Accommodation providers reopen as restrictions ease

ON MONDAY this week, accommodation providers across the Surf Coast welcomed new guests for the first time in several weeks.

Overnight stays are now permitted, albeit with some restrictions, including the prohibited use of communal facilities.

Surf Coast Holiday Rentals owner David Muir said the sudden change in restrictions had been a pleasant surprise.

“Things changed with the flick of a switch on Sunday morning (May 24) when the Premier announced overnight stays can resume as of June 1.

“It took us by surprise with the short lead time, because most other decisions they were allowing two, maybe three weeks from the decision being made, to reignition.

Mr Muir said the abrupt change had been made even more dramatic by people’s eagerness to capitalise on their new freedom.

“Between 10.30am last Sunday (May 24) and 9am on the Monday morning, we had 20-odd bookings made.

“Our business is basically getting back to some form of normality. So it’s only taken a number of days, and we’re optimistic enough now to start bringing our non-JobKeeper staff back into the mix.”

He believed this was indicative of how tourism in the Surf Coast might evolve.

“Certainly through the period of September to April, we envisage a strong take up of people travelling to the Surf Coast because they won’t have international options and they may want to travel closer to home for the surety of it.”

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) also reopened their caravan parks in Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne on Monday.

However, GORCC acting chief executive officer Daniel Aitken said the restrictions around the use of communal facilities and extra safety measures GORCC were taking meant they would be some way off full capacity.

“We will only be offering 50 per cent of our cabins for sale and only allowing caravans with self-contained facilities to stay overnight. All communal facilities will remain closed, including amenity blocks and camp kitchens.”

The caravan parks would usually be sold out for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Mr Aitken said while the reduced number of visitors would help them follow social distancing protocol, GORCC was also implementing further measures to maximise safety.

“We have installed ‘sneeze screens’ on our reception desks as well as limiting our reception opening hours. All staff will complete online training provided by Vic Parks and extra signage will be installed throughout all our parks.”

The RACV Torquay Resort has similarly resumed overnight bookings while also introducing several safety measures, including recording the names and contact details of all members and guests to help with contact tracing.