In less than 24 hours, Ballarat will enter the 'third step' in the COVID roadmap to recovery and life will start to slowly return to normal.
While it will still be a lot different to life like we once knew it, it will still provide some much-welcomed relief to the harsh lockdown measures that have been in place for the past seven weeks.
Here, The Courier details five of the biggest changes that affect the average person as we begin once again walking the long road to recovery.
1) Hospitality venues to re-open
Arguably the biggest attention-grabber when it comes to new restrictions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hospitality venues are set to become major meeting points for people desperate to re-engage with one another.
Given home visitation is still rather limited (as per social bubbles), pubs and restaurants are set to become social hubs with people looking to catch-up.
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU WILL DO WHEN RESTRICTIONS EASE ON THURSDAY MORNING? LET US KNOW AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTICLE
Given strict social distancing laws apply, hospitality venues are thought to be much safer than people socialising casually in their own homes.
The government allowing small numbers of indoor customers came as quite a shock, making venues the big winners from the announcement.
2) No restrictions on leaving home
This is also one of the key rule changes that will be a breath of fresh air for people desperate for a change of scenery.
Remember what it's like to leave Ballarat, after all?
While people can still only travel with their social bubbles, the freedom of being able to hit the road cannot be underestimated.
Obviously Melbourne is still off limits, but it's a big state!
For the accommodation and tourist industry this will just be the start of the re-emergence from hibernation.
3) You can have visitors to your home
Unfortunately, this will still be quite a bit stricter than the last time this rule was re-introduced.
On the surface it appears a major step but in reality it is still rather restrictive.
You are only allowed five visitors to your home and that five visitors must all be from the same household.
The key here is: that household cannot change.
So once you've selected the Smiths (for example) to be your household bubble, you can't then have the Jones' around the week after. And likewise, the Smiths can't head elsewhere.
Or maybe you're younger and you're thinking of visiting your parents? You better make sure you're the favourite child because once you've visited your parents, they become your household bubble and they can't have other people over!
USEFUL LINKS
This is where hospitality venues will likely step in.
So while having people to your home will be a welcomed change, it's not a free-for-all like last time.
4) You can catch up with groups of friends outdoors
Groups of friends altogether at once? Now we're talking!
With some gorgeous spring weather on the horizon, now is the perfect time to catch up with people in the safety of the great outdoors.
It was a long winter (seemingly far longer than others) and we are all in need of Vitamin D.
So maybe dust off the picnic rug, blow the cobwebs off the deck chair and head outside.
Ballarat certainly is beautiful this time of year.
5) Sport and school returns
There will be a chorus of rejoice from many corners at this announcement, no doubt.
Students will return to the classrooms from the start of term four. Exact detail on this has not yet been announced.
However, no doubt there will be many parents rejoicing at the thought of not playing teacher anymore.
And on the sporting field, get ready to burn some energy!
Outdoor contact and non-contact sport for under-18 is allowed, as outdoor non-contact sport for adults, with gathering and density limits.
Outdoor skateparks open, outdoor fitness for 10 people is also allowed.
However, gyms will remain closed at this time.
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU WILL DO WHEN RESTRICTIONS EASE ON THURSDAY MORNING? LET US KNOW BELOW