COVID Bondi cluster: Fresh blow for businesses in fight to survive

Businesses in the eastern suburbs have been dealt a fresh blow with the postponement of a leading event as they continue to grapple with the area’s latest COVID outbreak.

UPDATE

The Bondi Festival has now been postponed until at least Thursday, July 1.

Waverley Council has also cancelled its school holiday programs until at least Wednesday after which they will be reassessed.

Seniors events including those in Waverley Library and programs at the Margaret Whitlam Centre are also cancelled.

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos said it is critical we all play our part in stopping the spread of this highly infectious Delta variant.

“It is disappointing that we can’t launch our flagship events such as the Bondi Festival, and the popular school holiday programs as we planned, but it is critical that we all play our part,” Mayor Masselos said.

“The testing clinics at Hollywood Avenue Bondi Junction (open 8am-10pm daily) and at Bondi Beach (open 7.30am to 10pm daily) continue to operate extended hours and we urge people to take NSW Health advice and get tested.”

EARLIER

Business owners in the eastern suburbs are fearing the worst with the Bondi cluster outbreak leading to a drastic fall in trade.

Venues, stores, cafes and restaurants have gradually emptied over the last week as fears and now restrictions have limited visitors.

In a fresh blow to local traders it has been announced that the annual Bondi Festival has also been postponed.

Hairstylist Kristina Parker, of Hairline Bondi Salon, said the drop in hair appointments this week has been “very scary”.

“It's almost like last year in April,” she said. “Nobody came in. Right now I’m here in an empty salon and I’ve got no bookings today.”

Health workers are seen at Bondi Beach Drive-through COVID-19 Clinic on June 23. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

She said Thursdays were normally a busy day, especially in the lead up to school holidays.

“Usually before the school holidays it’s very busy because people want to look good before they go away,” she said.

Ms Parker, who lives in Bondi, said the area has completely changed as a result of the recent cluster outbreak.

“The cafe across the road is usually buzzing but today there are few tables and there is hardly anyone there,” she said.

“It feels like it's gone back to last year.

“The uncertainty for everybody is the scariest thing.”

Ms Parker, who is originally from Austria, said she wanted to ensure clients her salon is COVID-safe and that she’s been vaccinated.

Kristina Parker from Hairline Bondi. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

Over in Coogee it is a similar story.

Jessy Duong, who works at Bohaus Cafe in Coogee, said fewer customers have come to dine because they have had to reduce their tables from eight to four.

While she said people have continued to come in for takeaway, she said there’s a lot of uncertainty about how the next week will pan out.

“We're not sure about the next couple of days,” she said. “We are maybe going to have fewer customers with the school holidays.”

With Coogee Public School being nearby, she said they rely on children and their parents to frequent the cafe before and after school.

However, she said the numbers had dropped considerably in recent days.

“Fewer kids came in this morning. We didn't have many,” she said.

A general view of the Bondi Beach Drive-through COVID-19 Clinic with long lines stretching along Campbell Parade on June 23. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Ms Duong urged locals to support the cafe by getting takeaway.

She added she had no concerns about working.

“I worked here in the last lockdown so I feel it’s fine,” she said.

Across at Speedos Cafe in Bondi, co-manager Matthew Dan said the takeaway trade had picked up in recent days.

Speedos Cafe in Bondi Beach. Picture: Facebook

He said: “People are less likely to want to dine and mingle with the local outbreak.”

He added that Bondi had been “pretty quiet” since the first case of the fresh cluster, adding “it affects Bondi as a whole.”

Mr Dan said a COVID testing clinic was close to the cafe and he was glad to see a lot of people getting tested.

“The clinic is quite busy. Everyone's doing the right thing,” he said.

He urged locals to remember the cafe is still open.

“Everyone keep safe and do the right thing. We would love to see you come and still support us,“ he said.

The fall in visitors appears to be consistent further south down in Maroubra with the popular Pool Cafe reporting a big drop off in numbers.

“It has really hit us hard,”one worker said.

“In the last two days it has died down because everyone has been more scared about Covid, and not coming out, which is totally understandable.”

Matthew Dan (centre) said it was encouraging to see so many people getting tested. Picture Rohan Kelly.

Bondi & Districts Chamber of Commerce President Emmanuel Constantinou said: “Businesses in Bondi have been quick to respond to the health advice and are complying with all government directions.”

“We've been through this before. Our business community is resilient and we’re confident we’ll band together again and get through this.

“Please support local business. It's as easy as buying a coffee, a book, or a bottle of wine when you go on your walk,” he added.

Mayor Paula Masselos said at this stage the event would be postponed until Tuesday.

This of course leaves businesses without what is usually a bumper first weekend of the school holidays bolstered by the Bondi Festival crowd.

A man walks along the front as hundreds of cars queue up for testing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

“Anyone who has purchased tickets for events or activities that were scheduled to be held this Friday 25 June through to Monday 28 June will be contacted directly by the Festival team to arrange a refund,” Ms Masselos said.

“Council will continue to monitor all health advice regarding this latest COVID outbreak and will make further adjustments to our programming if necessary.

“Bondi Festival has a COVID-safety plan in place including capacity limits in line with the current public health orders, QR code check-in and increased cleaning and hygiene measures.

“COVID-safe events are currently permitted in Sydney and the decision to delay the start of the Festival was made by Council in the interests of the community, our performers, and stakeholders.

“We thank the community for continuing to support our local Arts industry and local businesses and will post any updates as they come to hand.”

Meanwhile, SheCamp Group Fitness owner and director Susie Purcell, who runs group fitness classes in Maroubra and Sydney Park, said her business had largely been unaffected.

“It has not really impacted us as yet because we are an outdoor group fitness business,” she said.

She said she had carried on the safety protocols she implemented during the height of the Covid outbreak last year. That includes wiping down equipment after every use and pacing out cones so all the women are at least 4sqm apart when they lay down their mats and exercise.

She added she rolled out Zoom sessions as part of her business last year, following the initial outbreak of Covid.

“We still use Zoom on wet weather days and that will be the plan if we go into any kind of lockdown in the future, which will allow people to keep doing (their fitness classes).”

A Pool Cafe staff member, who did not want to be named, said their cafe in Maroubra had been impacted this week with fewer customers.

“It has really hit us hard because there has been less customers coming in,” she said.

“In the last two days it has died down because everyone has been more scared about Covid, and not coming out, which is totally understandable.”

She said while the restrictions, such as 4sqm per customer, did impact the business they were more than happy to abide by the rules if it kept everyone safe.

She added the cafe made sure everyone was wearing a mask when they came into the store.