New restrictions will be ‘difficult’ for business owners

How the new restrictions will challenge our local cafe owners and publicans.

Inside the newly renovated Heritage Hotel

DESPITE restrictions easing to allow businesses to serve limited customer, a Dalby pub owner has said it may not even be viable to open his doors for another few months.

Pubs and restaurants will be allowed to let in up to 10 patrons dine-in from this Saturday but a local community leader believes restrictions should be eased even more because the Western Downs has had fewer Covid-19 cases.

Owner of the Criterion Hotel Ben O'Callaghan said that he may not be able to open his doors on Saturday because of the restrictions on the number of patrons allowed in pubs and cafes.

"Only allowing 10 people at one time isn't financially viable," he said.

"It's not worth it."

Before the new lockdown rules were introduced in March, The Criterion could allow more people in even with the four square metre limit.

Mr O'Callaghan said that he would have to look into the restrictions more and weigh up the costs before he decides whether to open up this weekend.

Before the new, stricter restrictions came into play, the pub could hold 100 people in the beer garden, 40 people in the bar and 55 people in the restaurant while maintaining social distancing.

He believes restricting patrons to 10 may just mean a loss of money to open for venues like his.

"It's a blanket rule that will suit little cafes and hotels in country towns," he said.

There will need to be more people allowed in before the Criterion can considering opening its doors again.

Since lockdowns were forced on businesses in March, The Criterion has been offering takeaway meals to keep staff employed and money coming in.

Mr O'Callaghan said a lot of the demand for takeaway meals has come from people staying in hotels.

Dalby Chamber of Commerce president Rohan May said the new restrictions would be "difficult" for local businesses to follow.

"I can't envisage how one of our local pubs could work with restricting it to 10 people," Mr May said.

"It really is going to be difficult logistically."

Mr May said smaller establishments like golf clubs would do well under the changed restrictions, however larger establishments like pubs, restaurants and cafes may struggle.

There have not been any confirmed cases in Dalby yet but Miles reported a case in March from a returned traveller and a case in Chinchilla in early April.

There were two reported cases in Oakey in March.

Mr May believes rural areas should have restrictions eased earlier because of the lower population density and distance from major epicentres, but said Dalby has fared well under the old restrictions.

"Dalby is lucky that it has not suffered the same place as other places in the world," he said.

"We've got to reflect on where we could've been."

Because the Western Downs Region is not classified as "outback" according to the State Government, it will adhere to the same restrictions as most other areas in the state.

Pubs in the outback can seat up to 20 people however patrons must prove that they are residents of the local area.

People in the outback are not permitted to travel outside of the outback though even if travelling less than 150km.

Mr May hopes life will soon return to normal, and the community will be able to enjoy the luxuries they have been without for the last few months.

"I think everybody in the community is looking forward to having a coffee or a dine in meal," he said.

"I think it goes doubly so for pubs."

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