Bathurst Regional Council has been urged to provide some kind of relief to local businesses, which are struggling to stay open amid the coronavirus crisis.
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As part of its efforts to help the business community, the Bathurst Business Chamber has lobbied council to provide support through rate relief in particular.
Chamber president Catherine Fitzsimons said it could make a big difference to small business.
"What we do know is that we are entering a time where everybody's revenues are going to be reduced, and throughout this time what every small business is going to need is relief from fixed overheads and outgoings," she said.
"Any help that council can offer, just as the tax department is in some states ... any relief of that kind will mean that the money that is available in businesses can go into the pockets of employees and workers in the business to keep the economy going through their spending and consumption.
"That's more important than paying rates and taxes at this point in time."
She couldn't specific how much relief was necessary, saying it would be up to council to determine what options it has.
"Council needs revenue as well to provide services to the community in Bathurst. We don't want to end up in a situation where we're robbing Peter to pay Paul, but we put the idea on the table to ask if they would be doing that," Ms Fitzsimons said.
While council hasn't totally rejected rate relief, general manager David Sherley said there are limitations.
"Council like many other businesses has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 virus and the impact of this ranges from service provision to financial implications," he said.
"There are legislative requirements in place which limit council's capacity to provide rate relief, however council will consider hardship requests if made.
"Council is limited in its funding capacity and this is being impacted by the pandemic and the current drought."
He also noted that economic assistance packages are being provided for businesses through the state and federal governments.
Mr Sherley said council has pursued other measures, like ramping up support for programs such as the Buy Local campaign.
"Council is also running a social media campaign to demonstrate how the community can play their part in supporting businesses and local jobs," he said.
During the pandemic, community members are encouraged to consider buying local where they can, to take advantage of the takeaway services many businesses now rely on and to avoid the urge to spend all discretionary expenditure on panic buying at the supermarkets.
