Fear stalks businesses of Westport

More job losses are coming at Stockton Mine meaning more upheaval in Westport. Photo / Save Happy Valley Coalition

Westport businesses are bracing for more Solid Energy lay-offs and some say they won't survive if, in the worst-case scenario, Stockton Mine closes.

Solid Energy said on Wednesday that further job losses were "inevitable".

Company bosses maintained Solid Energy was viable, but Finance Minister Bill English has said he wasn't so sure.

Stockton Mine employs 500. Westport is also facing 100 job losses when the Cape Foulwind cement works closes next year.

Buller Printing owner Tom Gray said his trade had dropped more than 70 per cent in a couple of years. If his business wasn't debt and rent free, it would have gone under.

"We've slashed every possible overhead, slashed our staff working hours by almost 50 per cent, and refinanced ... to survive. But any further redundancies on Stockton may well spell the end of our 40-odd years of being in business."

Almost as many jobs had gone in the Westport retail sector as at Stockton, he said. "The school rolls have diminished, the population has diminished because families have to move on to seek more work just to survive and service their mortgages."

Coles Coaches, which ferries workers to and from Stockton, is also fearful. Owner Julian Coles said if Stockton closed, so would his firm.

Bradley's Furniture owner Pat Bradley said further redundancies at Stockton would reduce the discretionary spending his business relied on. His store and many others might survive more mine job losses, but not Stockton's closure, he said.

"The ripple effect throughout the community would be too great with the loss of good earners."