A  kick in the guts’, ‘sad outcome’, ‘not enough’ – all reactions by community leaders and business owners in the wake of the governments’ $24-million support package for the region’s businesses. 

Don’t get me wrong – $24-million is better than nothing. It seems somewhat ungrateful to claim a multi-million-dollar support package isn’t enough.

But after 80-plus days of waiting for the state and federal governments to announce a support package for fire-affected businesses, to provide business grants of $5000 was a let down.

When you look at how much some businesses have lost, it is a drop in the ocean.

Sure, most businesses were not physically damaged from fire – but the timing of the fires has hit at the worst possible time.

Across the Christmas-New Year period, in the thick of the summer holidays, which is usually the busiest time of year for most businesses.

It is the time of the year when they make the most money for the year.

One business alone reported having to refund $244,000 to customers for cancelled bookings.

For the three weeks over the Christmas break, the fire threat meant businesses were closed and the string of booking cancellations began – with estimations that most businesses lost at least 25 per cent of their annual income.

But it didn’t stop there. The fires that began in late January heightened the fire risk, and led to even more cancellations.

Businesses could not catch a break. The cancelled bookings just kept rolling in, with some business owners reporting cancellation up until May. 

Last month, Northern Grampians Shire Council revealed credit card data that showed spending in Halls Gap had dropped 63 per cent over the preceding two months, compared with the same time last year. 

On January 17 – the one-month mark since bushfires began in the Grampians National Park – businesses had lost $13-million. As the fires persisted, an estimated $8-million more was lost. Even on the Australia Day long weekend, when most businesses reported an uptick in visitation and sales, spending was down 20 per cent compared to usual.

Conservative projections are at a 20 per cent drop in visitors for the remainder of the year.

And the effect is felt far greater than just in the Grampians – the entire region has felt the downturn from not having the same level of visitation in what should be peak tourism season.

Businesses from as far away as Sea Lake have reported a less busy summer.

So while council, tourism and business leaders continue to advocate to the government for more support, what else can be done?

Show your support – drive to the Grampians or Dimboola for a day out with family or friends, plan a weekend away, or better yet, organise a stay-cation. I visited Halls Gap on Sunday – lunch at the hotel, some gift shopping at the Stoney Creek stores, an ice-cream and a drive around – and our accommodation is booked for the Grampians Grape Escape on May 2-4.

Driving from Horsham, via Stawell, you wouldn’t even know there had been fires. 

An abundance of walks are open near Halls Gap – including the Pinnacle, Venus Baths, Grand Canyon Loop, Chatauqua Peak, Clematis Falls and Boronia Peak. 

In the Northern Grampians, MacKenzie Falls, Reeds Lookout and Boroka Lookout are all open, plus day hiking trails around Mount Stapylton, Hollow Mountain, Beehive Falls and Mount Difficult. Waiting for visitors in the Southern Grampians are day hikes at Mount Abrupt, Mount Sturgeon and The Piccaninny.

And don’t forget those businesses affected in the Hindmarsh Shire – head out for lunch and a wander around the eclectic shops in Dimboola, or enjoy the beautiful Wimmera River. Better yet, buy tickets to one of the Steampunk Festival events in April.

RELATED: Angst over ‘miniscule amount offered’ for fire recovery

RELATED: Fire recovery relief funds fall short

The entire March 19, 2025 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!