This meeting was to focus on the Harden businesses, with a further get together planned for the business owners in Murrumburrah. It was hoped that a list of actions needed to improve the business activity for Harden retailers would be compiled to contribute to the HRDC Action Plan and adopted by Hilltops Councillors and Council.

Annie Jacobs, Co-Manager Community and Commercial Strategies of the HRDC said that the meeting was attended by 19 people and is a very positive step toward a sustainable future.

“No single organisation or person is responsible for the change everyone wishes to see.” Ms Jacobs said. “It is our businesses, our community as a whole working together, creating synergies, which will make the difference. Our individual efforts joined together will be more effective than any of us working on our own.”

“The town needs population growth of about 10 per cent (30 people) per year. This would make a huge difference to the sustainability of our town.” Ms Jacobs said. “We need to recognise that to attract people to Harden we need to address that people have different needs and wants; from over 55’s retirement living to small acreage. We also need to be able to offer suitable employment opportunities.”

Throughout the meeting an emphasis was heard in four key areas: signage, Railway Precinct, Harden closed shopfronts and Harden events.

Simon Watts from Harden Newsagency, along with Brenden McKay from Harden Bearings, Hilton Doberer from Harden Country Motel  and Richard Bourke from Boorowa Real Estate are working together on the signage aspect.

“The problem is that travellers do not know that the Neill Street shops exist.” Mr Watts said. “Council has spent millions on the streetscape and it looks great, but nobody knows it’s here. We need to get some decent signage up on the highway to direct people into the town.”.