James Lovegrove from Dungog Discount Depot and Dungog IGA said the trade over the period had been very pleasing for both businesses due to support from both locals and visitors to the area.

Louise Benson from Chillbillies said trade over the Christmas to Year holiday period in particular was “fabulous” and reported a steady stream of campers coming in for their morning coffee.

Louise is considering staying open more days over the Christmas and New Year next year and is also looking at a number of other new initiatives in 2012, including a continuation of the Farm Feast nights which started in November last year in partnership with local producers.

The Dungog Shire Visitor Information Centre reported a good flow of people throughout the period and Wendy Farrow and volunteers have been busy through January, however it seems as though the positive trends were for day visitors and campers rather than people staying in motel, bed and breakfast and similar accommodation.

In terms of the other towns around the shire the trend in trading has been mixed.

Karen Lawrence from Gresford General Store and Post Office said that “trade was steady and about the same as last year.

“The store relies on visitors during the period as many locals going away on holidays during this period,” she said.

At Clarence Town all reports indicate a successful holiday period with plenty of visitors at the Williams River Holiday Park and this had a positive flow on effect for other businesses in town including the bakery, the butcher, the hardware store and the IGA supermarket.

Dungog Council’s economic development and tourism coordinator Ivan Skaines said there have been reports in the media over the last few weeks that Dungog has had a good trading period over the holiday period due to some peoples’ concerns about security and a police presence in the Gloucester area.