MILDURA Paddle Steamers operator Ashton McKenzie was left “devastated and dumbfounded” at the announcement regional New South Wales was being hurled into lockdown on the weekend.
The iconic Sunraysia business was forced to stop operations immediately, with staff now out of work for the duration of the lockdown in regional NSW.
“Previously we were operating with just regional Victorians and no one from New South Wales was allowed over, but because we’re a non-essential business we now have to close down,” Ms McKenzie said.
“I can see the reasons why and I know it is seeping out from metro Sydney into the regions and it’s only a matter of time, but things could have been handled in Sydney, in my opinion, a lot better and a long time ago before it got to this point.”
The latest development in Australia’s growing third wave of COVID-19 came as yet another blow to the Buronga-based tourism business, which has been forced to shut down by lockdowns in Victoria as well as NSW.
“When Victoria locked down we weren’t able to operate,” Ms McKenzie said.
“We got three days in and then had to lock down again.”
Before Saturday’s bombshell Mildura Paddle Steamers had been riding a wave of tourists heading to Mildura after the most recent Victorian lockdowns.
“We were kind of hesitant, thinking that there weren’t going to be many visitors come as soon as regional Victoria opened, but we were bombarded,” Ms McKenzie said.
“We had large group bookings coming through wanting lunches on board and things, so we restocked everything for a busy weekend, and then it shut down.”
With the paddle steamer business rapidly running out of steam thanks to rolling lockdowns, Ms McKenzie said tourism operators and their staff desperately needed state governments to come to the table.
“We’re getting locked down by both borders but, depending on what side, there’s no support,” she said.
“Now that NSW has locked down, we will potentially get some sort of funding, but even the funding that they are putting out is more for pubs, clubs and cafes — they’re not looking at tourism and hospitality where we rely on people travelling.”
She suggested a JobKeeper-style arrangement would be the best way to help tourism workers keep food on the table.
“That really needs to come back for all of tourism and hospitality, because that was our lifeline,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Now that it’s up to independent states, we miss out on either side.”
