Club GM sees positive signs after lockdown, but knows conditions could change

There were 1141 businesses or not-for-profits in the Bathurst postcode that received JobKeeper payments in April.

Though the scheme is due to end on September 30, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said last week the JobKeeper payments would continue in some form, but he is not due to issue details of phase two until July 23.

READ ALSO: Figures show JobKeeper's importance to the Central West

Business NSW's Western NSW regional manager Vicki Seccombe has warned the "true impacts of the pandemic" will hit when the government assistance and "a number of deferral measures the banks initiated" end.

Mr Fearnley said there were positive signs at the club.

"A lot of younger people are coming in and also people who haven't been in before, but I think older people are a bit more hesitant," he said of the club.

"The stuff in Melbourne has put us back a bit ... if we had to go into a second lockdown, that'd knock us around."

READ ALSO: Flashback: Bathurst's clubs get ready to reopen

The club has 80 staff, but Mr Fearnley said most of its 22 casuals are still not back due to a downturn in business.

"We've tried to put the casuals back on that didn't have any other work ... by the end of August or into September we hope to put all our staff back on," he said.

"We're starting to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

IN OTHER NEWS: Bathurst Regional Council has no firm figure in mind for when restrictions will ease

Mr Fearnley said the club had taken a number of event bookings later in the year and is worried about any spike in coronavirus cases in NSW.

"If restrictions change, that will have an impact," he said.

"Our workforce won't be the same as pre-COVID, but we'll have to adjust to that if required."

Panthers Bathurst reopened its doors at the start of June.