Charlotte Varcoe
BUSINESSES which have been affected by the most recent Covid-19 restrictions have begun to receive cash grants from the State Government this week.
Grants of up to $22,000 are available for gyms, hospitality and tourism industries following strict density requirements increasing prior to the new year.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall announced the grants late last week with liquor licences also waived and tax deferrals for businesses impacted by the restrictions.
Mount Gambier Commercial Hotel manager Bronwyn Hills said, although the grants would assist businesses impacted, the government was not doing enough to support the hospitality industry.
“These restrictions have been a nightmare and it is the quietest we have ever been here,” Ms Hills said.
“The grants from the government are okay but it won’t go very far, especially when we have tourists coming in through the day and very few people coming in at night.”
Ms Hills said since the virus had spread throughout the region, locals had also been coming into the business less and less.
“We are seeing less and less locals and I would think that is because people would rather stay at home at the moment which is understandable,” she said.
“We are just surviving and it is concerning but more so for the staff because if it gets any quieter I am going to have to have less staff on.”
Ms Hills said restrictions needed to be relaxed to further support industries across the state and called for the government to better organise Covid testing stations.
“The government has really hit hospitality hard and we have even had to cancel our live music for the rest of the month because of density requirements,” she said.
Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce president Hayley Neumann said she was sure businesses would be grateful for the financial support.
“Unfortunately the employees who have been affected have no financial support as yet and with a highly casual workforce, less capacity means less customers and the flow on is less staff required,” Ms Neumann said.
“This has a huge impact on the whole community.
“I once again really feel for business owners at the moment in the service, retail, tourism and hospitality industries.”
