By Renee Wood
Lockdown six continuing into September with no road out for many businesses is yet another tough path for Yarra Valley businesses to follow.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced a roadmap on easing some restrictions for when 70 per cent of Victorians have received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, but there was little to smooth the sour taste of spring starting in lockdown for many industries.
The roadmap included a ten kilometre travel limit, skate parks and outdoor gym equipment opening, two person personal training sessions, private unoccupied real estate inspections and construction sites going to 50 per cent capacity if 90 per cent of staff have had the jab.
Mr Andrews said other things could also be added to the eased restrictions if inline with health advice.
“We will look at a range of other things in the intervening three weeks, we will look at other outdoor rec activities that can be done safely,” he said.
“I don’t have a list, we’re going to work through those things carefully, and if there are other things we can add to that list for the 23rd of September we will.”
Willow and Jackson café owner Steph Deveson said she was disappointed hospitality wasn’t looked at.
“I can’t open and I can’t see what the future is going to look like and I just assume that we’re not going to open until November at the rate we’re going,” Ms Deveson said.
The Yarra Valley’s flourishing wedding sector was also left at the altar with no plan insight.
Immerse Vineyard owner Katie Myles said a lot of sole traders are struggling and unable to access government support.
“It would be great if they [State Government] could give us more industry specific information about what things will look like once we do reach 70 and 80 per cent second dose vaccination rates. With that, we can properly prepare for when we can open back up again,” Ms Myles said.
“The lockdown extension is another huge blow to our business, but I don’t really know what else we could have expected given the situation we are in.”
The Premier did suggest on Friday 3 September, the government and health officials are considering early luxuries for those who are fully vaccinated such as sporting events and outdoor dining.
However, tourism and travelling freely is what most Yarra Valley businesses will be looking for.
“We’ve been really reliant on tourism because of the size of our cafe and we are a 70 seater café and we can take big groups and trade really well off travelers, so we do really need tourism back,” Ms Deveson said.
Grandma’s Gift Shoppe Imogen Renouf said many visitors come to the region in spring.
“Because the weather’s nicer it brings a lot more people to town and it’s normally a lot busier. Definitely this time and heading up to Christmas is definitely the most popular time of the year,” Ms Renouf said.
“On average now we are selling $200 and that’s just not going to pay any bills or employees, anything really. We need the outer community to come in, so we get sales.”
For now, businesses are relying solely on local trade and they’re very grateful for the community’s support.
“The locals have been incredible, I don’t know how they’re doing what they’re doing. They’re out every day supporting every single café, trying a different cafe every day. So we’ve been really lucky,” Ms Deveson said.
