By Ewen McRae
Moorabool council is embracing the push for more outdoor dining across the municipality.
As part of a state government call for more restaurants and food outlets to create outdoor dining spaces to help the hospitality industry recover from the pandemic, Moorabool council has announced it is waiving permit fees for outdoor dining for the rest of the financial year.
It goes alongside an $87.5 million funding announcement from the government last week, under which businesses can apply for funds to purchase outdoor dining equipment to serve patrons outside, with customer limits and social distancing requirements.
Moorabool mayor David Edwards said it was exciting to see more businesses reopening their doors as restrictions eased.
“It’s very exciting to have hospitality venues opening up in our region again and a huge relief to many business owners and workers in this industry,” Cr Edwards said.
“Council’s support to help these businesses operate under COVID-19 safe requirements will hopefully help all our hospitality businesses, and importantly, it will help generate local spending again to keep our economy rolling.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said businesses had to be willing to adapt as the state finds its way towards a ‘COVID normal’.
“We’re the cultural and dining capital of our nation. That means, when it comes to reimagining what eating and entertainment means under COVID normal, there’s no one better equipped than Melbourne and Victoria,” Mr Andrews said.
“It will be our innovation, ideas and creativity that will help us find – and maintain – our COVID normal.”
The government support will come in the form of grants of up to $5000, which will be available to licensed and unlicensed cafés, restaurants, takeaway food businesses, pubs, taverns, bars and clubs with a payroll of less than $3 million.
Cr Edwards encouraged local hospitality businesses to apply for the state government grants, and to visit www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/outdoor-dining for free outdoor dining permits.
