‘Draining’ impact of heavy rains on Picton businesses as flood warnings remain in place

Business owners are exhausted after a “rollercoaster” month filled with close calls, sandbagging and evacuation warnings. With heavy rains on the way, they are still not out of the woods yet.

Southwest Sydney businesses have described the impacts of the “never-ending” heavy rains that have forced shops to shut their doors as floodwaters rise.

Businesses up and down Argyle Street in Picton had to prepare for the worst, and some lost power on Thursday morning.

Deva Adigopula and Lakshmi Pampana have owned the Picton Newsagency for just six months, and the past four weeks has proved to be an incredibly difficult time.

“It has been very challenging over the last few weeks,” Mr Adigopula said.

“It’s been hard because each day we don’t know what will happen. We have to bring out the sandbags and that is a lot of work.”

Deva Adigopula and Lakshmi Pampana from the newsagency in Picton speak about the impacts of wild weather on business.

Mr Adigopula joked it was “another bonus” when the power cut out on Thursday morning. He said business has been slow as people turn to shopping online as the “rain becomes too much”.

“We live about 40 minutes away and so we come all the way and sometimes we have had to just close and go home,” Mr Adigopula said.

“When things dry up we hope people will come out and support local.”

Cr Gould said the community was feeling a bit “worn out” after three such events in just a few weeks.

However he urged residents to still be on the alert and to be safe, and if possible avoid driving.

Sasha Salvaggio who owns the Skin Loft on Picton Street said the past month has been extremely “draining”.

She said having to reschedule clients multiple times due to the need to shut the doors has flow-on effects.

“You feel bad and then some people go elsewhere for the services,” Mrs Salvaggio said.

“Then some people decide not to rebook for a month or two and so then I am losing business that way, it’s not just on the days we are shut.”

Mrs Salvaggio has owned the business since June 2021, but lived through the 2016 floods in Picton.

She said many people, often “trolls” on social media, will say “just move if it floods so much”.

“That is not necessarily an option for me,” Mrs Salvaggio said.

“If you look at the other end of Picton, it is twice the price and if you go to Tahmoor it is triple the price.

“And also, people in Picton still needs the service. I just don’t know where we go from this because it will keep happening.”

Cherry Siu-Ho, the owner of Pixie and Stone on Argyle Street, decided to shut her shop on Wednesday due to concerns about the forecast for later in the week.

By herself, the mother of two packed up as much stock as she could to take home and placed sandbags around the business.

Watching the creek levels rise on Thursday morning, Ms Siu-Ho said she felt a mixture of relief and stress.

“I am safe and dry at home with my kids, but you also just don’t know what is going to happen,” she said.

“I have done what I can but the reality is my business can still flood.”

It’s been a tough time for Ms Siu-Ho who after signing a lease to start her business could not even open due to the reintroduction of lockdowns.

For four months, she was paying rent for a space while no money was coming in at all. Then the Omicron wave hit, and now intense rainfall for the last few weeks has sent businesses on a “rollercoaster”.

Ms Siu-Ho decided to funnel her passion for women’s clothing and accessories into opening her business at the 30 square-metre shop on Argyle Street.

But, even for her small space, flood premiums would have cost her $6000 a month on top of her usual insurance costs.

“Some of the other shops are double or triple my size, so imagine that cost,” Ms Siu-Ho said.

“So many businesses, like me, don’t have flood cover because we can’t afford it.”

Ms Siu-Ho said it has been an “exhausting time” for small businesses who are still trying to recover from the pandemic and the early March near-flood events.

She urged the community to come out and support local when the rains ease.

“That one pair of jeans or that one item you buy could be the difference in me or others making rent that month,” Ms Siu-Ho said.

Owner of the Picton Social Chris Lanz said the last month has heavily impacted his business with a loss in income due to fewer customers.

“Thankfully we haven’t closed but it’s still hard,” he said.

“After three near flood events in a matter of weeks, we are pretty much over it but people are still coming in for their caffeine which is good.”

Mr Lanz has owned the business for three years and said every year there has been a near flood event.

“We are far enough back but I am still concerned,” he said. “Fingers crossed that it won’t be as bad as they are predicting.”