The bustling main street of Orange in NSW's Central West is almost deserted on its second day of lockdown.

As some businesses including takeaway and retail remain open, many have opted to shut their doors after the announcement of a 7-day snap lockdown in parts of the Central West region.

But regional business owners say they've been suffering since Greater Sydney's lockdown began on June 19.

Owner of the Swinging Bridge winery in Orange, Tom Ward, said the lockdowns have had a significant impact on his business.

Having lost nearly 80 per cent of his customers to the Greater Sydney lockdowns, he is concerned that an extension would mean his business would stay shut for longer.

They are sentiments echoed by the restaurant manager of Charred, David Collins, a fine dining restaurant in Orange. 

The impacts of the first lockdown in March last year led to the restaurant's closure for three months.

"Our business models don't fit takeaway services so we spent the first period of that lockdown treading water," Mr Collins said.

Charred has also closed its doors for the period of the Central West lockdown in the hope it will end sooner rather than later.

"It's tough for the casuals, it's tough for the businesses without any exterior support and without any assurance from the state or federal government," Mr Collins said.

Calls for a tailored support package

Under the current stay-at-home orders applied to the Orange, Blayney, and Cabonne shire councils, construction, shops, and schools remain open.

While support packages have been announced for most states in lockdown to help struggling businesses, financial assistance has been primarily concentrated to metropolitan regions.

The eligibility criteria for financial support through Service NSW means that businesses are required to show a 30 per cent reduction in income compared to the 2019 financial year.

But most regional businesses say the comparison to 2019 is not accurate due to the prolonged drought.

Federal Member for Orange Philip Donato has called on the state government to provide support packages to the regional community, with a focus on the agriculture sector.

"When you look at the impacts of bushfires, COVID, mice plagues, drought, and the lockdowns that have been imposed in both Greater Sydney and now regional NSW, there needs to be a tailored package looking at supporting these industries," Mr Donato said.

The Central West contributes $13 billion into the NSW economy each year, with the Orange, Cabonne, and Blayney shire council areas making up 1 per cent of the state's GDP.

Testing continues

Large numbers of cars are continuing to turn up at testing sites in the three shires, with locals reporting wait times of up to three hours.

COVID-19 testing clinics remain open at Bathurst, Orange, Parkes, Blayney, and Molong until this Friday. 

So far, over 5,200 tests have been conducted in the Central West region with no new active cases.

Loading form...