Liam Ganley had waited more than 100 days for this moment, and when it came there was one overwhelming emotion — relief.
Key points:
- Many restrictions in Melbourne lifted at midnight, allowing businesses to re-open
- Hospitality venues face strict density limits and protocols until 'COVID Normal' is reached
- Customers say they've been desperate to get out and socialise
As the clock ticked past midnight, Melbourne restaurants and pubs were legally allowed to throw open their doors to customers as lockdown rules were officially eased.
While most decided to wait until the sun came up, Mr Ganley wanted to savour the occasion as soon as possible by setting up balloons and cutting a ribbon at his Prahran restaurant, Angus & Bon.
A crowd of about 20 — the legal amount allowed inside — were there to pop champagne at midnight and party well into the early hours of Wednesday morning.
"I've been saying it all week, it's been a rollercoaster of emotions," Mr Ganley said.
"All we've had is outgoings for the last four months, no income."
For some staff members who had been unable to receive JobKeeper or JobSeeker payments, the pandemic had pushed them to the financial brink.
Mr Ganley said he had witnessed some pooling their money to buy bags of rice.
Every week 'critical' for hospitality industry
The next few weeks will be telling, with the restaurant teaming up with other nearby businesses to block off part of the street so they can erect a marquee to boost their outdoor dining capacity until March.
It's a step that might save Mr Ganley's restaurant, but he expects plenty of others to struggle to remain open with density limits set by the State Government.
"Without the outdoor area and extension, with 20 people inside, we would not be open," he said.
"If the cases stay low, they have to increase the density inside. [Otherwise] it's not viable.
"Every week is critical, it's thousands of dollars of debt for these businesses."
Chrissie Maus, the general manager of Chapel Street Precinct, said it was unlikely more than 50 per cent of restaurants and cafes in their strip would re-open due to the density quotas.
Under the Government's roadmap, patron limits will increase to 40 people indoors and 70 outdoors from November 9.
The 'COVID Normal' goal after that will see customer limits scrapped.
After enduring shutdowns in March and July, Mr Ganley said a third wave of COVID-19 in Victoria was "unthinkable".
'We were waiting for the doors to open'
Jess Grunow and David Chapman were so keen to celebrate the restrictions easing they took two trams from their home in Fitzroy to get a spot at the restaurant.
"It's one of those things you'll tell your grandkids about," Ms Grunow said.
"When we came out of lockdown we were there waiting for the doors to open."
The couple, who moved to Melbourne from Brisbane two years ago, said several friends had decided to relocate back to their home states during the shutdown.
"If we've lasted this long, we're going to stick it out," Mr Chapman said.
Friends Tori Briggs and Dave Mather said they had come out to support local business and to get "face-to-face, human interaction".
Ms Briggs, who set herself a goal of seeing 100 bands perform in 2020, said she was looking forward to the resumption of live music in the city.
"I'm still gunning for it, there's 62 to go. It's improbable but it's not impossible," she said.
Major retail shops, which have been allowed to operate online or offer click-and-collect services, will also be allowed customers back into their premises.
Home visits will also be permitted again, with strict conditions in place, allowing friends and family to finally gather in each other's houses.
Gyms will be allowed to reopen from November 9, and the Government is yet to announce a target date for indoor cinemas.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTEwLTI4L21lbGJvdXJuZS1nZXRzLW9uLXRoZS1iZWVycy1hcy1yZXN0YXVyYW50cy1vcGVuLWFmdGVyLWxvY2tkb3duLzEyODE4Njcw0gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyODE4Njcw?oc=5
2020-10-27 19:30:00Z
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