The Illawarra could lose some of its favourite eateries if people stop dining out.
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Many are taking steps to assure customers they can dine safely while large clubs such as Wests Illawarra cancel activities such as bingo.
His Boy Elroy and Sea Swell Cafe are among eateries introducing drive-thru pick up.
Lachlan and Selena Stevens at His Boy Elroy are launching a lockdown delivery and contact-free drive-thru service. And giving customers an opportunity to pay-it-forward to an elderly neighbour who may be isolated. Just mention "neighbourhood shout" when making an order and the meal will be delivered contact free.
"Our community is what we owe this business's success to. This is a reciprocal kind of pay-it-forward so no-one loses out. It is also about what is needed through this crisis," Mr Stevens said.
David Crowley at Sea Swell Cafe said customers can call ahead, place their order and staff will bring it to the car. "We are also making available milk and bread for sale to our elderly customers"..
Caveau's Simon Evans and Tom Chiumento plan to keep the restaurant open and have put additional measures in place such as additional sanitisation and spacing tables to comply with World Health Organisation guidelines.
Mr Evans hopes the community will continue to find a way to support local business.
"It is such a tricky situation right now, the government is urging people to stay at home, but we need people to come out and visit our venues," he said.
"We are at a point that if you don't support small local business, and go to your favourite restaurants, bars and cafe's, there is a real risk that they won't be around for much longer. So if you are healthy, are taking the recommended precautions and feel confident that your favourite spot is doing the same, I implore you to give them a visit, or to buy a gift card or voucher.
"The hospitality industry is really getting hurt by this, we're doing everything we can to stay alive, from assuring customers about our levels of hygiene, to starting home delivery or take away. But without more government assistance its going to be really hard. The Australian hospitality industry employs almost one million people, many of whom could lose their jobs".
Following the introduction of new restrictions on the number of people who can gather indoors Wests Illawarra and Port Kembla Golf Club's parent company the Aster Group announced it is taking action to mitigate the risk and further spread of the coronavirus. It included the cancellation of all bingo, poker, raffles, courtesy bus, live entertainment, snooker and darts at Wests Illawarra for two weeks. The Illawarra Mercury understands other clubs are taking similar steps.
The Aster Group statement for Wests Illawarra and Port Kembla Golf Club read:
"We're ensuring our teams are maintaining high hygiene standards, including practicing proper hand sanitising procedures and cough etiquette. We actively encourage everyone who enters Wests Illawarra or Port Kembla Golf Club to practice good hygiene at all times. To assist, hand sanitisers are now positioned throughout our venues and we are disinfecting all surfaces, handles, railings and other commonly touched areas throughout both venue. We also ask that people clean their hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub and cover their nose and mouth with a flexed elbow if coughing or sneezing.
Visitor Restrictions:
"All persons who have returned from overseas from midnight Monday March 16, or have been in contact with people who have returned from overseas travel are required by law to self-isolate for a period of 14 days and as a result will not be permitted to enter our venues".
Food & Beverage Service:
"In the areas of our venues where food is served, we have disposable menus, have replaced "help yourself" sauce and cutlery stations, and removed salt and pepper from the tables. Cutlery will be provided in paper sleeves at the time of ordering, as will salt and pepper and further condiments as required".
Activities & Events:
"It is inevitable that our usual activities and events will need to be reduced, or in some cases, cancelled. As of today the following promotion, events and services have been cancelled at Wests Illawarra for two weeks: Bingo, poker, raffles, courtesy bus, live entertainment. And the Green Room is closed for snooker and darts
Further updates will be provided as trading conditions change at https://www.facebook.com/westsillawarraleaguesclub/ https://www.facebook.com/PortKemblaGolfClub/.
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