SMALL businesses hope Bathurst Regional Council can find ways to improve the annual Driver and Transporter Parade to help them make the most of the tourism dollar available.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The parade made its way up William Street on Wednesday, seeing thousands of people line the street for their chance to catch a glimpse at their favourite drivers.
It was followed by a signing session in Russell Street and an opportunity for race fans to view the classic cars that the drivers sat in during the parade.
While it is a great atmosphere, business owners can’t help but wish there was more on offer to keep the thousands in the central business district for longer.
Mad Season Cafe owner Queenie Green said her William Street business has struggled this time compared to previous race weeks.
“We found that, for us, this is the lowest sales numbers we have come across in the four years we’ve been here,” she said.
“We found that the people coming down from the mount for the parade, they just go back up again.”
Ms Green said that there are a great opportunities for restaurants, supermarkets and other night businesses to get a boost after dark, but the small businesses that open during the day aren’t in the same position.
She would like to see council find ways to involve the business community more in Super Wednesday and for more events to be organised away from the track.
She suggested family-friendly events in the parks.
“If we had different things at different locations at different times, there would be something for everyone and it would spread everyone out,” Ms Green said.
Cathie Hale from the Bathurst Wholefood Co-operative said that her business caters mostly to locals, so she doesn’t normally expect there to be too much extra foot traffic from visitors over race week.
However, she agreed that it is the big chain stores that end up getting the bulk of the visitor economy, rather than the smaller businesses.
She said council could help by trying to promote the smaller businesses to race fans.
“Maybe a little flier, or promotion of other businesses, that could really help,” Ms Hale said.
Deputy mayor Bobby Bourke said the parade had improved in years, with drivers now part of it again, but said there will always be room for improvement.
He is open to the idea of making Super Wednesday a whole day, instead of just a few hours, and utilising other spaces in the CBD to keep people in the area.
He would also like to see the business community involved further, like what is seen at the Bathurst Winter Festival.
“We should take a leaf out of the Winter Festival and try to improve it that way,” Cr Bourke said.
“It needs to be more festive, because once the parade is over, that’s it.”
