Years of drought, high petrol prices and the prospect of several years of financial turmoil in the future could threaten the viability of villages in the area.

Cabonne councillor David Hyde says he is particularly concerned about the future of businesses in Eugowra that have been under increasing pressure in recent years.

“A few months ago the doors were going to close at the supermarket ... we’re very lucky in the sense that someone has picked up the supermarket but we’re still in a quandary with another business,” Cr Hyde said.

He said escalating rents and burden of fuel prices were pushing business owners in the village to the limit.

“We’ve been in this situation before when the banks closed,” he said.

“When you lose core businesses like that it can shatter the community.”

Cr Hyde said council had a role to play in creating unique ways of attracting business and residents to rural and regional communities.

Cumnock Progress Association’s Rent-a-Farmhouse project was a good example of an original way to revitalise a small community, he said.

Western Research Institute CEO Tom Murphy says the general consensus among researchers expects regional villages to struggle for survival in coming years.

“On average I think the pressure is going to be on them,” Mr Murphy said.

“Higher fuel prices have effected them and tougher economic conditions in the next few years will increase that pressure.”

Mr Murphy said while he did not believe all smaller villages would vanish, many would.

However, the population of the Central West is expected to grow at the same time.

Molong appears to be bucking the trend as its main street remains a vibrant place with many businesses reinvesting heavily since the 2005 flood.

Molong Meats owner Tim Middleton says business has remained steady over the past few years.

“We’ve been pretty lucky here but I suppose everyone has to eat,” Mr Middleton said.

Cargo Store owner John Sullivan says it has been tougher over the last few years in his town as well but with business remaining relatively steady, he is in no danger of closing either.