The owner of Mudgee beverage supplier Larry Etherington said for months they had been trying to talk to the state government and others in charge of rolling out the scheme in NSW, only to be ignored or given generic replies.

Mr Etherington said questions about how the CDS was being run, how much it would cost, how much it would make and if it would be viable remained unanswered.

Instead beverage suppliers were just expected to fund the scheme and find their own way to recoup their costs.

He said it was no surprise the government had been forced to call in the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) and offer interest-free loans to struggling small businesses.

However he fears not even that will be enough to stop some suppliers from going under.

“The government said it would have minimal impact on small businesses but they haven’t looked at the cashflow impact, the reaction from consumers and the extra workload involved,” Mr Etherington said.

“Noone is listening to the problem and a lot of businesses will go under. That might be what it takes for people to realise but by then it will be too late.”

Bevco financial controller Corinne Hoffman said understanding how the CDS will work and making arrangements for it had occupied the majority of her time for the past few months.

Bevco had to pay $35,000 for their contribution to funding the first month of the scheme. They will have to make another contribution of the same amount in early December.

Ms Hoffman said some retailers were opposed to the estimated cost of 14 cents per bottle being passed on. And even if retailers do agree to the rises, it will be approximately three months before they recoup those fees.

Other significant concerns included for Bevoc included big beverage suppliers CCA, Carlton & United Breweries, Asahi, Coopers and Lion Nathan making up the consortium Exchange for Change, which has been put in charge of the program in charge of the CDS.

Ms Hoffman said it wasn’t right to have some of their biggest competitors being put in charge of the scheme, which charges all suppliers on a monthly basis to cover the costs of running the CDS.

A spokesman for Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said the government had heard concerns from Bevco and was continuing to engage with them through the Environment Protection Authority.

The spokesman said the government was committed to helping businesses transition into the scheme and ensuring the cost of beverages only rose by the cost of the CDS.

Dubbo MP Troy Grant said he had been in regular contact with Bevco and was “on their side”

“The issues they have raised are legitimate. The construction of the scheme was done independent of government, through the EPA, and I’m on their side.

“The hit on the finances up front is something small businesses struggle to absorb.

“What we’ve done is engage the small business commissioner, she’s been working with each of the suppliers individually regarding their circumstances and what the government has made available is a 12-month interest free loan, and that will allow them to recoup their money and get cashflow coming. That’s one way to negate the impact on small business.”

Mr Grant said IPART and consumer watchdogs had been approached to ensure major retailers didn’t bully suppliers into absorbing the costs of the scheme themselves, rather than passing those costs on.

“The Premier has written to both those bodies to assess immediately from when the scheme starts that none of those practises of bullying or market intimidation occur and that pricing remains appropriate,” he said.

“Each business go into their own individual contractual arrangements with those they supply to so I can’t talk for every businesses’ arrangements but generally speaking the Premier has assured they aren’t going to be monstered by the duopoly, there will be consumer protections.”