Lockdown Ends with a Bang Bang!
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SouthCoastTaxi PHILLIP ISLAND & SAN REMO SouthCoastTaxi Your Community Voice! Wednesday, June 9, 2021 $1.40 Incl. GST Lockdown ends with a Bang Bang! Celebrating the end of the seven-day lockdown, Kellie McDonald and Kate Buchanan enjoyed a drink or two at Bang Bang in Cape Woolamai on Friday night. But it hasn’t been clear sailing for local business, with many reporting big losses from the snap lockdown, plus the stress of policing the new QR check in and ID requirements as restrictions ease. ID checks add to business Covid pain Local businesses say they have of up to $9913 that can be imposed could. But what do you do? Having “Our answer for the moment is to remain closed until June 11. been hit by a triple whammy, not on them,” said Robert, adding he had to prepare the place for a shutdown, keep serving our customers, but for “It simply isn’t viable to stay open only losing income from the latest been vaccinated, with the roll-out trying to fi nd income to pay wages, now it is takeaway only for everyone.” with a small prospect of new book- COVID-19 lockdown, but also losses critical to get the economy back. calling a full book of reservations to ings from regional residents trav- from the upcoming long weekend. “The hardest part of the QR/ID sys- cancel and possibly rebook is never Accommodation elling, which is basically our only And, they say, they risk facing hos- tem is having to deal with people not an easy task. Kaloha caravan park owner Mi- source of income or potential clients,” tile customers to enforce the state wanting to comply. “The fourth lockdown and it’s a chael Coghlan said they were forced Larson said, questioning why Victo- government’s mandated ID checks – “We are at the frontline and have to task not getting easier with practice.” to cancel all bookings for the lock- ria needed four lockdowns. which ensure no Melbourne visitors bear the brunt of people’s frustration San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op man- down, with a total loss of about He said their group bookings had a to rural Victoria – or get slapped with and rudeness.” ager Paul Mannix said while they $10,000, not including the subsequent lead time of at least three weeks, so a fi ne of almost $10,000. He said while most customers com- were excited to again open their retail weekend and the Queen’s Birthday. the one-week lockdown would take Last week the Phillip Island Busi- plied, a few refused and took “their shop, they “immediately encountered “So far bookings for guests from re- them up to six weeks to recover “in ness Network announced they would frustrations out on the staff”. problems and confusion” when ask- gional Victoria are very slow coming any meaningful way”. hold a subsidised Working with Ag- “We do not accept this and ask the ing for IDs and travel permits. through. I think people are a bit hesi- Larson commented that $2500 of gressive and Challenging Behaviours people to leave. We have absolutely “We have had metro residents say- tant to book anything due to possible government support was “like a band workshop on June 23 and 24, to help lost business because of our “no de- ing they have a holiday house here lockdown extensions,” Michael said. aid” and it was disappointing region- businesses with irate customers. tails no service policy.” It’s not worth and demand to dine in,” Paul said. He said staff were checking guests’ al Victoria was excluded from further Since the easing of restrictions in risking the safety of others and the “Regional residents were annoyed address and would be asking for funding. rural Victoria last Friday, Melbourne fi ne not to comply.” we have asked them for proof of resi- proof of address such as drivers’ li- The Waves Apartments in Cowes residents were not allowed to travel to Robert said despite trying to mi- dence and then walked out. Others have cence on arrival. spokeswoman said they had “zero the regions, including over the com- nimise food wastage with the snap claimed they have lost their permits. “Hopefully guests will be happy to bookings, zero work”, also with 95 ing Queen’s Birthday long weekend. lockdown announcement, they had “When we have refused service oblige with this,” he added. per cent cancellations. Cheeky Goose owner Robert van nonetheless lost thousands of dollars with no ID customers get irate.” Larson Henderson, owner of The “It’s a situation no one wants to be den Brink urged visitors “to please and regional businesses should be Paul said they were forced to reas- Island Accommodation at Newhav- in but could be far worse if we don’t help” and comply with regulations. eligible for grant money. sess and had to quickly adapt, closing en, said he had been forced to cancel get this wave under control,” she said, “Business cannot afford the fi nes “We tried to cancel whatever we seated service. 