SC businesses welcome chance to ‘save livelihoods’

The Government’s decision to move the country to Covid-19 alert level 1 sooner than anticipated has been welcomed by South Canterbury’s hospitality and accommodation industries.

New Zealand Hospitality South Canterbury branch president Kristy Phillips said the sector was looking forward to the lifting of restrictions.

‘‘For us it will be so nice to welcome back as many people as we can for as long as we can.

She hoped the public would continue to support business for ‘‘months to come’’.

Phillips called on the Government to encourage New Zealanders to ‘‘keep going out’’ to save local businesses.

‘‘They need to stop the fear. By people getting out of their homes they are saving businesses, jobs and the communities themselves.’’

She said the hospitality industry was built on food safety and hygiene foundations, but what it required was consistency from the Government when it came to social distancing and tracking and tracing.

Phillips said the industry would not have ‘‘got through’’ the lockdown levels without the support of the community.

Hospitality Association South Canterbury accommodation sector chairman and Avenue Motor Lodge owner Mark Offen said alert level 1 would allow for more people to travel, which bodes well for the accommodation sector.

‘‘Also, increased numbers of people at functions such as weddings, 21st birthdays and funerals will help us with more bookings.’’

Offen said while the potential bursting of the trans-Tasman bubble would be great for the industry, he cautioned against ‘‘going backwards’’.

‘‘We have had Australian holidaymakers in the past, and for the future it will be great, but the key for us will be risk versus reward.’’

Timaru Columbus Coffee owner Cate Sutherland said she was hoping trade would return to ‘‘some semblance of normal’’.

‘‘We’ll be able to return to our full capacity, and we’re looking forward to getting the tables and chairs out of the storage unit and put them back in the cafe´ .

‘‘It’s certainly going to be the main priority to avoid the lunchtime queues, and our level of service will be able to return to normal.’’

It was now time to save livelihoods, Sutherland said.

Robert Harris franchisee Brendon Soal is also hoping level 1 will help his business return to normal as soon as possible.

‘‘It’s not the social distancing, but track and tracing. It all takes up more time.

‘‘It will be a big relief to move to level 1, there’s no doubt about that. Hopefully things will go our way.’’

Soal wants plans for the transTasman bubble to be expedited.

Sopheze Cafe co-owner Vanessa Keen said they were also keen to get back to normal.

‘‘It is absolutely key to get back to normal. But, I have great customers and great staff so we’re confident the support is out there.’’

South Canterbury Primary Schools Principals Association chairman Steve Zonnevylle said schools were looking forward to the return of full assemblies.

South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wendy Smith said the move into level 1 will make an ‘‘absolutely massive’’ difference to businesses.