Mr Dunshea said the next board meeting would discuss how they would help the small business owners and decide on a course of action.

“My view is we need to get in and support the retailers on Talbragar Street by being proactive in that area,” he said.

“They deserve as much support as any other business in Dubbo.”

The most important step, he believed, to raise the business profile was to work together as a team.

“There could be collective power in advertising events planned for Talbragar Street to draw more people in,” he said.

“It’s time they got together as one and it’ll be a positive step.”

There was no evidence, he said, of council favouring one business strip more than another.

“How could you substantiate it?” he said.

“I do think they could do with some beautification so there’s a nice blend moving from Macquarie Street to Talbragar Street.”

A lack of consistency in advertising, he believed, could be a factor in the problems of Talbragar Street.

“In my experience over the years, there’s been promotions as a street say for a Christmas party for a while and then they go down,” he said.

“If they could get together again it would be great and helpful.”

The Daily Liberal’s manager, Brian O’Flaherty, said yesterday the newspaper was a supporter of small businesses throughout Dubbo.

“We were already working on strategies to help local small traders to boost their profiles and exposure to the market and potential customers. We fast-tracked some of the plans on learning of the plight of Talbragar Street businesses. We were visiting some of them and similar businesses in other parts of Dubbo first thing today. It is important that we all support our local businesses. They are an important part of the community.”

The chamber’s board still had four spots unfilled and having a retailer as a member would be a boost to the street.

“At the moment, one person we’re having a chat to to fill a vacancy has a business on Talbragar Street,” Mr Dunshea said.

“It would be good for the street if they agreed to take the role.”

Talbragar Street business owners, he said, could possibly join the business breakfasts in the future.

“The next two breakfasts are fully booked, but we would have a look at how they could be involved,” he said.