95 per cent of bookings and so would Continued page 6 SOUTH COAST 10 %OFF Rugs Huge range instore Check out our rug studio SOLAR POWER now available to each unit for battery charging. No extra cost. LK00006AB 155 Thompson Ave, Cowes 52-54 Thompson Ave, Cowes www.southcoastfurnishings.com.au PH: 5952 6633 Ph: 5952 1488 THE ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, JUNE , 1 obrienrealestate.com.au/cowes 5952 5100 Wed/June9 Thur/June10 Fri/June11 Sat/June12 Sun/June13 Mon/June14 Tue/June15 SHOWERS. VERY WINDY SHOWERS. VERY WINDY PARTLY CLOUDY CLOUDY PARTLY CLOUDY PARTLY CLOUDY SHOWER OR TWO 7 day weather forecast 714 815 916 916 915 914 9 13 POLICE BRIEFS Arrow alarm on vacant properties. Aquatic drop in “If they see anything Police are investigat- odd, then they can no- ing reports of archery tify us.” arrows being fired in Thieves stole $13,000 the Sunderland Bay worth of tools from the area. garage of a property Senior Sergeant Andy on The Esplanade at sessions changed O’Brien said the first re- around 3am on Friday Due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions, rums and more times and places to have June 9 will be held online between 9am ported incident was on morning. Bass Coast Shire Council has made some their say,” Ms Wastie said. and 1pm. During the session, on each half May 1 on Anglers Road, The police have CCTV changes to the upcoming drop-in ses- “We are happy to provide an extra drop- hour, a Council officer will explain the where someone report- footage of two men ap- sions on the Bass Coast and Phillip Island in session at the Phillip Island Leisure concept plans in detail and then provide ed noticing something proaching the building aquatic and leisure centre feasibility stud- Centre, tentatively booked for Wednes- attendees the opportunity to ask ques- flash past. and trying to knock out ies and concept plans. day, June 23, depending on restrictions at tions and provide their thoughts. “A canvas of the area the camera. The session planned for Wednesday, that time. We will inform the community To join the online session, go to www. provided anecdotal evi- Anyone with informa- June 9 at the Phillip Island Leisure Centre of the time and date of this session once it basscoast.vic.gov.au/about-council/news- dence,” he said, noting tion please contact De- will now be held online. can be confirmed. listing/changes-to-aquatics-drop-in-ses- that it appeared similar tective Paul Burns from The face-to-face drop-in session at “As I’m sure it can be appreciated, it is sions and click on the link to the session instances had occurred the Bass Coast Crimi- the Phillip Island Leisure Centre (10-12 a difficult time to plan ahead, due to the you’d like to attend. on other dates. nal Investigation Unit Church Street) on Saturday, 12 June from uncertain nature of COVID-19 and the as- The session originally scheduled at “Obviously we are on 5671 4190, contact 9am to 1pm will still go ahead unless fur- sociated restrictions.” Wonthaggi – Bass Coast Aquatic and very concerned about Crime Stoppers on 1800 ther restrictions come into effect. Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Brett Tes- Leisure Centre, on June 2 has been post- the possible implica- 333 000 or crimestop- Bass Coast CEO, Ali Wastie said Coun- sari said it is important to remain flexible poned to June 16 from 9am – 1pm. The ses- tions of this behaviour persvic.com.au. cil hoped to schedule another face-to-face and adaptable through these challenging sion scheduled for June 19 will go ahead and require anyone date for Cowes later in the month. times. as planned unless restrictions change. with information to Cactus thief “The online session was created on June “We want to ensure that we provide the If you can’t make it to one of these ses- contact us or Crime Thieves have struck 9 to allow the community to have their say community with the best opportunity to sions, feedback can also be provided by Stoppers. again – cutting cactus during COVID-19 restrictions, as we’re have their say on aquatics, as engagement filling out the survey at www.basscoast. “Someone must be plants from the front of conscious that the community may have with the community and stakeholders in vic.gov.au/aquatics or by providing a aware of a person or per- the Beaumont Building already set aside that time in their diaries the project is considered crucial and feed- written submission to aquatics@bass- sons who own or have Design office in Marine to attend, so we still wanted to provide the back received will be critical in shaping coast.vic.gov.au.