Covid-19 hospitality closures: Sunshine Coast cafes, restaurants hit

Hospitality leaders say it was “only a matter of time” until restaurants would shut down as Covid-19 test result delays and isolation rules are crippling the industry.

Tegan Annett

@tegan_annett

3 min read

January 4, 2022 - 2:09PM

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Sunshine Coast

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Hospitality businesses forecast losses of tens of thousands of dollars as staff are forced into isolation while Covid-19 cases soar across Noosa and the Sunshine Coast.

Some of the region’s most popular restaurants and surf clubs have closed or reduced hours, losing trade amid borders reopening and an influx of tourists, with industry leaders labelling it a “disaster”.

January was forecast to be a bumper tourist season with direct flights from New Zealand, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne returning and reduced Covid-19 testing requirements for interstate travellers.

But the spread of the virus has compounded previous challenges of industry-wide staffing shortages due to the lack of international workers and having to comply with new vaccine mandates.

Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club closed for several days and the Sunshine Beach club has closed its dinner trade – losing sales of up to 800 meals a day and more in perished ingredients.

General manager Julie Strudwick said that out of the club’s 54 bar staff, only eight were able to work.

She said her focus was on ensuring staff did not “burn out” and reached out to surf life saving members for anyone who wanted casual work.

Sunshine Beach Surf Club general manager Julie Strudwick was forced to close the club's dinner trade due to a lack of staff. She is pictured with Darren Sandilands, restaurant caterer. Picture: Patrick Woods

“It has heavily impacted us but we’re trying to keep positive – because otherwise it will have an even greater emotional impact,” she said.

Theo’s Social Club at the Noosa Junction closed on January 2 after three of their seven staff were in isolation.

Owner Madeleine Campbell said with such a small team the loss of even one staff member was huge.

She estimated losses of up to $30,000.

Prominent Sunshine Coast restaurateur Tony Kelly stopped trading at Market Bistro on Sundays and Mondays and Riceboi on Mondays.

He said the financial impact was in the tens of thousands.

Sunshine Coast restauranter Tony Kelly closed Riceboi on Mondays and Market Bistro on Sundays and Mondays. Picture: Tegan Annett

He said the challenges would continue while there was little access to rapid tests and delays of up to five days to receiving test results.

“One thing is for certain, we’re following the same trajectory as what Sydney and Melbourne experienced three months ago, and I hope someone is talking to them about how to mitigate the damage,” Mr Kelly said.

While the change to the definition of a close contact helped – where only household members or people who have spent more than four hours with an infected person are deemed a close contact – Mr Kelly said it was too late.

Popular Noosa Heads restaurant Bistro C has closed its breakfast trade due to staff shortages.

Mooloolaba Wharf co-owner Dirk Long said it was only a matter of time before more restaurants closed.

Coolum Surf Life Saving Club employed a security guard – at a cost of about $5000 a week – to assist staff in asking for vaccination proof.

Mr Long said any closure was concerning because cafes and restaurants relied on January trade to get through the quieter months.

“It’s a bit of a disaster … there’s not one venue that’s not struggling,” he said.

Dirk Long said any closure or reduction in hours was a big concern. Picture: Melanie McNiven

“Once you start cutting days of the week you’ll see those black numbers become red pretty quickly.”

Some government support is still available for small businesses including cleaning rebates and relief for fees and charges for tourism and hospitality providers.

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments are also offered to workers unable to earn an income due to self-isolating, quarantining or caring for someone with Covid-19.

Visit Sunshine Coast chief executive Matt Stoeckel said it was concerning given restaurants, breweries and entertainment venues were a key part of the region’s tourism offer.

Ninth Street at The Wharf, Mooloolaba, has reduced to takeaway only.

Work is underway between the tourism body and Sunshine Coast Council to attract more young workers to help alleviate the labour shortage.

Mr Stoeckel said the “gap year this year” campaign targeted young workers who wanted to enjoy a working holiday on the Sunshine Coast during peak season.

Meanwhile the National Retailer’s Association is calling for free rapid antigen Covid tests and a solution to the hours-long testing lines.

The Queensland Department of Tourism, Queensland Health, federal health and treasury departments referred the Daily’s questions to other government departments.