IT seems every cloud has a silver lining as businesses in Silverton report an influx of tourists visiting and staying longer in the township due to the flood crisis in Queensland changing travel plans.
Silverton Village Committee secretary, photographer, and owner of Silverton Photography Gallery and Gardens, Helen Murray, said the town is seeing tourists, pushed from Queensland, enjoying the community’s offerings.
“We are starting to see people coming into Silverton who have had to change their plans because they were going to go north through Tibooburra and now they can’t,” Ms Murray said.
“So a lot of them are staying in Broken Hill and Silverton for a few more days, which is really encouraging. It’s really good.”
The Silverton Hotel has also reportedly been busier.
“They’re seeing some really busy days, but we’re still getting some really quiet days too,” Ms Murray said.
“Certainly after Cyclone Alfred, in my little gallery, I’m seeing quite a few people coming down from those Queensland and coastal areas that were impacted by Alfred and some of them are saying they’d put their holiday off for a week or so until all that had passed.
“A lot of people still come through Broken Hill and Silverton on their way up to south-west Queensland usually, but the fact that they can’t go up there means a lot of them have put down stumps for a few days to have a think about where else they might go.”
Ms Murray said the business influx is a welcome surprise considering the cost of living crisis.
“I honestly think cost of living is having a huge impact on things, certainly from my point of view, my little gallery, I’m seeing people come through and they come to have a look, they go through my gardens and whatever, but they’re not spending money,” she said.
“Everything’s just so expensive now and for people traveling, by the time they’ve paid for the caravan park places, fuel and food along the way; that’s pretty much taking care of their budget.”
