NATIONAL Australia Bank (NAB) executives have failed to convince Walgett Shire Council or the community they are genuinely interested in saving the branch, according to Walgett mayor David Lane.
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Cr Lane made the extraordinary remarks following a meeting between NAB regional executive retail, Scott McLean, NAB state retail manager Paul Juergen and the Walgett council and community.
Close to 100 people attended the meeting, emphasising how devastating it will be to the community if the branch closes.
NAB outlined their plans to close their branch, which is the only one in Walgett, on October second this year, claiming structural issues with their current premises, 64 Fox Street, is the reason behind the closure.
Walgett council has since spoken to the owner of the building and he is willing to do the upgrades if the bank will commit to staying for a certain period of time, and they have found two other alternative sites.
Cr Lane revealed council and community members who attended Tuesday’s meeting left believing NAB want to close the branch and any alternative options aren’t being appropriately considered.
“The NAB put across their side of the argument but it didn’t convince the audience, who think they are using it (building issues) as an excuse to close and the majority of councillors don’t believe that either,” Cr Lane said.
“Council have come up with two other sites and the owner of the current building is prepared to do the work that is required to upgrade it.
“The NAB have said they will consider those options but its fair to say I don’t think us (council) or the audience (community members) were convinced the NAB are interested in saving the branch.”
With just over five months until the planned closure of the NAB branch, Walgett Council will spend the next two months lobbying to the NAB in the hope the bank reverses their decision.
Following Tuesday’s meeting, Cr Lane believes it will be a difficult task.
“The NAB gave no commitment to maintaining the branch and kept saying we need to accept the fact it is closing down,” Cr Lane said.
“All our energy is currently with keeping the NAB branch open at the moment, and that will be the case for the next two months or so.
“If nothing has changed in a couple of months, we will need to accept that and do our best to deal with it from there.
“Its fair to say a lot of community members feel this is a real kick in the guts with the current drought situation.”
