Sports stars Quade Cooper, Emily Seebohm spotted on Gold Coast as operators slam ‘smokescreen’ COVID-19 rules

Gold Coast restaurants and cafes are proving the place to be with big sports names out and about - but some operators have spoken out about new “smokescreen” COVID-19 restrictions.

Gold Coast hospitality spots are proving the place to be with big sports names out and about - but operators are not happy at “smokescreen” easing of restrictions.

Operators reported an upswing in patronage from Friday when new Stage 3 coronavirus safety restrictions came into effect from noon, allowing return of over-the-bar service.

Hospitality operators are cheering the fast-tracked changes unveiled by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last week but say it does not mean they can host more patrons despite the perception that was the case.

OTHER CORONAVIRUS NEWS

‘Chaos’ with major delays at state border’

Armageddon after ‘out of control’ border changes

Coast ‘unlocked and loaded’ for tourist return

As revealed last week, venues under 200 sq metres are now able to have one patron per two square metres instead of every four – but they are capped at 50 patrons.

Venues above 200 sq metres remain at one patron per four sq metres but no longer have to have defined “areas” within their venue space.

Surfers Paradise’s Elston Restaurant and Bar owner Matt Lucas said operators were doing “good across the board”.

Emily Seebohm pictured at Nineteen at the Star on the Gold Coast. Photo: Instagram

Quade Cooper at Rick Shores on the Gold Coast. Photo: Instagram

“Everybody was humming (on Saturday). July’s usually a pretty good month. We saw everything pick up at the weekend.

“Whether school holidays or restrictions lifting, it’s probably a bit of both.”

Surfers Paradise Beach Cafe owner Arthur de Snoo also reported a boost: “The last week has been pretty good actually and weekends have been really strong.

“It’s a hard comparison. Last year we had bad weather and beaches closed because of the rain. This year we have beautiful weather, that helps.”

WHAT YOU GET WITH A GOLD COAST BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTION

Quade Cooper and Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm shared social media snaps from Glitter Strip hotspots.

At Rick Shores, Burleigh, the rugby union star posted with real estate agent Ed Cherry and pal Dylan Brunt. Seebohm posted from Nineteen at The Star.

Broadbeach hospitality king Pat Gennari and White Rhino’s Matt Keegan in Surfers Paradise were both frustrated by the supposedly eased restrictions, saying it did not mean they could have more patrons on site.

Patrons are starting to fill Surfers Paradise restaurants. Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

Mr Gennari said his bar-restaurant The Loose Moose was still only allowed 80.

“For bigger restaurants it’s done us no justice. We’ve employed back three-quarters of staff, so that’s a good 30-40 people not on JobKeeper anymore.

“We’re still stuck to 80 people and the restaurant still looks empty.”

Mr Keegan said he was in the same boat as were other operators – still restricted to one patron per four square metres so limited to 100 patrons, the same as they were prior to Stage 3’s fast-tracking.

“Initially everyone was excited but that was a knee jerk reaction because it sounded like a change.

OTHER HOSPITALITY NEWS

Coast brewery ready to welcome back patrons

Millions to be spent reviving Coast’s economy

‘This makes you want to rebel’

“The only thing that has changed is you don’t have to have these separate sections and people can buy a drink at the bar – and that’s great, it’s more relaxed, but they can’t hang there, they still have to go back to their seats.

Some business owners say there’s still no improvement. Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

“It’s a smokescreen – they were changes without really making any changes.”

Last week, a spokesperson for Ms Palaszczuk said the roadmap to recovery flagged future consideration of extending the one patron per two sq metres rule and ongoing revision of restrictions on “high-risk” businesses and activities.”