THE hold up with extending the Hunter's lockdown is delivering a hammer blow to business certainty in the region, Newcastle's business association says.
Business Hunter chief executive Bob Hawes said operators in accommodation and tourism services, personal care services, entertainment and the arts sectors needed clarity to make decisions.
"The deferral of providing clear advice regarding the lockdown means businesses are less able to focus their concerns on things they can control and there is now growing anxiety over issues that businesses can't control," Mr Hawes said.
"Business wants to be able submit orders, renew staff rosters, pivot the business to the restrictions; and making decisions that will keep their business afloat. They can't do this under the cloud of 'what will the advice tell us'; when will things return to normal and at what increment; what the vaccination uptake is and how to protect their businesses from a lack of compliance by individuals still breaching orders.
Mr Hawes said it was important that people used their custom to support local businesses where possible under the public health orders.
"Now more than ever, if you are still drawing a wage and can manage to support local businesses, we encourage you to do that," he said.
"Choose the local grocer, butcher, fruit shop. Opt for online shopping options through local retail vendors who offer click and collect, take up vouchers with your goods and service providers that can be used when things open up again.
"While things are uncertain right now, we encourage support for local businesses, so we are in a strong position to recover our economy as soon as restrictions lift."
Mr Hawes said the consequences for lockdown breaches, like those authorities have blamed for the growing Newcastle outbreak, had to be clear.
"I don't see any issue with places of business reporting breaches in movement in our regions because some people are putting our community at risk," he said.
