Chamber Chats - April 2026

Across Australia, households and businesses are again feeling the pressure of rising fuel, freight and living costs.

In regional communities like ours, these pressures are rarely abstract. They show up quickly at the bowser, in supplier invoices, in grocery bills, and in the weekly challenge of keeping a household or small business on track.

The Federal Government announced on 30th March that it will halve fuel excise for three months from 1st April, a move intended to lower petrol and diesel prices by about 26.3 cents per litre. However, because there is no cap on pump prices, that benefit could easily be dissipated by further increases in global oil, freight and wholesale fuel costs.

Diesel is of particular concern in regional Australia. It powers much of the machinery, freight, farm equipment and transport that keeps local communities functioning. When diesel rises, the effect spreads quietly through the whole supply chain.

It is also worth saying plainly that this situation did not come out of nowhere. While current overseas conflict has sharpened the pressure, Australia has been left exposed by years of weak fuel security, reduced domestic refining capacity and stock levels still below international benchmarks.

This is not just a sudden storm. It is a vulnerability that has been visible for years.

For Nimbin, this is not a call for panic. It is a call for steadiness, foresight and practical local thinking.

Practical responses to the situation are combined errands into one town run. Avoid unnecessary half-empty car trips. Keep tyres properly inflated. Delay non-essential long drives.

For businesses, it also means reviewing invoices carefully so freight increases are clearly understood, then deciding whether those costs need to be recovered or whether supplies can be sourced through businesses offering better freight rates and arrangements.

When making a trip to town, let friends or neighbours know, and ask if anyone needs goods picked up. One well-planned run can save fuel, time and money across more than one household.

It also means building a calm buffer, not a bunker. A practical two to three week reserve of pantry basics, medicines, pet food, cleaning supplies and other essentials is sensible. The same goes for critical business inputs. A little cash on hand can also be useful if payment systems go wobbly. This is not about fear. It is about reducing avoidable stress.

One of the strongest protections a village like Nimbin has is local circulation. Buying locally when possible does more than support a shop counter at the moment. It helps local businesses maintain turnover, keep staff employed, and continue providing the services and character that make village life work.

In harder economic times, where people spend money locally it is more likely to keep moving through local wages, local suppliers and local families.

Buy local produce when it is available. Grow even a small amount of food if you can. Preserve or freeze surplus. Favour goods with a longer shelf life while prices remain manageable. For cafés and other small businesses, it may also mean simplifying menus, reducing waste, and being more selective about stock lines.

Tourism

There is more good news on the tourism front. ‘Contained in Nimbin’ recently achieved a bronze award in the Self-Contained category at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, a strong result that reflects well on both the business and the wider village.

The Chamber also notes that the Fringe Festival, the new community-driven evolution of the former Roots Festival, is now being auspiced by NAFI, which places it in a stronger position for future grant opportunities.

In the lead-up to MardiGrass, the Chamber has also asked Council to ensure proper attention is given to potholes, so that the many visitors arriving in coming weeks can do so safely and enjoyably.

Nimbin has always done some of its best work when people share information, solve problems practically, and support one another.

Don’t panic. No paralysis. Just a bit more foresight, a bit less waste, and a stronger habit of looking after one another.

Next meeting

The next General Meeting of the Chamber on 26th May is being shaped around sustainable living, buying local, remote work, and identifying additional income streams and areas of opportunity.

The Chamber is also continuing to look at projects that strengthen local economic circulation. These include a self-guided murals walk and a free accommodation directory to improve visitor experience and help keep more value in the village.

That matters because if visitors can find accommodation more easily, stay longer, and engage more deeply with local stories, art and culture, more benefits stay here.

Choose local. Experience Nimbin David Hyett

President

Nimbin Chamber of Commerce