Darwin council voucher scheme passes halfway mark as businesses, shoppers embrace local business stimulus strategy

MORE than half of Darwin council’s $300,000 voucher scheme kitty has been spent by locals at restaurants, retailers and tourism operators in just over a week.

Nguyet Vu says the voucher initiative has helped her businesses. Picture: Glenn Campbell

• Darwin businesses welcome $40 council voucher scheme
• Darwin council’s $300,000 voucher scheme for local businesses gets started

MORE than half of Darwin council’s $300,000 voucher scheme kitty has been spent by locals at restaurants, retailers and tourism operators in just over a week.

As of 9am today, locals had spent $182,957.50 of the MyDarwin voucher pool, injecting at least four times that in their own money back into the economy.

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Businesswoman Nguyet Vu owns Taste of Viet, Nail Lovers and SNS Exclusive Salon in Casuarina Square and said all her business are seeing new faces come through their doors.

“I’ve noticed a lot of younger people have been coming in, I assume students who don’t have a big budget, it has definitely brought in more customers,” she said.

“At the salon they’re trying to take advantage of the $20 voucher because prices are more expensive … at Taste of Viet, our banh mi is only $9 but to get a discount $10 so they’ve been getting some spring rolls or a drink to make the extra money. It’s been great for upselling.”

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The program, which has been running for a week, will go until the $300,000 is spent, however council has said they were open to expanding the program.