As you walk down Auburn Street, it's hard to miss the number of empty shops.
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Many of these have been lying vacant for a long time while others are vacant for a short period of time before the start of a new business.
As the business community continues to feel the impact of COVID-19, the Goulburn Mulwaree Council feels that recent vacancy audit data shows "great confidence in the Goulburn economy".
The vacancy audit for the months of March and June this year shows Auburn Street vacancy at 12.5 per cent. The CBD vacancy rate has dropped from 10.3 per cent in March to 9.9 per cent in June.
As per the vacancy audit figures for the month of March and June, a total of 22 stores were lying vacant and 154 were occupied on Auburn Street.
Compared to December 2019, the shop vacancy rates in Auburn Street have reduced this year. It was 15.4 per cent and CBD vacancy was 11 per cent last year.
COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the business community all over the world.
Council general manager Warwick Bennett feels that taking into consideration the current financial environment that the world is experiencing, the statistics shows great confidence in the Goulburn economy.
"Council continues to work to make Goulburn a mature and great regional city. Projects such as the development of riverside walkways, the Performing Arts Centre, new museums and family recreation spaces such as the adventure playground show how the council is moving in the right direction to assist the region to grow which only helps businesses who are looking to establish in Goulburn or existing businesses to grow," he said.
"We will continue to work closely with businesses in a proactive manner, to assist their growth."
Local Lauren Howard set up her online store, Alley Boutique, as a pop-up store at Millyn House.
"Things were challenging at first but the community support kept me going and the business is doing really well now," Miss Howard said.
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