The Victorian Government on Sunday announced the limit of up to 20 people in restaurants, bars and cafes would remain in response to a recent spike in coronavirus cases in the state.
So, neighboring towns on either side of the Victoria-NSW border such as Cobram and Barooga — just a five-minute drive apart — now have vastly different restrictions.
Cobram Hotel owner Adam Rudd was "shattered" by the inconsistencies.
“If you can go to the supermarket with unlimited numbers and no-one wipes down trolleys, why can't you go to a pub where we do a deep clean after each meal?" he said.
“It’s crippling the economy; hospitality businesses won't last — a lot won’t be able to come out the end of this.
“If we didn’t have JobKeeper, we wouldn’t be here.
“It’s a nightmare.”
Cobram Hotel was set to reopen its bistro to the public earlier this week if the rule permitting up to 50 patrons in each indoor area had gone ahead.
But with the continuation of the 20 people restriction, Mr Rudd said reopening was no longer viable.
Mr Rudd had ordered enough food supplies and stock to accommodate two sittings of 50 people a day for the next two weeks, with staff rosters already done weeks in advance — when he got the news they had just 24 hours to reel back to 20 patrons.
In NSW, where restrictions have eased to allow 50 people in each indoor venue, restaurants and bars are welcoming more customers.
Barooga Hotel co-owner Glenn Gardiner had to hire three more staff in the past two weeks to accommodate the influx in takeaway orders and expects to hire more with restrictions lifting.
“I feel for them (Victorian businesses); they're businesses the same as us, and it’s had a big effect especially on the top part due to the no pokie machine rule in Victoria,” he said.
“I think it's absolutely ridiculous.
“Given the number of cases in these areas, they should be treated differently to cities, why penalise us (regional areas)?”
Moira Shire Council Mayor Libro Mustica said council was committed to helping all Moira Shire communities facing unprecedented financial and emotional hardships.
Cr Mustica said council would waive ‘hire of park’ fees for events or ‘hire of hall’ fees for council-owned or operated buildings in Cobram and Yarrawonga until the end of September.
“As well as waiving 100 per cent of the rent for the June quarter for enterprises that operate from council-owned or managed land, we have also given a 50 per cent rebate for the September quarter for these businesses,” he said.
