SWAN Hill businesses impacted by road closures for ongoing drainage upgrades in the central business district have accepted the incovenience as a necessity.
Condidi Tiles and Lighting manager Tina Musico said the lack of parking and through-traffic “definitely” had an effect on turnover.
“The street’s going to be closed for two weeks, that’s a long time,” she said.
Acoustic Health owner Merryn Transton said her business was working around the noise pollution problems.
“We need the quiet to do hearing tests but so far we haven’t cancelled any appointments and everything is going pretty smoothly,” Ms Transton said.
“I think the benefits [of the drainage upgrade] are always going to outweigh the negative. Certainly something needed to be done,” Ms Transton said.
The drains — between 450mm and 1200mm in diameter — are designed to divert stormwater away from a driveway off Beveridge Street, a regular collection point during flash flooding.
Formerly a laneway to Campbell Street, the driveway filled with water during multiple flash flood events from 2009 to 2011, inundating the post office, Target and other businesses.
Sun Centre Travel and Holidays was among those flooded and owner Rona Ianucci estimated the damage to their former shop was almost $10,000.
For more on this story, see Friday’s edition of The Guardian
(08/02/13).
