This venue is restricted to 10 patrons, despite having three separate restaurants - The Canberra Times

The ACT government is under pressure from hospitality venues to allow more patrons and greater flexibility in the next round of restrictions, set to ease on May 30. It comes as clubs and hospitality groups pitch the government their plans to reopen with greater capacity than currently allowed. Pubs, clubs and restaurants in the ACT are restricted to 10 patrons across the whole venue, regardless of how large they are. But businesses are urging the government to allow a set number of people per enclosed space within each venue. The Hellenic Club of Canberra in Woden was keen to open the doors of its three separately owned and operated restaurants when the ACT's restrictions were eased to allow 10 patrons at a time. But its plans were dashed when the club discovered the three restaurants combined were only allowed to accommodate 10 people at a time. Despite the setback, chief executive Ian Cameron said the club had been happy with the work of the federal and territory governments through the pandemic. "I'm hopeful that the next stage we'll be able to open for a 20-person limit per restaurant," he said. "We're pretty positive going forward and hoping we'll get a break." In the meantime, they are continuing to offer takeaway. Canberra Community Clubs president Athol Chalmers said he hoped the speed with which restrictions were eased could increase. "Where we'd like to end up sooner rather than later is getting to four square metres per person, moving beyond a person limit," he said. Mr Chalmers said while person limits were in place, they should apply per enclosed space. Gaming rooms are among the last venues on the national plan to ease restrictions that will be considered for opening. "I don't understand the logic of that," Mr Chalmers said. "You could argue they're less likely to breach social distancing there, sitting in front of a machine and separated." Mr Chalmers said clubs were in a unique position to help health authorities with contact tracing. "You can only get in if you're a member and signed in," he said. "I actually like to think we can help on health issues not just be a liability." READ MORE: Clubs ACT chief executive Gwyn Rees said the organisation favoured clubs being able to reopen with up to 100 patrons, with strict physical distancing, hygiene and tracing rules in place. It has pitched a plan to the ACT government that would enable them to do so. He said restrictions that limited a venue to 10 or 20 people, regardless of its size, were not viable. "Broadly speaking, we'd like to see those numbers lift, or that consideration around an enclosed space happen sooner rather than later," Mr Rees said. He said the businesses inside the Hellenic Club were effectively being penalised for being inside a club. "If they were in the shopping centre nearby they would be treated differently," he said. Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he understood venues' desires to increase capacity significantly. "I hope that we are at a point in a few weeks' time that we can give them a start point for going beyond 20 to a larger number," he said. "But this is not a lobbying exercise, it's not which industry association can do the best lobbying job. "It's public health advice-driven. "The risk factors are the size of the groups of people. So it doesn't really matter how big your space is, the risk is - one infected person, how many other people will they infect in that space." Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. If you're looking to stay up to date on COVID-19, you can also sign up for our twice-daily digest here.

The ACT government is under pressure from hospitality venues to allow more patrons and greater flexibility in the next round of restrictions, set to ease on May 30.

It comes as clubs and hospitality groups pitch the government their plans to reopen with greater capacity than currently allowed.

Pubs, clubs and restaurants in the ACT are restricted to 10 patrons across the whole venue, regardless of how large they are.

But businesses are urging the government to allow a set number of people per enclosed space within each venue.

The Hellenic Club of Canberra in Woden was keen to open the doors of its three separately owned and operated restaurants when the ACT's restrictions were eased to allow 10 patrons at a time.

But its plans were dashed when the club discovered the three restaurants combined were only allowed to accommodate 10 people at a time.

Despite the setback, chief executive Ian Cameron said the club had been happy with the work of the federal and territory governments through the pandemic.

"I'm hopeful that the next stage we'll be able to open for a 20-person limit per restaurant," he said.

"We're pretty positive going forward and hoping we'll get a break."

In the meantime, they are continuing to offer takeaway.

Canberra Community Clubs president Athol Chalmers said he hoped the speed with which restrictions were eased could increase.

"Where we'd like to end up sooner rather than later is getting to four square metres per person, moving beyond a person limit," he said.

Mr Chalmers said while person limits were in place, they should apply per enclosed space.

Gaming rooms are among the last venues on the national plan to ease restrictions that will be considered for opening.

"I don't understand the logic of that," Mr Chalmers said.

"You could argue they're less likely to breach social distancing there, sitting in front of a machine and separated."

Mr Chalmers said clubs were in a unique position to help health authorities with contact tracing.

"You can only get in if you're a member and signed in," he said.

"I actually like to think we can help on health issues not just be a liability."

READ MORE:

Clubs ACT chief executive Gwyn Rees said the organisation favoured clubs being able to reopen with up to 100 patrons, with strict physical distancing, hygiene and tracing rules in place.

It has pitched a plan to the ACT government that would enable them to do so.

He said restrictions that limited a venue to 10 or 20 people, regardless of its size, were not viable.

"Broadly speaking, we'd like to see those numbers lift, or that consideration around an enclosed space happen sooner rather than later," Mr Rees said.

He said the businesses inside the Hellenic Club were effectively being penalised for being inside a club.

"If they were in the shopping centre nearby they would be treated differently," he said.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he understood venues' desires to increase capacity significantly.

"I hope that we are at a point in a few weeks' time that we can give them a start point for going beyond 20 to a larger number," he said.

"But this is not a lobbying exercise, it's not which industry association can do the best lobbying job.

"It's public health advice-driven.

"The risk factors are the size of the groups of people. So it doesn't really matter how big your space is, the risk is - one infected person, how many other people will they infect in that space."

Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. If you're looking to stay up to date on COVID-19, you can also sign up for our twice-daily digest here.

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2020-05-20 18:30:00Z
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