Restaurants and cafes in Baw Baw Shire have had a difficult past 18 months with on again, off again COVID restrictions and closures of in-house dining.

Many have battled their way through providing take away meals.

They’ve now been giving a helping hand with the shire council establishing on online directory to help people find and choose local takeaway offerings.

“Baw Baw Eat and Explore” is an easy to use website with contact details and links to more than 130 takeaway food providers in 17 towns in all corners of the shire.

You can find them in Darnum, Erica, Jindivick, Narracan, Noojee, Piedmont, Rawson, Thorpdale, Walhalla and Willow Grove as well as Warragul, Drouin, Longwarry, Yarragon, Trafalgar and Neerim South.

The directory has been set up by Baw Baw council with the assistance of the State government to help support local hospitality businesses during the pandemic.

Council is also offering businesses takeaway picnic boxes to provide people with a chance to have a picnic at home.

Mayor Danny Goss said council wanted to support businesses in the shire that have shown resilience and innovation throughout the pandemic and encouraged residents to also show their support by buying locally wherever possible.

He said it had also streamlined approval of outdoor dining permits and temporarily waived fees.

The shire’s director of economic development Mark Kestigian said many owners of cafes and restaurants had seen providing takeaways as another opportunity to keep their customers happy and doors open.