With the potential easing of some restrictions to be announced on Sunday, Ballarat businesses are calling for certainty and clarity. But there are still warnings for people to be aware and be careful - if cases break out again and restrictions return, the result would be devastating for an already fragile regional economy. The state government will announce two plans - one for regional Victoria and one for metropolitan Melbourne - that will indicate how the state will move out of strict lockdown. WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW It's understood regional areas will have more restrictions lessened than Melbourne, which is a step towards rebuilding confidence among consumers and beginning the recovery process for many businesses. The exact details of the plans will be revealed on Sunday, including when the rules could change. Ballarat has been under stage three restrictions since the beginning of August - there are currently five active cases in the city. THE LATEST: Active COVID-19 cases decrease in Ballarat and Moorabool Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said industry is ready and waiting to do whatever they need to do in order to open again. "There was talk ... about hibernation - it's just not possible, you've still got costs, rates, rents, and you still have to pay them, (businesses) need to get open and be able to start to trade," she said. "We understand it's going to be restricted somewhat, but they showed us last time they can follow the rules, and it's important, I think, for government to say "here are the rules within your industry, this is what you need to follow" and monitor that closely - if there are businesses that are not following regulations, then hit them, but don't penalise a whole industry because the bulk of them are doing the right thing and did the right thing last time. "Businesses cannot open and close overnight, they need to plan, they need notice, they need to understand what the future looks like so they can prepare for that." Australian Hotels Association Victoria president and Red Lion publican David Canny agreed - he said allowing pubs to reopen, with strict rules in place, could provide a way for people to catch up and socialise while keeping safe. "Last time, pubs showed we did it very well - the transmission didn't occur in pubs, it happened in people's homes," he said. READ MORE: Regional Victoria to have different set of rules to Melbourne: premier "It'd be disappointing if it was relaxed in other industries and not hospitality." He added customers should be confident that hospitality venues were following the rules to keep everyone safe - the stakes were too high not to. "We were the first ones closed and we can't be the last ones opened, businesses won't survive," he said. "What I'm hearing is we need some hope on Sunday, people are on their knees crawling towards this date." OPINION: JobSeeker and JobKeeper must continue: King City of Ballarat mayor Ben Taylor urged people to continue following the Chief Health Officer's directions - wear masks, wash your hands, and socially distance. "Ballarat's doing an amazing job but health officials are still concerned, they don't want to get the virus out of control again," he said. "People want certainty that if they do the right thing, there'll be easing of restrictions." READ MORE: Ballarat Regional Tourism chief joins City of Ballarat in new role He noted there were lessons from the first round of restrictions earlier in the year, which will also help keep case numbers low. "Be aware of how we interact with people so we're not back to where we were with higher numbers of the virus in Ballarat," he said. "Whatever the easing, it doesn't mean we can do what we want, we have to be well aware of our surroundings - the virus is still there and we have to live with it, and be careful with how we do interact. READ MORE Uh, oh - what do I do for hay fever in pandemic times in Ballarat? "Last time, the doors were open and people went crazy, it was isolation fatigue." Ms Gillett said the rest of the community needs to unite, because if the rules aren't followed, there is a risk cases could return, and businesses will collapse. "It's very much the same for the community as it is for business - we all need to play our part in this in order for us to recover," she said. "Every single person, there's no one that can't make a difference." Remember to always maintain good hand hygiene, wear a mask when in public, and keep a 1.5 metre distance from others at all times. Right now there are only four reasons to leave your home in Ballarat during stage three restrictions: care and caregiving, local exercise, shopping for necessary items, and for work or study if you are unable to do so from home. IN THE NEWS Victoria Police are enforcing restrictions, and penalties apply. Anyone with the slightest symptoms is urged to get a test immediately, and must self-isolate until results come back - book online at bchc.org.au or phone 4311 1571 to make an appointment. For more information, visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website, or phone the hotline on 1800 675 398 for advice if you are displaying symptoms. If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
A quiet Lydiard Street last week. Picture: Adam Trafford
With the potential easing of some restrictions to be announced on Sunday, Ballarat businesses are calling for certainty and clarity.
But there are still warnings for people to be aware and be careful - if cases break out again and restrictions return, the result would be devastating for an already fragile regional economy.
The state government will announce two plans - one for regional Victoria and one for metropolitan Melbourne - that will indicate how the state will move out of strict lockdown.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW
It's understood regional areas will have more restrictions lessened than Melbourne, which is a step towards rebuilding confidence among consumers and beginning the recovery process for many businesses.
The exact details of the plans will be revealed on Sunday, including when the rules could change.
Ballarat has been under stage three restrictions since the beginning of August - there are currently five active cases in the city.
Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said industry is ready and waiting to do whatever they need to do in order to open again.
"There was talk ... about hibernation - it's just not possible, you've still got costs, rates, rents, and you still have to pay them, (businesses) need to get open and be able to start to trade," she said.
"We understand it's going to be restricted somewhat, but they showed us last time they can follow the rules, and it's important, I think, for government to say "here are the rules within your industry, this is what you need to follow" and monitor that closely - if there are businesses that are not following regulations, then hit them, but don't penalise a whole industry because the bulk of them are doing the right thing and did the right thing last time.
"Businesses cannot open and close overnight, they need to plan, they need notice, they need to understand what the future looks like so they can prepare for that."
Australian Hotels Association Victoria president and Red Lion publican David Canny agreed - he said allowing pubs to reopen, with strict rules in place, could provide a way for people to catch up and socialise while keeping safe.
"Last time, pubs showed we did it very well - the transmission didn't occur in pubs, it happened in people's homes," he said.
City of Ballarat mayor Ben Taylor urged people to continue following the Chief Health Officer's directions - wear masks, wash your hands, and socially distance.
"Ballarat's doing an amazing job but health officials are still concerned, they don't want to get the virus out of control again," he said.
"People want certainty that if they do the right thing, there'll be easing of restrictions."
He noted there were lessons from the first round of restrictions earlier in the year, which will also help keep case numbers low.
"Be aware of how we interact with people so we're not back to where we were with higher numbers of the virus in Ballarat," he said.
"Whatever the easing, it doesn't mean we can do what we want, we have to be well aware of our surroundings - the virus is still there and we have to live with it, and be careful with how we do interact.
"Last time, the doors were open and people went crazy, it was isolation fatigue."
Ms Gillett said the rest of the community needs to unite, because if the rules aren't followed, there is a risk cases could return, and businesses will collapse.
"It's very much the same for the community as it is for business - we all need to play our part in this in order for us to recover," she said.
"Every single person, there's no one that can't make a difference."
Remember to always maintain good hand hygiene, wear a mask when in public, and keep a 1.5 metre distance from others at all times.
Right now there are only four reasons to leave your home in Ballarat during stage three restrictions: care and caregiving, local exercise, shopping for necessary items, and for work or study if you are unable to do so from home.
Victoria Police are enforcing restrictions, and penalties apply.
Anyone with the slightest symptoms is urged to get a test immediately, and must self-isolate until results come back - book online at bchc.org.au or phone 4311 1571 to make an appointment.
For more information, visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website, or phone the hotline on 1800 675 398 for advice if you are displaying symptoms.
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
