Main street retailers say high rents are "ridiculous"

Katherine Times spoke to most small businesses on Katherine Terrace this week about how to re-energise the town’s CBD.  

Malcolm Roney, owner of Betta Home Living, said the increase of council rates has forced landlords to shift the expense onto tenants.

“This is the fifth year of a nine per cent rate increase, I think that is one of the reasons rent is up,” Mr Roney said. 

“The rent prices down at Woolies are dearer than Sydney.

“People complain that prices are high but tenants have to compensate for rent,” he said. 

The Sweetest Things owner Lana Read agreed that higher rates has bumped up rent in town.

“I pay okay rent, it used to be a lot dearer but we negotiated it down,” Ms Read said.

“Council could drop rates so landlords do not have to compensate by charging businesses more. 

“With rent and electricity, it does make it hard,” she said.

“A lot of the essential businesses, that the town needs, have closed down over the years and noone has taken them up.”

Katherine Camping and Fishing owner Russell Linfoot said the state of the town is “disgraceful”.

“Fay Miller has turned this place into a ghost town, nine per cent rates, are you joking,” Mr Linfoot said. 

Indy C manager Bev Van Wyk said the main street is unusually quiet for this time of year.

“Empty shops have stopped foot traffic, I have been here 13 years and I have never seen it like this,” Ms Van Wyk said. 

“It is not good for the street, it has been so quiet, usually this time of year it is really busy.

“Landlords need to look at their rents, it is just ridiculous,” she said.

Finch Cafe co-owners Gill Russell and Phoebe Quilty both said rents are likely deterring new business ventures.  

“I think people would have a go opening up a business but the rent is just too high,” Ms Quilty said.

“I think rent is a really big issue,” Ms Russell said.

 Visions Hair Design owner Dannii David said the closure of stores on the main street was “depressing”. 

“I think the biggest issue is the rent, if I could move onto the main street I would but I cannot justify it, it is too expensive,” Ms David said. 

New Shanghai Chinese Restaurant owner Richard Lay said the cost of rent was equal to that of metropolitan areas.

“For me the rent is a bit ridiculous for the population we have in Katherine,” Mr Lay said. 

Alderman Toni Tapp-Coutts said the introduction of ‘pop-up shops’ could be the solution. 

“It is sad that there are so many empty shops, I would like to see the owners be a bit more creative and maybe encourage some pop up shops,” Alderman Tapp-Coutts said. 

“Like a coffee shop or ice cream store where people aren’t committed to long leases or high rents, so they can make a bit of money during peak tourist season.

“We are all in this together, we need decent looking shops, even if they aren’t occupied, they need to be cleaned up for the atmosphere of the town,” she said. 

Katherine Chamber of Commerce chairman Kevin Grey agreed that temporary shops could help revitalise the CBD.

“Pop up shops could enhance the amenity of the town,” Mr Grey said. 

“If you have an idea but cannot commit to rent you can have a go.

“If the street is full you will get more people walking up it,” he said.