Although the latest COVID-19 lockdown has been confined to Sydney, its impact has been felt by businesses throughout regional NSW.
Exposure sites are also spreading to the regions, with service stations in Hay, Gundagai and Jindera visited by COVID-19 cases.
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Business NSW's regional manager Joe Townsend said a survey on the impact of the latest outbreak, involving more than 1000 respondents, has shown one in five regional businesses only had sufficient funds to stay buoyant for a month.
"That means paying their staff, paying their rent and utilities," Mr Townsend said.
"Looking at the different regions, on average it looks like sales and revenue has had a 30 per cent hit.
"That's the flow on effect of Sydneysiders not being able to come out and participate in our tourism and hospitality.
"But also on the confidence of people wanting to go out in the public, it's amazing how few people want to go out because they have to wear a face mask - that impacts all kinds of businesses across the region."
He said the assistance packages recently announced by the federal and NSW governments would be very welcomed by those businesses struggling to stay afloat.
"This has been a great step and it's been pleasing to see the NSW government match the feds in that it will not just be available for people within the hotspots," Mr Townsend said.
The NSW government will offer grants between $7500 and $15,000 to eligible businesses in NSW, depending on the decline in turnover (minimum 30pc impact) they experienced during the restrictions.
"The key thing at the moment is for business owners and consumers to adhere to the health advice so we don't see this drag on past the end of the month," Mr Townsend said.
Business grants a "lifeline" for regional tourism businesses
Owner of the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory in the Riverina, Neil Druce, described the government's business assistance grants as a much needed lifeline.
Mr Druce said with tourism impacted, especially over the last part of the school holidays, factory chocolate sales are down 33 per cent, and cafe sales are down 42pc, with them averaging around 200 tourists per day in the last compared to the usual 800.
"This is much needed financial relief for businesses hit hard in regional areas as well as Greater Sydney but it may be a Band-Aid solution if the lockdowns drag on for weeks and weeks," Mr Druce said.
"There's no doubt it will help keep some businesses afloat but some will find it more sustainable to close their doors during lockdown rather than take on further losses.
"It seems quite complex and for some businesses even with the cash assistance they won't be able to hold on to staff."
Broken Hill misses key tourist period
Broken Hill mayor Darriea Turley AM acknowledged that Broken Hill had certainly benefited from an increase in tourism since COVID, with people flocking to the outback region this time last year.
However, there has been a sharp change since the latest Sydney-outbreak
"This should have been the busiest time of year but it is very quiet," Cr Turley said.
"June to November is our normal tourist season and with the NSW regional travel restrictions our shops are empty again.
"This would be the time businesses build cash flow to get them through the smaller summer months, so I worry about the small businesses, how they survive."
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