Fired-up business owner Phillip Scott has shut his store of 43 years to protest against the high number of business closures in the Northern Grampians Shire in western Victoria.
The Stawell businessman plastered large stickers reading ‘Another business closes in the Northern Grampians Shire’, across the window of his shop, Scott’s Auto Electrics, on Wakeham Street.
The closure is the latest in a string of town businesses to close in the past six months.
Hemley’s Smash Repairs shut its doors last week, while popular home goods store Inika Imports closed in December. Bill’s Health Food Shop and Our Shop On Main also announced closures at the start of 2018.
Mr Scott claimed he was fed up with the Northern Grampians Shire Council’s inability to lead the community of Stawell.
“I am co-ordinating this action because Stawell and its businesses have had to put up with inaction and a lack of leadership from the Northern Grampians Shire Council over a long period of time,” he said.
“Too many businesses are shutting, the town is dying and there is not enough being done.
“I am one of the biggest and longest serving businesses in town and all the others around need help.”
Mr Scott said the community survived off a farming business structure, but farmers were not receiving adequate support to uphold the town.
“Farmers keep getting the raw end of the stick, rates keep going up and a recent council performance survey was operated through Sydney – council should be out here and talking to the locals,” he said.
Mr Scott said he was also angry Northern Grampians Shire had been proposed as the site for a police trial to limit speeds from 100km/h to 70km/h on unsealed country roads.
Mr Scott said he was not the only town business protesting.
“I’ll be going around all day to other businesses, some up the Main Street, to put these stickers up on their windows,” he said.
Northern Grampians Shire Council has been contacted for comment, but they will be unable to respond until normal business hours resume on Monday.
