ONE of Tamworth's most popular restaurants has a strong message for locals; abide by new social distancing measures or leave.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Safari Club Bar and Grill has urged locals to exercise patience and understanding as new guidelines for restaurants come into place later this week.
Restaurant owner Elliot Dube said locals needed to adjust to the "new normal" operations of his and many other businesses.
Read Also:
"Most people are pretty aware of the new guidelines, but some people are just thinking it's business as usual," Mr Dube told the Leader.
"However, it is not business as usual, it's very far from the usual.
"We have already adjusted our bookings so we can only have maximum bookings of 10 down from 20, there's new sitting times and everyone is at least one table apart.
"It's just what we need to do to try and stay open."
Mr Dube's pleas come after some of his staff received abuse earlier in the week due to the new social-distancing guidelines.
"As I say, most people have been really good but some people have lashed out a bit," he said.
"It's very disappointing because we are a family-run business and we are just trying to do what we can to stay open.
"Don't get me wrong, the Tamworth community has been fantastic in its support of our business and most people have been great.
"However, some have been a bit disappointing and to those looking at abusing us for following the rules our message is clear, please stay at home."
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said fines for restaurants and pubs found breaching the new restrictions would be severe.
"Any business which doesn't do the right thing will have the book thrown at them," Ms Berejiklian said.
"There is so much at stake and so much on the line.
"The next few weeks are the most critical in NSW since the lockdown earlier in March and April."
The Safari Club Bar and Grill is not the only local business urging its customers to adhere to the new rules.
In an open letter to its members, Tamworth's Anytime Fitness franchisee David Rolinson warned gym goers of the consequences of not following the new guidelines.
"We have had a very small number of members not doing the right thing in regards to following the COVIDsafe mandates set out for us by the NSW Health Minister, NSW government and Anytime Fitness Australia," the letter read.
"We are asking all members to please be aware of these rules and follow them to the letter while you are completing your workout.
"We have used a one warning, then termination policy thus far, but after 40 days of being reopen, we are under the impression that all members understand what is required of them.
"Therefore any member found to not be following these guidelines will have their membership terminated immediately."
The letter went on to thank members who had been following the guidelines.
"We're asking that everyone do their part to ensure the gym is safe and stays open," the letter read.
"If you have not been following these rules we advise you heed this warning, as your membership depends on it.
"If you have been doing the right thing we would like to say a massive thank you and keep up the great work."
Mr Dube said the threat of fines of up to $55,000, and a further $27,000 penalty for each day an offence continues, was only part of his concerns.
"It's not just about the potential fines, to me it's about trying to protect one another as much as we can," he said.
"We all need to practice social distancing to keep each other safe and healthy.
"On top of that, following the guidelines is also vital for businesses to ensure we will still be here when the pandemic is over."