TERANG is experiencing a business revival with new businesses arriving and another set to expand.
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The rural town has welcomed South West Ultrasound, a new hairdresser is on the way and Terang Country Bakery is gearing up for an expansion.
Corangamite Councillor Helen Durant said there had been a lot of activity in the last few months.
The interest in the town comes despite the Commonwealth Bank shutting its doors in June last year.
The National Australia Bank operates in Terang on limited hours from 10am till 2pm.
“It just seems all of a sudden that things have picked up,” Cr Durant said.
Cr Durant said the bank closure didn’t seem to have made a huge difference to confidence in the town and that was heartening.
“People were worried what the image for the town was if the bank didn’t support the town but it hasn’t hindered businesses coming to the town,” she said. “There’s good times ahead for Terang. There just seems to be a bit of a buzz around the place.”
Bakery owner Brad Burkitt said business had been going well with strong support from the community.
He said the bakery would expand into the neighbouring vacant butcher with work hoping to happen in the next month.
He said the expansion would help extend their pie production.
Mr Burkitt said the town was looking good at the moment and he hoped the new businesses would give people travelling on the highway more reasons to stop.
Southwest Ultrasound owner Julie Noonan said Terang was great location to service the south-west.
“It’s a really good central position,” she said.
The business has been in Johnstone Court for just over six months.
Ms Noonan said they had attracted clients from Colac, Camperdown, Timboon and Mortlake and was the only one that bulk billed. “The doctors have been really encouraging,” she said.
“It’s a service that the area needed.”
Terang businessman Michael Reicha said he was rapt to see more businesses coming to the town.
“It’s always positive to see new businesses opening up and it means a lot for the existing ones,” he said.
“Government departments and banks have deserted the little towns.
“It looks like people are seeing the positives in the town. It’s great to see the arcade area with businesses. It’s really the heart of the retail area.”
Mr Reicha said the last month had been tough with the fires but the community had supported each other.