Hotels Association calls for swift easing of capacity limits

Business groups have welcomed the first step out of lockdown, but are hoping for a swift easing of ongoing restrictions.

Thousands of hospitality operators, retailers and small business owners are hoping for a swift path out of lockdown as they prepare to reopen their doors on Wednesday.

While many feared a return to strict level four restrictions, food and hospitality operators won a reprieve on Monday, with confirmation that drinks and dining would be allowed for seated customers both outdoors and indoors.

However the new mix of level three and level four restrictions includes a return to a one person per 4sq m, or 25 per cent, density cap at venues.

Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Ian Horne welcomed Monday’s announcement, but urged the state government to lift that cap as soon as possible.

“We’re on the journey back, back to something like viability,” he said.

“South Australia has done a fantastic job in containing the outbreak so that we don’t have any community transmission at all, and we think that should be the catalyst for a plan to get us back to 50 per cent (capacity) as soon as possible, because it’s only then that we can start to restore many of the jobs.”

The new restrictions, which also allow retailers, gyms, cinemas, hairdressers and beauty businesses to reopen under a range of conditions, are likely to be in place for at least one week.

Mr Horne is urging the government to assess venue capacity limits in the coming days, with the hope that a further easing follows as part of the next stage of economic recovery.

“We’d say let’s work through this week, and we’re grateful that we’re back up and running, but the longer 25 per cent goes on, the more money operators lose and the more disengaged our employees get,” he said.

“No one would be viable at 25 per cent - many venues will choose not to open, many venues will see it as mechanism to try and keep some of their staff engaged and some of their customers engaged, but it would be foolhardy to suggest that anyone could be viable at 25 per cent.

“This has be a priority for the transition committee and the government, as it is for us, that we get hospitality back to 50 per cent, hopefully by next week, and then realistically if there is still no community transmission, then 75 per cent has to be a legitimate target sooner rather than later.”

Western Australia’s hospitality venues returned to 100 per cent capacity last week, less than three weeks after a four-day lockdown in that state, and Mr Horne is hopeful of a similar roadmap in South Australia.

Meanwhile, all construction sites will be allowed to re-open on Wednesday, but singing, dancing and shisha bar restrictions will continue to be enforced.

Employees who are able to work from home are being encouraged to do so for another week.

Business SA director of policy and advocacy Andrew McKenna said additional support was needed for businesses facing ongoing restrictions.

“It’s great news that the lockdown won’t get extended, but if material ongoing restrictions are required for sectors like hospitality and fitness to protect everyone, this should be accompanied by additional financial support for business owners and their employees,” he said.

Likuid Espresso chef Giuseppe Nasti is relieved that the lockdown is set to be lifted. Picture: Tom Huntley

CBD cafe Likuid Espresso has continued to trade during the lockdown, serving takeaway coffee and meals under reduced operating ours.

Chef Giuseppe Nasti said Monday’s announcement was a relief for the business and for other traders in the city.

“We are definitely happy to hear that there’s a very high chance of the lockdown being lifted, and we can only pray and be thankful that it happens - hopefully after that people start to come back to work,” he said.

“These things are outside of our control and all we can do is adapt and do the best we can for our customers and the community.”