The Northern Grampians Shire is currently receiving the greatest investment since amalgamation, according to council chief executive Michael Bailey.

It comes after Scott’s Auto Electrics closed its doors on Saturday morning, resulting in the town’s fifth business closure in six months. 

Scott’s Auto Electrics owner Phillip Scott then plastered stickers across his shopfront reading, ‘Another business closes in the Northern Grampians Shire’.

Mr Scott labelled the move a protest against the Northern Grampians Shire Council’s inability to lead the community in a trying time for Stawell. 

But Mr Bailey said while Mr Scott was entitled to his opinion, local growth as well as external investment were seeing demand driving to a point where it could not be filled.

“We accept retail is going through a transition, as retail across the country is going through transition,” he said.

“We have seen two motels purchased, both of which sat on the market for years, and are due to reopen in the coming weeks and are already meeting the requirements of investors, further to this we know that our local business are increasing and our issue across the Shire over the next 18 months will be finding the people to fill the available jobs.” 

Mr Bailey said the latest businesses to close were not due to council.

“We know the best way to build business is with a positive attitude and the community shopping locally, both things council can not impact,” he said.

“We know our real estate agents can not get enough stock to meet demand, our tradesmen are hectic and our farmers are coming off a strong year with expectations of another positive return.

“These are all positives that will drive confidence in the retail sector. Putting posters up with negative statements does nothing to assist the community.”

Earlier. 10am

Fired up business owner Phillip Scott has shut his store of 43 years to protest against the high number of business closures in the Northern Grampians Shire. 

The Stawell businessman plastered large stickers reading ‘Another business closes in the Northern Grampians Shire’, across the window of his shop, Scott’s Auto Electrics, on Wakeham Street.

The closure is the latest in a string of town businesses to close in the last six months.

Hemley’s Smash Repairs shut its doors last week, while popular home goods store Inika Imports closed in December. Bill’s Health Food Shop and Our Shop On Main also announced closures at the beginning of 2018. 

Mr Scott claimed he was fed up with the Northern Grampians Shire Council’s inability to lead the community of Stawell. 

“I am coordinating this action because Stawell and its businesses have had to put up with inaction and a lack of leadership from the Northern Grampians Shire Council over a long period of time,” he said.

“Too many businesses are shutting, the town is dying and there is not enough being done.

“I am one of the biggest and longest serving businesses in town and all the others around need help.”

Mr Scott said the community survived off a farming business structure, but farmers were not receiving adequate support to continue upholding the town. 

“Farmers keep getting the raw end of the stick, rates keep going up and a recent council performance survey was operated through Sydney – council should be out here and talking to the locals,” he said. 

Mr Scott said he was also angry Northern Grampians Shire had been proposed as the site for a police trial to limit speeds from 100km/h to 70km/h on unsealed country roads.

Mr Scott said he was not the only town business protesting. 

“I’ll be going around all day to other businesses, some up the Main Street, to put these stickers up on their windows,” he said.