Coronavirus in Ballarat: Ballarat tourism operators pleading for regional relief
Ballarat's tourism and hospitality industry are waiting with bated breath to see what comes from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announcement on Sunday.
All businesses within the industry have felt the full impact of recent restrictions, both in Ballarat and metropolitan Victoria.
Ballarat Central City Motor Inn manager Shane Whatmough put it simply, saying businesses can't afford the current restrictions to continue for much longer.
This is people's livelihoods.
Ballarat Central City Motor Inn manager Shane Whatmough
"Straight after September finishes, we've got to go back to paying full rent, which we can't afford, and our bank loan, which we put on hold for six months."
Much like Mr Whatmough, John Trotter, owner of the Barkly Motor Lodge, has seen his occupancy rates plummet during restrictions.
"It's crippling the whole industry," he said.
"It's been really depressing to see the occupancy go from up around 80, mid-80 per cent, to sometimes down to 11 or 12 per cent for the month.
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"It's draining to a degree - you put so much time and effort into building your business up, it gets to the stage where it's bringing you money and you're working hard, then all this happens, the government puts you into lockdown, and everything's taken away.
"While they're handing out money with grants and whatever, it just doesn't go far enough - I understand there's only so much money to go around, but Ballarat's got no (new) cases I heard of today, and we're in stage three lockdown."
Seeing visitors return form outside Ballarat is going to be key moving forward for tourism operators around the region.
Ballarat Wildlife Park managing director Greg Parker said seeing Melbourne visitors return is going to be key, however taking Ballarat out of stage three lockdown remains his greatest want from Sunday's announcement.
"I'm hoping that Sunday will bring regional Victoria an early opening date," he said.
"With the numbers in certain regions, like Ballarat, I'm hoping that some discretion in opening region centers will be applied. I don't want to rush anything, however I don't see the point in having over aggressive lockdown measures if we can get by with having businesses open. A lot of businesses are really struggling and may never open again if this continues.
"We need these stages lifted gradually and surgically when they are ready. There's no reason to keep us closed if our numbers are good."
This was echoed by Creswick Woolen Mills director Boaz Herszfeld, who said he believes while the premier has done a great job controlling the virus recently, people need to be reassured by him that it is still safe to support local businesses.
FEAR: Creswick Woollen Mills director Boaz Herszfeld (right) believes Premier Daniel Andrews needs to alleviate the fear associated with COVID-19 in regional Victoria. Picture: Adam Trafford
"At the moment the restrictions are really hurting us," Mr Herszfeld said.
"The first thing that's hurting us is fear."
He said it was hard to look at when Hepburn Shire hasn't had any new active COVID-19 cases in months.
Mr Herszfeld said fear of the pandemic had stopped all traffic coming into the region.
"If (the premier) can do something to alleviate that fear and get people feeling more comfortable to get to regional Victoria in a safe manner, that would be huge," he said. "From a clinical perspective, he's done a great job... but the consequence in the way that the lockdown was done means that this mass fear was sent out to all of society."
Mr Herszfeld suggested further economic stimulus is also needed to help revitalise regional Victorian businesses in the coming months.
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