HELENA Valley businesses have been under the pump as street traffic grew into a daily challenge for commuters after water pipeline installation began, but help may be on its way.

The Water Corporation are building a pipeline to secure drinking water to more than 24,000 properties and as far as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, as reported in Securing future scheme water supply to Perth Hills.

A vital section is being installed along Helena Valley Road, where traffic has changed to a one-way flow.

Helena Estate Pharmacy owner Neel Shah said the traffic disruptions have been “disastrous” for his business.

“To get to us you have to take a 15 to 20-minute detour with the current conditions,” he said.

“The detour takes you through to Midland and loops around, and by then most people would rather just purchase in Midland.

“We’ve been down about 42 per cent in customer numbers and the IGA next door told me business has been the worst it’s been since they opened.

“Water Corp keep saying they’ve done all they can, and they’ve put up a sign saying the shopping centre is open for business.

“But walking past, the sign is easy to miss, and you have no chance reading it if you’re driving by at 60kmh.

“The thing is, we are 200m out of their 1.2km work zone, so theoretically we shouldn’t be affected, but we are.”

Envy Lifestyle Boutique owner Wendy Hanley runs her store next to Mr Shah’s pharmacy and said she also felt the change in walk-in numbers.

“I’ve got a small retail shop, and the rising interest rates and cost of living has massively changed peoples discretionary spending amounts,” she said.

“A lot of people further up in the hills haven’t been so badly impacted, I guess. They’re the ones more inclined to spend a greater amount with us.

“By putting huge detours in place that take 20 to 30 minutes even if you don’t encounter a problem, it’s very off-putting for people to even come down here.”

A Water Corporation spokesperson said they were aware of the project and had previously sent out a statement advising of and apologising for impacts during construction.

Ms Hanley said she understands that it’s a vital project but doesn’t feel it was fair for small business owners to bear the brunt of the cost.

“I started collecting the data of how many customers came through the door and what my till was doing each day,” she said.

“Fast forward four months, my latest numbers have come back, and our income is down 40 per cent.

“The numbers through the door used to 20 to 30 customers a day but now you’re lucky if it’s 10.

“With my books looking like they do, I can’t sell my business, so now I am just hoping I can hang on and run down the lease and close it. Obviously losing all the investment we’ve made in the past seven years in the business.

“What that means is that the community loses a small business and three local people I employ lose their job. I employ two (university) students and a mature age lady.

“Work like this has to happen and we get it, but it’s very disappointing there’s been no compensation and no support.”

Ms Hanley said it wasn’t until she got in contact with the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC), who then came to visit and spoke with Water Corporation, that things began progressing.

“I’ve been in touch with the SBDC who offered advice and came out to visit us last week,” she said.

“They decided to get involved and they’ve been out with the Water Corporation project manager and community liaison person to look at the scope of the works.

“(On July 23) we received an email saying there’s going to be a meeting between the SBDC, Water Corp, and the business owners in this area.

“That’ll be on August 8, so we are going to have a conversation.

“What that actually means I don’t know, but it’s better than nothing.”