AFTER four weeks of lockdown without a single local COVID-19 case, businesses have banded together to send a clear message to the NSW government - enough is enough.
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The stay-at-home orders are crippling local businesses, with turnover dropping by as much as 95 per cent and dozens of staff being let go - and no guarantee many of them will come back - according to business leaders.
The problem has been ongoing for a while, with restaurants and pubs being hit heavily by restrictions, tourism businesses copping it since Sydney went into lockdown, and travel agencies being hampered since COVID first arrived on Australian shores.
Some owners have described the impact as "dramatic", while others took a more blunt approach and said "we're stuffed" while the state and the nation remains shut.
Hospitality hell
Whether you're craving some fine wine with gourmet food, or an afternoon beer with a pub meal, it's been hard going in recent months.
Many pubs and restaurants shut on August 9 when lockdown came into effect, but a lot of them had been seriously struggling before then as restrictions, which were introduced on June 26, delivered a hammer blow to their business.
While people were still allowed to attend the outlets at that time, they were required to be seated and masked, aside from when eating and drinking. Then when lockdown hit, businesses were allowed to stay open, but only for takeaway services.
So while customers were still technically allowed to enjoy that gourmet food or afternoon beer at home, it just wasn't the same according to The Welder's Dog owner, Ben Coombes.
"Our business model was based on bringing people together and being that cosy, atmospheric place where you're rubbing shoulders with your locals," he said.
"And it's not all about just bloody booze, the amount of regulars we've had coming in buying takeaway just for the mental health aspect of it, just being able to come in and talk."
Mr Coombes is pleading for the government to just "give us a chance", because at the moment the business is in nothing more than survival mode.
Now, take his frustration and multiply it for CH Boutique Hotel, Deco Wine Bar & Restaurant and Hopscotch cafe owner Jye Segboer.
For his businesses to stay afloat all casual staff had to be stood down, while even the hours of full-time workers have been cut.
He said the government needs to take this sort of issue into account, and open up areas of regional NSW.
He believes concerns over sewage testing results shouldn't prevent entire local government areas from gaining freedoms, especially given everyone will need to learn how to live with COVID-19 eventually anyway.
"We have to find a way to be able to live with this, we know it's not going anywhere and even if we get to 70 per cent double dose there's still going to be cases that occur," he said.
"So while we don't have any community transmission, realistically for people's businesses, and for people's mental health and for employment, we really need to start learning how to live with the virus."
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While politicians and health officials continue to speak about reaching the 70 and 80 per cent double dose mark, Mr Segboer said solutions have to be found before then.
He revealed he has seen a 90 per cent drop in turnover for some of his hospitality businesses, while it is even worse for hotels with a 95 per cent reduction in income.
Mr Segboer and Mr Coombes both had a clear message for Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson: stand up and fight for us now.
Travel troubles
While it has been bad for hospitality and tourism operators, it has been worse - possibly the worst - for travel agents.
Not only has overseas travel disappeared with Australia closing its border, but interstate trips have switched between exceedingly rare to flat out non-existent since the pandemic began.
Local woman Paula Peterson runs her own travel business, and after 18 months of cancellations and rebookings, her patience has run out.
Due to being "financially crushed" by border closures, she has been forced to take on four jobs. But, Ms Peterson said she still can't make ends meat, with short term lenders demanding 20 to 40 per cent interest on loans.
She revealed she was forced to take that option after being unable to take advantage of the federal small and medium sized businesses recovery loan scheme. Ms Peterson said even when NSW and Australia reaches its vaccination goals, it will be a long way back for travel agents.
"It won't get back to normal, we are now three years behind anyone else that's in the travel industry," she said.
"Because the people that couldn't go last year, then couldn't go this year, have rebooked, I have to turn up everyday and rebook and argue with an airline."
Sharing this frustration is Chris Watson, who also owns his own agency. The popular businessman has been forced into starting a new venture just to keep his staff employed, although three had already left.
He believes it's time local politicians like Mr Anderson stand up and demand the area be released from lockdown if no cases can be found.
"We totally need to open up regions that are COVID free, if we don't do that we're going to see small and large regional businesses collapse," he said.
"I think it's time that our leaders started to support those that voted them in and we demand they take a lead on opening our borders and opening our businesses.
"We hear a lot about vaccinations, and that's NSW Health's issue to control what the vaccination numbers are, but our leaders need to help keep our region flowing."
Anderson's answer
A lot of the anger was directed, if not at Mr Anderson directly, then certainly in his direction as part of the government in power.
The MP maintains he has been pushing hard for Tamworth to be released from lockdown the whole time, and has been ramping up those calls to Deputy Premier and Nationals leader John Barilaro this week.
There was an increased level of optimism this time, however, with Mr Anderson indicating the region could be released this Friday night.
"My view is, if we stay on the path where we are, I would expect us, hopefully, if there's no cases to come out on Friday," he said.
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