Trappers Bakery 'needs assistance' as Goulburn businesses feel the effects of COVID-19

Trappers is just one of many Goulburn businesses that have felt the drop-off as residents in Greater Sydney remain in lockdown.

Factor in a confirmed case in Goulburn and the town itself is on high alert.

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Speaking to the Goulburn Post, Keith 'Trapper' Woodman was succinct in describing the effect the lockdown has had on business.

"One word, terrible," he said.

Having been through a COVID-19 close contact alert in June, Trappers was already feeling the pressure before new restrictions severely limited tourist numbers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Tuesday that a COVID-19 Disaster Payment would be available to individuals while businesses inside a designated COVID-19 hotspot would also be eligible.

Trapper said they had reduced output accordingly but would definitely require financial assistance to keep going.

"We're running at about 20 per cent," he explained.

"We have somehow tried to keep the staff on as we got hit about a month ago. We paid all our staff through that period even though we were closed for two days.

"But we will certainly need some government assistance to keep the properties going both at Goulburn and Braidwood."

With the two bakeries and adjacent Bakehouse Motel in Goulburn both relying on highway traffic, Trapper said without an assistance package both areas of the business would struggle to stay afloat.

"Because of our position with both properties they're very much tourist type properties," he said.

"People aren't moving like they were, there's no doubt our business will need government assistance to continue with staffing.

"They need their money. They're good people and they have their mortgages, rent and food. It's very bad. I don't know what the government's going to do but they'll certainly have to do something for regional NSW as well as Sydney.

"We've been hit both ways. When Melbourne was shut down last year for the best part of two months we nearly lost the motel.

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"We rely on at least 50 percent of people coming from Melbourne and that would apply to a lot of other motels in Goulburn just because of where it's located between Sydney and Melbourne."

Tony Dunn from the Argyle Emporium bookshop reported a similar decline in customers on weekends but said local support had helped him through.

"Weekends especially have dropped right off because normally you get people travelling through," he told the Post.

"It's good [tourists] but community support is great as well so that's fine.

"You can see the drop off but it's short-term pain for long-term gain for everyone. We'll ride it out and get ready to welcome back Sydney travelers."

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