Narrandera may be joining a long list of small towns with struggling vacant shop fronts and for sale signs punctuating the main street, with two closures and a pending sale in less than two months.
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Mayor Neville Kschenka has expressed his concern after the closure of IGA, the upcoming closure of Hutcheon and Pearce and the pending sale of Frasers Home Timber and Hardware.
“It has to be a community effort where businesses need to give the right service people require and locals have to support it,” Mr Kschenka said.
With Wagga and Griffith attracting visitors from smaller outlying areas, Mr Kschenka said teamwork needs to exist with the Riverina’s regional centres.
“Hopefully Wagga and Griffith appreciate that smaller towns are feeder towns,” he said.
“With online shopping in this day and age there’s always a threat.”
Hutcheon and Pearce could not be reached for comment on Friday, other than to confirm their closure. Frasers Home Timber and Hardware confirmed their pending sale, before hanging up on The Daily Advertiser.
The news comes as the Narrandera vet, Mivet, announced a severe cut back on operational hours and the loss of one staff member, due to a resources struggle.
Mivet owner and vet Alastair Hayward said the new hours nothing to do with a lack of businesses, with the search on for a new full-time vet.
Mr Hayward said Mivet would operate around an hour each day.
All surgical services will now take place at the sister Leeton facility, with animals transported in an air conditioned animal ambulance.
