Sunraysia pubs still locked down due to ‘unviable’ restrictions

Irymple Hotel manager James Kedmenec said patron caps of 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors made it unviable for his business to reopen.

“We wouldn’t be able to turn over enough food and drink to make it worthwhile,” Mr Kedmenec said.

He said the hotel managed to open when 50-person limits were in place, but acknowledged even that had been “hard to balance”.

“We were still turning away a lot of people (at 50 person limit) so not only are you not really making enough, but you’re also upsetting people that want to (enter),” he said.

“It’s just not something you’re used to doing in hospitality. You’re used to welcoming people in,” he said.

The Office Wine and Bar posted a statement on their Facebook page shortly after the government’s announcement saying “the size of our venue makes it impossible for us to run on only 30 patrons at a time”.

One Mildura pub that is planning to open is the Sandbar, but Malcolm Kalms explained that was only because he was an owner-operator.

“I can work but 95 per cent of my staff won’t be employed because we can’t afford to pay staff not to work,” he said.

“We may open Friday and Saturday but not Sunday and maybe only on weekends. It is just not worth it.”

He described Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement as a “shock”.

“He has done the wrong thing by everybody,” Mr Kalms said.

“He blindsided the industry with these stupid 10 people inside and 20 outside rule. All the big hotels in town no one is opening.

“We also lose the government payments which were helping us to stay afloat and pay bills during lockdowns because now we have a choice to reopen. Some choice.

“The payments were helping hospitality businesses tread water, now he (Mr Andrews) says you can open but you can sink.

“There is no logic to it at all. You can have 600 people inside Bunnings all walking in close contact in aisles, and we can have 10 in our big venue, all QR checked in with seated service. I can’t work it out.”