Staff hours slashed, bookings cancelled
NEW RULES SEND PUBS BACK TO DRAWING BOARD
HOTELS and restaurants across the region have been left in the lurch after the State Government halted the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
A spike in recorded coronavirus cases across the state meant a range of measures — including a provision allowing pubs and restaurants to house up to 50 patrons at once — were put on hold until at least mid July.
Barwon Heads Hotel owner Joel Taylor told the Geelong Advertiser that while he understood the need, the outcome was disappointing economically.
“As disappointed as I am, we understand there has been an outbreak and it needs to be contained and the curve flattened,” he said.
“Obviously the health and safety of staff, customers and Victorians comes first.”
Mr Taylor said his three hotels — in Torquay, Grovedale and Barwon Heads — would remain open despite the changes.
“We’re in that awkward situation of being open, but with hotels that are 25 per cent full,” he said.
“We’ve put in the expense of reopening and training staff in line with the new coronavirus health and safety guidelines, so it’s a difficult situation to be in.”
Rosters had been adjusted, starting dates for new staff pushed back and bookings cancelled to help push through.
“We’ve had to people,” he said.
“It’s going to have an impact not just on our bottom line but on our workers as well.”
State Premier Daniel Andrews flagged the possibility of reopening regional communities with no new cases under “a different set of rules” as restrictions progressed. re-roster