Straddie businesses call for state to reveal 90% vax plan as school holidays end

The state is due to hit 90 per cent vaccination rate this week as school holidays finish but businesses on North Stradbroke Island say they have been left in the dark.

Businesses on North Stradbroke Island have called for the state government to release a road map for them to follow after the double vaccination rate hits 90 per cent.

Chief health officer John Gerrard said yesterday the plan would be unveiled “very soon” adding he was jumping the gun to reveal students would be forced to wear masks when school returns on February 7.

Stradbroke Island Chamber of Commerce said all businesses on the island were desperate to know what mandates and regulations would come into force when the state hit the 90 per cent milestone, expected before March.

Straddie chamber president Colin Battersby said island hospitality businesses had had “a hell of a time” since the border reopened in December with Omicron ripping through the place forcing many to open only to close again as staff got sick or were close contacts.

He said island businesses were demanding access to free rapid antigen tests, the expanded list of essential industries; and financial support for businesses forced to close directly due to public health directions.

Mr Battersby said with school holidays ending this week, small businesses were fearing a trade melt down, labelling it as a “shadow lockdown”.

Businesses on Stradbroke Island want a blue print for operating after the state reaches 90 per cent vaccination rate.

“Everyone has closed multiple times because staff were either sick or deemed close contacts,” he said.

“My business, Fishes Restaurant, will be closed until I can find two more chefs as the others leave after the weekend.

“Many are open but nowhere near full capacity offering takeaway instead of dine-in, limited menus and reduced hours.

“At Fishes, due to the vaccine mandate and a general malaise among visitors, we have been limited to takeaway only since December 17.

“Consumers are behaving like we are still in lockdown and are limiting where they go and what they do. It’s a shadow lockdown.

“Everyone is open this week but at a reduced capacity.

“That will change next week when school holidays end.”

On Sunday, NSW, unlike Queensland, unveiled a $1bn support package for businesses hit by the Omicron outbreak.

The NSW deal will provide payroll support to businesses with turnover of between $75,000 and $50m.

Businesses on Stradbroke Island are operating at half capacity with most offering takeaway only.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland data showed one in five Queensland businesses reported a critical constraint on their ability to maintain normal operational hours or service delivery since December.

In November, the state promised hospitality and entertainment businesses that vaccine in the workplace mandates would be reviewed when Queensland hit the 90% double-vaccinated target.

On the weekend, the state’s double vaccination rate was 89.4 percent with 3,564,136 total doses administered.

Straddie businesses which have reduced hours or temporarily closed due to staff shortages include:

■ Fishes at the Point

■ Stradbroke Hotel

■ Kokomo Beach House

■ Blue Room Cafe

■ Loaves/Dunwich Bakery

■ Discover Stradbroke housekeeping

■ Straddie Eats

■ Point Lookout Roadhouse

■ Stans Beer and Chicken

■ Straddie Sharks Club

■ Little Ships Club

Originally published as Straddie businesses call for state to reveal 90% vax plan as school holidays end