Regional politicians and businesses call for localised response to Covid outbreaks

Would a Covid case in regional SA spark a lockdown of Adelaide? It’s the question on business owners’ lips as they shut their doors for an outbreak hundred of kilometres away.

Regional South Australians are divided as the state enters a seven day lockdown in response to a Covid-19 outbreak in Adelaide.

Businesses hundreds of kilometres from the hotspot were forced to shut their doors at midnight before Premier Steven Marshall announced further statewide restrictions on Tuesday.

Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell called for a more localised response to Covid outbreaks saying the regional South Australians cannot be forced to lockdown every time there was a case in metropolitan Adelaide.

“A whole-of-state lockdown is a one-size-fits-all approach and although I commend the community safety element, continued lockdowns are having a devastating impact on businesses, people and communities who are just trying to live and work as normal,” he said.

Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell called for regional SA to be allowed to resume business as usual. Picture: Supplied Troy Bell

“You have to ask whether a case in regional South Australia would spark a lockdown of metropolitan Adelaide – there needs to be a better way to deal with this virus.”

Mr Bell also renewed his calls for regional representation in the decision making process including the appointment of a Cross Border Commissioner.

“It’s clear our state government does not grasp the importance of this role,” he said.

“There are thousands of people who live in South Australia’s border communities and they are just as important as the people who live in metropolitan Adelaide.

“My phone has rung hot today with business owners and employees scrambling for information literally hours before the lockdown deadline, asking me if they fall into the classification of an essential worker.

“This needs to be clarified and communicated before it comes into effect.”

Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council Mayor Wayne Thomas said he understood the need for a statewide lockdown.

“I guess it‘s an issue around the Riverland if you look at the Riverland and Tailem Bend as well as the latest cluster,” he said.

“Personally I was actually going to go to the Berri Hotel tomorrow, there‘s a lot of movement, particularly this year, people are caravanning around extensively.

“Particularly because Clare has become a destination over the last six months it’s important we knock this outbreak on the head.”

Mr Thomas said locals were fortunate to have more space during lockdowns.

“We’re very lucky to have a bit more room ordinarily, even those that live in town tend to have bigger plots than our city counterparts, our heart goes out to those in close confinement.”

RETAIL

Lisa Attard owns three retail businesses – two in Mount Gambier while a third has been plunged into its fifth Victorian lockdown.

Describing Tuesday’s announcement as a “knee jerk reaction” she was frustrated “blanket rules” were again impacting regional businesses far removed from an outbreak.

Lima & Co store manager Angela Lardner, florist manager Bertie Beets and owner Lisa Attard prepare for lockdown in Mount Gambier. Picture: Jessica Ball

“Adelaide particularly is very quick to forget about the regional areas when it comes to funding, when it comes to other support, but they’re happy to include us in their lockdowns,” Ms Attard said.

“The reality is they have no idea what goes on in regional areas and what it means to be a cross border community and what it means for people to not be able to see their families.”

With 25 staff across the stores including Mount Gambier’s Lima & Co and the newly opened Fifth & Madison, Ms Attard said keeping people in jobs was a weight on her shoulders.

“It’s your locally, privately owned businesses that are always the ones that seem to get shut down first,” she said.

“Let’s not be unrealistic the longer this goes on, something’s got to give, one of the stores is probably going to eventually have to go if this continues, which means jobs have to go.

“Last May, we were dealing with something a little bit more unknown than what we know now, New South Wales, Victoria had more cases, and we still traded with our doors closed, we did non-contact delivery … we could still earn an income to keep the store viable to be able to pay our full time staff.

“Now, I feel like we’re in a better position and they’re doing a sharp seven day lockdown.”

After only opening three months ago, Port Lincoln-based EP Pilates studio owner, Tori Masters, is closing up shop to comply with South Australia’s lockdown.

EP Pilates Studio owner Tori Masters. Picture: Supplied

Gyms and fitness studios were the first amongst a string of business closures that commenced as of 12.00am Tuesday morning.

“We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. The clients are okay about it, a little bit sad but they understand,” Ms Masters said.

For now the seven days doesn’t worry Ms Masters too much, and she knows she has the support of the community behind her upon reopening.

“People are really community focused and loyal in Lincoln,” she said.

“They’ll support where they can, they’ll go to the little bakery and a coffee shop and their local Pilates and they’ll do their bit to help out the community.

“A few people are a bit confused about the mask wearing because we just haven’t had that in Lincoln before.”

During last years Covid outbreak marine tour operator Adventure Bay Charters lost 60 per cent of their customers when international travel was brought to a sudden halt.

The business lost $70,000 in revenue and relied on JobSeeker to keep their staff and business afloat.

Since the return of domestic travel in July last year, Dylan Swincer, Sales and Office Manager of Adventure Bay Charters says they have seen a “huge increase” in domestic travel.

“April / May [last year] we were closed due to Covid and weren’t really able to operate. Then we really started to focus on SA travel and so did the SATC,” he said.

Until Tuesday’s lockdown announcement, the company was experiencing one of their most successful periods of operation since opening.

“Looking at say July last year to now, we have seen a humungous growth on pretty much all of our tours. It has been one of the best years my boss has had in 14 years,” Mr Swincer said.

The future of the business now lies in the hands of Port Lincoln tour company, Calypso Star Charters, who bought out owner Matt Waller only a week ago.

Calypso are handling all bookings from August 1.

HOSPITALITY

Sid King the owner of Tanunda restaurant 1918 said the speed of restrictions has been difficult to keep track of.

“As a restaurant you need lots of notice for this sort of thing or you get caught out with lots of perishable food that can go to waste,” Mr King said.

“Yesterday we were getting prepared to only operate as a takeaway restaurant, but it was unclear from this announcement that we could keep operating after six.

“If people can get takeaway food, why was that not mentioned in the reasons you can leave the home?”