Hair Predictions hairdresser Melissa McCarney has urged the council to take more care of the retailers or risk the shops closing down.

“Look after Talbragar Street before Orana Mall takes it all,” she warned.

“Talbragar Street is lacking and long overdue for some prettiness and there’s nothing stopping them doing it.”

Owners of The Emporium, Cheryl Briggs and Denise Moore, believes the council has focused on Macquarie Street and the Orana Mall but left the retailers on Talbragar Street behind.

“Orana mall is getting bigger and I’m not knocking the expansion, but certainly it has to have some repercussions,” Ms Briggs said.

“My question is, what will happen to us independent retailers here?”

She said the council should focus on promoting both the city centre and the expansion at the mall and not be in favour of one.

Ms Moore said the council helped franchisees and did not help individuals.

“Let’s hope in the near future something goes ahead and we’re not left to be ghost town,” she said.

They both were left wondering why the beautification works have not yet begun.

“We’ve been promised a roundabout since 2003 and nothing has happened,” Ms Moore said.

Owner of Colour 45, Elizabeth Makonnen said people enjoyed shopping at boutique stores because they were unique.

“We need more support to do well because small businesses support the tourism of the city,” she said.

“It’s very boring outside and something needs to be done.”

Director of technical services Stewart McLeod rejected claims the council abandoned Talbragar Street in favour of Macquarie Street.

“That’s not true,” he said.

“Talbragar Street is certainly significantly a lot better now than it was 10 years ago.”

Mr McLeod said works on the roundabout should begin later this year.

“It’s been deferred over the years for many good reasons,” he said.

“One reason (is) the works on the stormwater project.”

The beautification would need to wait for the road pavement to be rebuilt, he said, before trees were put in the road.

“It’s won’t be anytime soon because we want to (get) as much life (as we can) from the current road,” he said.

“Our main concern is the roundabout and we will build a proper one, not a cheap and nasty roundabout.”