Dine and Discover vouchers: Dubbo locals can apply now

After waiting for months, western NSW residents now have 100 more reasons to smile and businesses say they’re ready for an expected surge in trade.

Residents in western NSW can now apply to get a meal at their favourite pub, club, cafe or restaurant paid for by the state government after the Dine and Discovery voucher scheme started rolling out locally on Tuesday.

Adults aged 18 and up will get $50 to spend on dining out and $50 on discovering entertainment and recreation attractions, as part of the government’s attempt to help businesses recover from a year which included COVID restrictions and devastating natural disasters.

Magnolia Cafe owner Judy Newton and staff member Mel Rolfe. Picture: Ryan Young

Four vouchers worth $25 each will be given to eligible applicants to spend at businesses who’ve signed up the Dine and Discover scheme. A maximum of two Dine and two Discovery vouchers are available per adult and they are not able to be spent on alcohol, gambling or tobacco.

The vouchers can be spent any day of the week, except on public holidays and they have to be used up by June 30.

Applications can be made via the Service NSW website or by calling 13 77 88 or visiting a Service NSW Centre.

Dubbo hospitality businesses have welcomed the voucher scheme. Picture: iStock

Judy Newton, the owner of the Magnolia Cafe in Dubbo, said she signed up to get her vouchers and hoped to see more customers in the months ahead.

“We’ve seen a decline in people coming out,” she said.

“We’ve lost that clientele that were regulars that were here all the time, meeting friends, meeting family from out of town and that sort of thing … people have gone back to meeting in their homes more.

“It’s a great opportunity to get people back out, they can see that everything is set up safe and it’s okay to come back out again.”

After standing down half of her workforce at the height of the COVID pandemic, Ms Newton said her workforce was back up to full strength but challenges remain.

“We’ve still got an additional workload to be compliant so I think something like the Dine and Discover vouchers are really going to help the hospitality industry which has probably been one of the hardest hit.”

The Dine and Discovery vouchers can be used at participating businesses.

A Service NSW spokeswoman said anyone unable to apply for a voucher would be able to do so by the end of March.

“Customers will receive an email letting them know when it’s their turn to apply for their vouchers or they can use a simple eligibility checker online using their address,” she said.

“The statewide rollout is contained to a few weeks so residents all over the state will have their vouchers soon.

“To ensure a seamless customer experience for all eligible NSW residents, the rollout is being staggered by local government area … this tiered approach will ensure millions of customers across the state will be able to apply for and redeem their vouchers easily.”

Vouchers can be used at Reading Cinemas in Dubbo. Picture: Emily Hayne

Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo is part of the Discover voucher scheme. Picture: Toby Zerna