While some had seen a number of empty shops in Parker Street as a “dead zone”, Ms McAtear said it also meant there were opportunities for those with the courage to seize them.

“We have no shoe shop, no delicatessen, no health food shop … you’d do well if you opened one of those and did a successful job,” Ms McAtear said.

“I would think every landlord would bend over backwards to get someone in, they’re already actively trying to bring business into town and will often fit out shops just to get someone into the property.”

Recently-elected mayor Abb McAlister said one of the first orders of business for the new council was to work on ways to develop Cootamundra.

“We need to get out there and encourage business into our towns,” Cr McAlister said.

“I also think there’s a need to focus on shopping local, that’s how the town will continue to grow – if more people shop local, there’ll be more jobs and it will go from there.”

Last week, Cootamundra business owners and tenants expressed their concern at the number of vacant shop fronts in the main street.

Some identified the street’s average rental prices of up to $250 a week as a deterrent to new businesses.

Others said the town’s economy was still recovering from the closure of the Manildra abattoir and associated job losses in February.

Ms McAtear said she wanted to see a return to the old days of people working together for the good of the town.

“If people are shopping out of town then there’s that money that’s bleeding out of the town too,” Ms McAtear said.

“The biggest employer in Australia is small business, so if we shop local – provided the price is right – we can avoid those day trips and fill the gaps in our market.

“Is it really that cheap to spend $50 on petrol and buy lunch out to go shopping in Wagga? It’s just a false economy.”