Derrinallum Bombing Causes Local Businesses to Suffer
The closure of the Hamilton Highway at Derrinallum - since the bombing at Glen Sanders’ property on April 12 - is causing a significant downturn in local business.
The Hamilton Highway remains closed between Darlington and Lismore almost 3 weeks after the explosion that killed Sanders – known as “rocket man” - and injured 2 police officers. The Australian Defence Forces (ADF) and the Police Bomb Response Unit continue to conduct controlled detonations of the remaining explosives discovered at Sander’s residence.
Only local traffic is allowed into Derrinallum. Tourism and supply trucks are forced to use alternate routes along the Princes and Glenelg highways.
During the busiest time of year, business in Derrinallum is reported as significantly lower.
Geoffrey Henderson, owner of Urquhard Motors, the service station in the main street of Derrinallum, said that business has been affected “a fair bit”.
“We’ve probably lost around 60% [of revenue],” he said. He said that most of the revenue had been lost “on the fuel side” of his business due to the reduced traffic flow.
Geoff Spillman, owner of Derrinallum Take-Away, refused to comment after his interview with the Camperdown Chronicle, in which he spoke of “the massive downturn in business” “over what is normally [their] busiest time”.
“We’re 70 to 80 per cent down in our business,” Spillman told the Camperdown Chronicle. “We really rely on passing trade, so not having it is having a huge impact.”
Terry Mulder, member for Polwarth, told The Standard that the state government cannot take current actions to assist the businesses as the closure is due to a police operation.
"We understand it's normally a busy time of year for businesses in the area. …we will sit down with business owners to talk about some form of assistance," Mulder said.
Corangamite Shire President Chris O’Connor announced that businesses would not receive any monetary compensation for their losses at a community meeting held on April 15, resident John Steele recalled. Alternatively, O’Connor proposed an event being held in Derrinallum to attract business for the town, Steele said.
Yet residents are not convinced that this suggestion will be significant aid to the businesses.
“A one-day event won’t be that bigger deal in Derri anyway,” said Steele. “Traffic is a lot of [Derrinallum’s] business.”
“We’re hoping down the track we might get some money out of the government to do promotion of the area, but there’s no guarantee of anything,” said Henderson.
The road remains inaccessible as investigations and controlled detonations continue.
