The continuing impact of bushfires and the pandemic on the Blue Mountains economy has been highlighted during a visit to the area by Shadow Minister for Disaster and Emergency Management Senator Murray Watt, hosted by Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman.

According to National Bushfire Recovery Agency (NBRA) figures, the Blue Mountains economy suffered a $66 million hit as a result of the 2019/20 fires, but Ms Templeman and Senator Watt met with Upper Mountains business owners still feeling the effects of a massive drop in tourist numbers more than 12 months on.

“It is clear that businesses in bushfire areas like the Blue Mountains are still suffering from the twin economic impacts of Black Summer and COVID-19,” Senator Watt said.

“Instead of supporting bushfire areas like they promised, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is cutting off Jobkeeper and doing nothing to speed up recovery support he promised to bushfire areas.

“Worse still, he is sitting back as the New South Wales Government uses joint funding to pork barrel seats, leaving the Blue Mountains behind.

“It’s unacceptable. Funding for bushfire victims should be above politics. The Blue Mountains needs a real plan from the Morrison Government to bring tourists here and support local businesses.”

Ms Templeman said, “While many Blue Mountains business owners didn’t lose their homes in the bushfires, some are facing the prospect of losing them now.

“As soon as smoke blocked the view in November 2019, tourists stopped coming to the Blue Mountains. Signs went up around Circular Quay deterring people from travelling to the area and then flooding caused the train line to collapse between Leura and Katoomba, which meant many couldn’t come up here anyway,” Ms Templeman said.

“The pandemic has since stopped international tourists from travelling to the area. For some bigger businesses, those tourists were 90 per cent of their market.

“There are different needs for different businesses in this recovery. Bigger businesses tell me they would like to see assistance such as an attractions and experiences package, similar to what zoos received, and either the extension of JobKeeper or an evolution of it that ensures that every employee in service at the time will receive a subsidy.

“While smaller businesses are reluctant to take on more debt, bigger businesses have told me they’d like to see interest-free loans with a delayed repayment clause – similar to the Commonwealth HECS.

“What every business wants to see is bums on seats. Small businesses are particularly disappointed with the promotion of the Blue Mountains, and say the popular view that the area is fully booked across the board is wrong.

“The other message from small business is that they don’t need any more marketing or business workshops. As one business owner told me, it was like a fitness regime; they know what to do, they just need people to do it.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problems being encountered by our local businesses, and this region is hurting despite its proximity to Sydney – it’s simply not true that if you are within driving distance of a major centre, you are doing OK.

“They are opening their doors, but there’s not enough people out there.”

Ms Templeman also took Senator Watt to meet with residents representing groups in Blackheath, whose proposal to upgrade the Soldiers Memorial Park was overlooked for post-bushfire community rebuilding funding.

“Blackheath was one of the villages worst affected by the fires, and yet still it was overlooked for the $177 million in fast-tracked bushfire recovery fundi