Positivity in Mount Isa’s future has risen on the back of much-needed rainfall and an encouraging outlook for the city’s major employer, with the copper smelter at Glencore Mount Isa Mines set to remain open until 2020.

Commerce North West president Travis Crowther has warned businesses to prepare for an upturn in trade after the positive news in the mining sector and much-needed rainfall.

“The businesses in town should be preparing for growth, looking towards the current policies and procedures to ensure they can meet the demand, look at what courses are available with regards to diversity, business planning and growth,” he said.  

Both the drought-breaking rain and the announcement at Glencore were of equal importance.

“Water is always going to be needed for the town to survive, and as the major employer in town, and a large user of a lot of local business, we need to have the confidence that Glencore [Mount Isa Mines] will be continuing to grow for the town to survive,” he said.  

“The rain has already lifted the spirits for a lot of people in town, and if we see some positive announcements from Glencore early in the year, I believe we will see the town experience a positive growth.”

Mr Crowther admitted there was a noticeable downturn for most business last year through water problems and uncertainty from Glencore.

“There were also some global factors that contributed, the strong Australian dollar at the start of the year and the downturn in commodity prices have affected the whole of the resources sector,’’ he said.

‘‘If we compare ourselves to the coastal towns we have fared pretty well.’’

While there was positive news for the future of the copper smelter at Glencore Mount Isa Mines, Mr Crowther admitted it was time to ready the city for a future less dependent on the resources sector.

“In the long term, government, Commerce North West and businesses need to continue to work together to ensure the town can create wealth that is not only dependent on mining,” Mr Crowther said.  

He said the community development officer - a joint project with Glencore, Mount Isa City Council and Commerce North West - would “produce some great plans for the long-term life of Mount Isa and the surrounding areas”.

The Christmas and school holidays is notoriously slow for the business sector, but Mr Crowther said there was a “small positive change” from some businesses.

“Talking to the freight companies, they have notice an increase in deliveries, which is a good sign of increase spending,” he said.

Mr Crowther also urged business owners and managers to prepare for growth by taking up a number of beneficial, upcoming courses offered by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning for little or no cost.