Businesses in Nowra and Berry are fighting cost of living pressures

South coast towns are ‘battling’ cost of living pressures as businesses continue to get back on their feet following fires and years of Covid-19.

Jemma Tribe and Elle Burns.

Businesses along the south coast have suffered the past few years and, despite the Covid-19 pandemic finally settling down, new struggles are emerging.

The South Coast News has visited towns right along the south coast, from Eden in the south, to Berry in the north, to find out how CBDs are coping following fires and the pandemic.

In the case of Nowra and Berry in the Shoalhaven, cost of living has been a “burden” on businesses.

Nowra:

Shoalhaven Business Chamber President, Jemma Tribe, said inflation pressures were not exclusive to consumers.

“Businesses are suffering too,” she said.

“It’s not just consumers making difficult decisions.”

Mrs Tribe said the increase of consumers last Christmas was a positive sign the worst of the pandemic was behind us.

“There’s definitely been an increase in consumer levels, but then we also have the issue of staff shortages, especially in the hospitality industry,” she said.

Mrs Tribe said the current lack of housing was the number one contributor to staff shortages.

“I recently heard of a restaurant who desperately needed a chef,” she said.

“When they found one, he never ended up working for them because he couldn’t find anywhere to live.”

Shoalhaven Business Chamber President, Jemma Tribe. Picture: Supplied.

It is a similar story for ‘The Book and Burrow Cafe’ on Kinghorne St, with their head chef Steven Carlton saying they are struggling to find “reliable, competent staff”.

“They come through the doors but they don’t want to stay,” he said.

To add to this already “annoying” issue, the cafe is dealing with a lot of competition.

“Competition in Nowra for cafes is ridiculous,” Mr Carlton said.

“There are so many on Kinghorne St, it’s just crazy.”

Book and Burrow in Nowra. Picture: Supplied.

Despite these issues, Mrs Tribe said she was “optimistic” about Nowra’s future.

“Hopefully the worst is behind us and Nowra businesses can do what they do best: thrive,” she said.

Berry:

For Berry, 18 km north of Nowra, cost of living is also an issue for businesses.

“We are definitely seeing some businesses struggling in Berry,” Berry Chamber of Commerce and Tourism President Kate Dezarnaulds said.

“People are definitely starting to feel the squeeze of rising interest rates and it’s making people more cautious and conservative with their budgeting.”

Berry Chamber of Commerce and Tourism President, Kate Dezarnaulds. Picture: Supplied.

Mrs Dezarnaulds said it was not all “doom and gloom” however, as an increase in international tourists had brought life back to the town.

“We are seeing an increase in midweek or extended travel,” she said.

“It’s really great to start to see international tourists popping up in the town, and looking to be able to indulge in all of the lifestyle experiences that Berry has got to offer.”

The Berry CBD. Picture: Tom McGann.

The tourism boom in Berry has helped businesses through cost of living pressures.

Elle Burns from ‘Regal on Queen’, a women’s clothing shop, said “business has been great”.

“People travel from all around the state to check out Berry,” she said.

“The main towns people say they travel from are Canberra and Sydney.”

While cost of living pressures have had an impact on the clothing store, Mrs Burns said it was better than being closed in lockdown.

“Things are a little harder at the moment, but at least we’re open and running again,” she said.

Regal on Queen in Berry employee, Elle Burns. Picture: Tom McGann.

Across the street at the Berry Sunglasses shop, Regional Sales Manager Bertram Payne said business had been “good”.

“It’s been good, steady,” he said.

Similarly to ‘Regal on Queen’, while cost of living pressures had made some things difficult, Mr Payne said he was “just glad to be open”.

“A sunglasses retail shop is not an essential business,” he said.

“We had to close throughout most of Covid and it was very hard.”

Mrs Dezarnaulds said as long as tourists continued to flow into Berry, the town would be “fine”.

“Berry is a thriving town which is a gateway to the best of the South Coast, all within two hours of Sydney,” she said.

“Tourists are essential to the lifeblood and culture of this place and the diversity of experiences for them is increasing all of the time.”