THE impact of the drought is not exclusive to those living on the land, according to several prominent business heads.
As the Northern Tablelands suffers through one of its driest and hottest summer periods on record, those in town say the effects are widespread.
New England Toyota sales manager Paul Hamilton said farmers were now holding on to their vehicles for longer and the knock-on effect was significant.
“Farmers are prioritising by spending their money on feed,” he said.
“Instead of trading in their vehicles after 100,000 kilometres they are holding on to them.”
Mr Hamilton, a father-of-seven, said the flow-on effect of fewer vehicle sales meant that he had to try and spend less at the supermarket.
Armidale’s three boarding schools – PLC, NEGS and TAS – are also reliant on farmers sending their sons and daughters away for their education.
All three schools are doing their best to help accommodate those living on the land.
The Armidale School headmaster Murray Guest said the school’s enrolments remained strong, with the school again accommodating 200 boarders.
“I am very conscious that the pressure of drought, among other economic factors, has impacted heavily on many of our boarding families,” he said.
“Their commitment to present their sons with their TAS education is both heartening and a reminder to all of us here of the importance of assisting every TAS student to make the most of their opportunities here.”
The impact on the real estate market might not be immediate, said rural property realtor Graham MacDougall, but he expects to see a slump.
“At the moment I’m being inundated with calls from people wanting to see if I have any properties with grass or water,” he said.
“The market is still pretty firm, but if it doesn’t rain there’ll be an impact.”
