By Jamie Salter
Hospitality venues across Berwick are calling for density limits and QR codes to be scrapped in a bid to bring more customers through their doors.
On Monday 31 January, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy MP, Member for Gembrook Brad Battin and local business owners met at Berwick’s Circa 1884 to discuss how the changes would allow venues to fill back up again.
Mr Guy said the plan to remove density limits focused on getting life “back to normal”.
“Other states have been providing strong support for businesses coming out of Covid-19, and we need to see support like that for Victoria,” he said.
“Businesses have done it exceptionally tough over the past two years, other states are providing support but Victoria is too slow when it comes to supporting businesses.
“I would hope the government gets off their backside and supports small businesses – they need out help now.
“One of the ways they can be helped is scrapping density limits the government has been putting on these businesses and moving forward with our lives.”
Mr Battin said removing density limits and QR Codes would renew confidence for businesses and customers alike.
“If we can get rid of density limits and QR codes, the two things it does is allow businesses to go back to full capacity and puts back into people minds that confidence in going out and socialising again, and if we don’t do that, we’re going to start to lose businesses,” Mr Battin said.
“I think more and more people want less restrictions and ways to learn to live with Covid-19 rather than more restrictions and being reminded.
“Let’s put the trust back into people, rather than a government dictating it to them.”
Cafe Revival owner Peter Lumley has struggled with staffing shortages and said the change would help speed things up for his business.
“It would make it as it used to be and give customers the opportunity to come back,” Mr Lumley said.
“At the moment I think there’s too much fear, everyone around here is feeling it and we’re not the only ones.”
