Lola’s Pergola fighting to overturn $5.5k fine for not abiding by COVID-19 rules
LOLA’S Pergola owner Matt Mulga says he will look to contest the $5,495 fine the venue was slapped with for not abiding by COVID-19 rules
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LOLA’S Pergola owner Matt Mulga says he will look to contest the $5,495 fine the venue was slapped with for not abiding by COVID-19 rules.
He also slammed the COVID-19 restrictions stating, “the rules make no sense”.
Lola’s Pergola was fined on Sunday after they were issued two warnings over eight days.
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Mr Mulga said he wasn’t quite sure what the venue had done wrong but a police media release stated the Cullen Bay bar failed to abide by the Chief Health Officer’s directions. Issues included not serving separate meals to individuals consuming liquor, patrons not being seated while consuming booze and people not adhering to social distancing guidelines.
“We have 30 cases, no community contact and the last case was eight weeks ago and now licensed venues can open but you have to have a meal,” he said.
Mr Mulga said it didn’t make sense that by the end of next week the rules would be further relaxed and patrons would be able to walk around and not buy food in order to have a drink.
“Next week it changes and then it’s all OK,” Mr Mulga said.
“I’m surprised more people aren’t saying ‘why do we need these rules?’ ”
He said he and wife Kitty Mulga had made changes to ensure Lola’s was better adhering to the rules.
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When patrons enter they will now have to write down their arrival time on a piece of paper and pin it to their chest.
“We don’t like doing this I don’t open venues to control people but apparently these are the measures we have to enforce,” he said.
“When we do get the fine we will look at the details and see if we can contest the fine. Who has $5000? I’ve got four kids.”
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