidale and all the problems it's having - I'm going to stick around because I feel sorry for Armidale'.
Regional towns can't rely on big business because they don't have any loyalty
- Debra O'Brien
"The government should do more to support small business and services, particularly in the education sector because the way the regions are going to survive is through the support of small business and our services."
Fellow suspended Armidale councillor John Galletly (owner of Galletly's Saddlery) said he thought the local retail sector was not proportionate to the population.
we have too many retail stores for the population
- John Galletly
"It's very sad," he said.
"It appears that we've really over catered for our future with retail stores because since 2017 this has been on the go.
"It is something Big W brought up in 2017.
"We've got the east end mall which isn't much good, and the centre mall isn't much good, and now the chooks are coming home to roost in as far as we have too many retail stores for the population. That's my opinion, anyway.
"But it is sad that people are losing their jobs that's for sure."
And the local business community can't expect too much support from Armidale Regional Council (ARC) in the short term according to the appointed administrator Viv May.
To be quite frank this Council was a mess and it still is
- Viv May
"It's tough times there is no doubt about that - this region has been through drought, fire and in some parts floods and now COVID," Mr May said.
"Another 47 people out of work is not good, but Council has its own financial difficulties.
"I don't think the community has been well represented by its council, and the ARC needs a fresh start, but that doesn't address the financial and economic problems.
"To be quite frank this Council was a mess, and it still is, and it's going to take a long time to repair it."
READ ALSO:
Vanessa Arundale
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
