Hugely successful MyDarwin voucher scheme exhausted in just 24 hours

DARWIN council’s final $75,000 round of MyDarwin vouchers has been exhausted in just 24 hours, with shoppers getting behind the hugely successful initiative to pour spending money back into the economy

Ben’s Bakehouse barista Breanna Inch accepts a customer’s MyDarwin voucher. Darwin restaurant's and cafes have been the big winners from the MyDarwin voucher scheme, with the final $75,000 spent in just 24 hours. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

DARWIN council’s final $75,000 round of MyDarwin vouchers has been exhausted in just 24 hours, with shoppers getting behind the hugely successful initiative to pour spending money back into the economy.

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It means $450,000 has been redeemed in vouchers alone at Darwin retailers, venues and service businesses since the initiative launched on June 12, just under a month ago.

The first $375,000 returned more than $2.3 million into the local economy because customers also spent their own money at roughly a $5 to $1 rate to the vouchers while using them.

Details of the final tally are yet to be revealed.

Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said he hoped businesses and retailers had enjoyed the benefits of the scheme.

“I think the businesses are happier than me,” he said. “It means customers are walking through their doors and spending money.

“Consumers would be happy too because it means they’ve been able to go out and enjoy spending the money.”

Mr Vatskalis said he was happy to see the money go out so quickly and said buyers had obviously decided to get in before it ran out.

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“I think people spent quickly because they thought it’s the last chance they’ll have to use the vouchers,” he said.