Coast businesses to remain in ‘survival mode’

It has been a week since the Coast recorded a new case of coronavirus but business leaders fear the full economic effects if the crisis continues for months.

Going out of business stock image / file photo / picture.

IT HAS been a week since the Sunshine Coast recorded a new case of coronavirus but business leaders fear the full economic effects if the "devastating" crisis continues for months.

The region's last new case was on Tuesday, April 13, with numbers remaining on 89, of which 13 are active.

In another sign that lockdown restrictions are working, no new cases were recorded statewide yesterday for the first time since March 9.

Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast CEO Paul Fisher acknowledged that the Federal Government's JobKeeper and seeker programs were helping employers and employees but said the majority of businesses were still in survival mode.

He said an estimated 37,000 small businesses with "mum and dad owners" would remain that way for the next four weeks at least.

"When you go from making tens-of-thousands of dollars a week to zero. No one can sustain that," Mr Fisher said.

"Revenue drops off a cliff, you have to cut costs, lose staff but still have bills to pay …

"There hasn't been an impact quite like it in our lifetime.

"We are talking the restaurants, cafes, people who put their heart and soul into it. So many have closed their doors."

Mr Fisher said the "revive and thrive" stages would eventually follow but was optimistic as to when.

Health Minister Steven Miles said an "end is in sight" providing the successful social practices are maintained.

However, Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce president Brendan Bathersby said he believed the knockdown effect was months away

"We are only into the fourth Monday since the lockdown conditions were imposed," Mr Bathersby said yesterday.

"For building and construction, it's more or less business as usual. But for retail and hospitality, it is dire. You could fire a shotgun in Ocean St, it's that quiet.

"I'd be very surprised if restrictions are lifted by the end of May."

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