Pilbara future still bright

Long-time Hedland business owners are confident they can ride out the downturn in the resources sector with many saying they had been through similar cycles in the past.

Owner of North West Liquor and former Mayor of Port Hedland Brent Rudler said local businesses were experiencing a levelling out effect and encouraged businesses to support one another.

"I've been here 22 years and it's not the first time it's happened and probably won't be the last in the mining industry," he said.

"We've all just got to look after each other and remember to support local business and we will get through this, no problems at all."

His comments came after Member for Pilbara Brendon Grylls called on business owners at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast last week to speak up about their optimism for the future of Port Hedland.

He claimed the perception in major cities was that tumble weeds were rolling down the main streets of Pilbara towns - a notion he feared could impact on future investment decisions.

"We have to bank what's happened with the resources sector and continue to build for the future and continue as a local community to say that it's not time to turn the tap off now because the private sector isn't turning their tap off," he said.

"Make your decisions heard and fight back if you don't agree (with reports the Pilbara is bust) - for God's sake have an opinion and drive it hard because so many people have an opinion on your behalf."

South Hedland Retravision owner George Anagnostopoulos said he was used to the economic cycles that came with living in the Pilbara, having experienced three since moving to Hedland 35 years ago.

"In the last two years, we've come off 60 per cent (in sales), but that's life," he said.

"We've been here before and are positive that Port Hedland will come back."

Ausco Modular Port Hedland branch manager Bede Hegarty also remained optimistic about the future, despite its core business of hiring modular facilities to construction companies tapering off.

"For us over the last almost two years it's been about diversification," he said.

"We've been looking to the accommodation side of things … and we're a very big modular builder for education so we've tapped back into that."