Chapel St traders call on government to lift lockdown
Desperate traders along Melbourne’s iconic Chapel St have made an emotional plea to Premier Daniel Andrews to start relaxing restrictions so Victorians can support small businesses and help them survive.
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The state government must move to ease lockdown laws in order to save struggling businesses along iconic Chapel St, according its traders association.
Chapel Street Precinct Association has called for Premier Daniel Andrews to start relaxing restrictions on trade so Victorians can support small businesses and help them survive.
Representing more than 2200 businesses in the area, CSPA chairman Justin O’Donnell said a considered approach to easing restrictions would help life return to the deserted shopping strip.
“It would be good to see a measured approach to start to come out of some of those restrictions, to help support our businesses stay in business,” he said.
“The sooner we see some of those restrictions ease, in a sensible and safe way, would be highly encouraged.”
Mr O’Donnell said the government must seriously consider allowing some on-premises dining to restart.
“A lot of our restaurants and cafes have made their premises safe for takeaways and pick-ups, and now, as long as social distancing measures are maintained effectively, (we want) some dining in to start reoccurring,” he said. “We’d like to see some easing of restrictions prior (to May 11) if possible, but understand that might be the earliest date. But we’d like the discussion to be started, so businesses have time to prepare.”
Kookaburra’s Kanteen owner Katie Graham said while her Chapel St cafe continued to operate as a takeaway, takings were down 80 per cent on pre-lockdown levels.
“It’s been really challenging, really slow. People are not used to ordering cafe food to take away. We’ll give it another couple of weeks but if restrictions aren’t lifted we’ll have to close.”
Mr O’Donnell said before restaurants return to full service, restaurateurs were encouraging diners to pick up their takeaway orders rather than rely on a delivery service.
“A lot of people have locked down and are only ordering from delivery apps, that’s a major issue. It’s relatively safe to pick up orders. The delivery apps, taking 30-35 per cent commission, that’s not sustainable.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday flagged restrictions on such activities as going to the pub would lift earlier than the six-month time frame first thought.
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