LEETON Shire Council will continue working on the town's empty shop problem, but has reminded the community there are still positives in the business sector.
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Mayor Paul Maytom said council had the empty shops in Pine Avenue and Kurrajong Avenue at the forefront of its mind.
He said the Leeton Chamber of Commerce and Industry was also working on the problem.
"While we are very aware of the problem, council is quite limited in what it can do," councillor Maytom said.
"We can present our town in a way that will attract businesses to the shopfront, but we can't get the landlords to lower their rent or similar things to that."
The issue of empty shops in Leeton's CBD has been a concern for about the past 18 months, with many businesses shutting up shop.
Notable businesses have included Go Lo and Pacific Furniture.
Other stores have also moved on or felt closing down was the only option.
Cr Maytom said while council would continue to work on a strategy there were still many positives.
He pointed out Leeton's vast manufacturing and agricultural sector.
"We've got many big businesses here like the walnuts, the feedlot, Freedom Foods and SunRice, not just growing their product here, but manufacturing it too," he said.
"All of these things contribute to our economic development and the good of our town.
"These businesses employ many people who live in our town and spend their money here.
"We're lucky that we have that diversity here, but we do recognise the empty shops are a problem because that is what people often use to determine the 'success' of a town."
