ROBINVALE’S business community is cautiously optimistic the town’s billion-dollar agriculture industry will survive Australia’s worsening trade rift with China.
The trade spat is causing sleepless nights for many local farmers ahead of an expected bumper harvest early next year.
Robinvale Euston Business Association chair Ben Rogers said the town had “coped as well as can be expected” during the two COVID-19 lockdowns.
However, there are fears that crops will be stuck on docks next year if the trade impasse is not resolved before the end of the harvest season.
“Overall, the outlook for the town and business community is cautiously positive,” Mr Rogers said.
“There is caution because of the situation with export markets to China.
“Our main industry that gives lifeblood to the town is agriculture and there is a lot of uncertainty around our exports of grapes, almonds and other produce as the harvest season gets closer.
“There are positive signs for a really good harvest this year and we just have to hope the export markets hold up for us.”
Mr Rogers said spending in the town had been affected by the trade crisis.
“Some people are reluctant to do too much big spending until we get through the harvest season and know things are going to be good, which is understandable,” he said.
“But, at the same time, others are forging ahead.”
Robinvale, like everywhere, has had its challenges this year.
The town lost its only newsagency in the first lockdown, and there are a handful of empty shopfronts in the town centre.
But Mr Rogers said one of the positives of the restrictions had been “more people shopping locally”.
“This has been great to see the support for local business,” he said.
Jade Benham, who was elected Swan Hill Deputy Mayor this week, is confident Robinvale will continue to flourish on the back of the booming local agriculture industry.
One of her priorities is making sure local farmers have upgraded infrastructure to support their high yields heading to the Port of Melbourne.
“Roads in the local government area are not keeping pace with the growth,” the Robinvale-based councillor said.
“The local farmers are so productive, and with all the trucks coming in during the harvest season, we need better road networks to support them.
“It just needs a stroke of the pen at council to get this going. We owe it to the local farmers.”
