As the local economy struggles through its second COVID-19 lockdown, the Bathurst community is being urged more now than ever to support local businesses.
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A majority of Bathurst businesses have been forced to shut their doors if not deemed essential, while some have remained open for click and collect or takeaway services.
Bathurst mayor Ian North said it's important that the community supports its local businesses.
"It's important for people to support our community, but they've got to be patient and be respectful," he said.
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"We don't want people to break the rules, so try and get some takeaway breakfast or get a click and collect dinner. Spending your money in the community will help the community going forward.
"Everyone is adapting, with some selling online when they've never really done that before. People are thinking outside the box and something that COVID has done has made us rethink how we do things.
"In saying that, it means the norm has changed. We're just encouraging people to work with the new norm and be patient.
Cr North also said that if you can't get something local during lockdown and it's not urgent, save the money to support local retailers when doors reopen.
Bathurst Business Chamber president Catherine Fitzsimmons believes local businesses are finding this lockdown more difficult than last year.
"I think a lot of us are finding it harder than the first one," she said.
"The first one saw the whole country locked down. It happened at once and there was a lot of federal assistance that came in immediately.
"With this one, we've been suffering from the knock-on effect of the Sydney lockdown before having our own lockdown. Businesses were already constrained by the regional restrictions of facemasks and the four square metre rule."
Ms Fitzsimmons believes local businesses are at the point where they're struggling to manage.
"During the first big lockdown, there were requirements for landlords to give concession to their tenants but now that's no longer the case," she said.
"We've got a public health situation - and we don't want to deny the seriousness of that - but we've got businesses that are potentially going to the wall if this goes on much longer."
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