Communities across the Blue Mountains and Central West regions of New South Wales have been significantly impacted following the unexpected closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass more than two months ago.
The disruption has caused a sharp decline in trade, with some local businesses experiencing losses of over 40 percent. In response, the NSW government has announced a $3.5 million support package aimed at assisting affected small businesses and local councils.
The package includes grants of up to $10,000 for eligible businesses in towns such as Mount Victoria, Hartley, Little Hartley, and Hartley Vale.
Janelle Saffin described the funding as a temporary “buffer” rather than full compensation. Authorities are currently reviewing design options to safely reopen the highway at Victoria Pass.
