28 OCTOBER 2020 | ISSUE 461 | FREE
Go Nagambie have been working co-operatively with High Street Nagambie hospitality traders and Strathbogie Shire staff on a major proposal to manage the predicted influx of visitors to the region over the Christmas and summer holiday period. “Already, our dining outlets are at covidsafe capacity with only regional Victorians able to visit at this stage. We need to be ready for our city-based friends to return and we want to provide and maintain a safe Covid normal experience for our visitors. We have been investigating a number of options which will safely cater for the anticipated spike in visitation numbers to Nagambie when the border between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria is relaxed,” said John Beresford from Go Nagambie. The proposal is to provide a family friendly,
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outdoor dining experience which will allow Nagambie hospitality operators to safely increase their patron numbers whilst maintaining Covid-19 health protocols and practices. The proposal would also provide confidence to the residents of Nagambie that action is being taken to manage the annual influx of visitors that we have come accustomed to from Christmas until Easter each year.
infrastructure such as streetscaping, outdoor furnishings and lighting.
when travelling restrictions are reduced on November 8th.
The innovative proposal will see a section of the centre median strip on the north side of the amenities block in High Street transformed into an outdoor dining hub. The area would allow for several open marquees as well as additional space to be allocated for alfresco café dining operators.
The proposal, along with other submissions from across the shire, are currently being considered by Strathbogie Shire Council.
The state government will provide $29.5 million in funding to local councils to help them implement swift and streamlined permit, enforcement and monitoring processes to support expanded outdoor dining. Metropolitan and regional city councils will be eligible for up to $500,000 in assistance with rural councils eligible for up to $250,000.
“The need to transform into a COVID Normal and create safe, practical and realistic outdoor dining experiences for summer is the driving force behind the proposal,” said John.
Funds will be able to be used to reduce or waive permit fees and invest in
All stakeholders are working in collaboration to create and maintain a safe dining and entertainment space whilst Covid-19 restrictions are in place. Greater visitation numbers to close regional towns to metropolitan Melbourne are anticipated