Goulburn businesses react quickly to state COVID lockdown announcement

But as local business owners acknowledge, the coronovirus impact is imperfect and big things happen in the blink of an eye.

Saturday's NSW lockdown announcement sent many of Goulburn's businesses scurrying to shut shop by 5pm. Some local restaurants gave away food rather than see it go to waste.

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Goulburn Workers Club CEO Brett Gorham said he wasn't surprised by the lockdown but had no clue it was coming on Saturday.

"We had pre-purchased stock (food) on Friday for the weekend and there was wastage from that," he said.

"If we'd had a heads up, that food wouldn't have perished...But given the (COVID) numbers, they had no choice and I understand that."

Staff were a "little shocked" and on Monday, management distributed information about government support which only kicked in if the lockdown extended beyond seven days. Deputy Premier John Barilaro has already hinted it could go longer.

The club did not have any functions or entertainment booked that evening. However meetings and functions were scheduled for this week.

Mr Gorham said patrons generally took the closure in their stride.

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"The situation is a little different to last time because things are changing quicker. The Delta strain is spreading rapidly," he said.

"I feel for small business in town, the mum and dad businesses, but it is also the mental impact."

At the nearby Goulburn Soldiers Club, general manager Toni Mitchell thought "here we go again."

But given media leaks during the week and the fact that some staff had been told to prepare for home schooling, she was expecting a statewide lockdown.

"But it surprised me on Saturday because of the way it was released. I'm not on Twitter," Mrs Mitchell quipped.

Nevertheless, she was prepared with printed posters and social media for distribution. No functions were scheduled on the weekend but wakes, children's and other birthday parties were planned this week.

Mrs Mitchell said with just over 100 people employed in the club, the priority was briefing them on how they could secure government assistance. But 25 casuals would not receive any support. Fifty restaurant and facilities staff are not directly employed by the club.

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She told The Post that the catering arm was "barely breaking even" since the Sydney lockdown. Locals were patronising the venue but when COVID cases cropped up in the wider region, they tended to retreat.

"There will absolutely be a cumulative (financial) impact (of the two lockdowns)," Mrs Mitchell said.

"Bar revenue is not back to where it was two years ago. We're in a fortunate position that we were trading well before all this happened 12 months ago. We have enough cashflow so we're not in dire straits."

But she felt for the community and the businesses which supplied the club.

Goulburn Chamber of Commerce president Darrell Weekes predicted some businesses would close as a result of another lockdown.

"I understand the public health aspect but this will bite business hard. Business consists of people who employ others and when they close, there is a a flow-on effect," he said.

Mr Weekes said the state government's one-off grants, based on lost income, was welcome but "it wasn't enough". He argued business loans with a two-year stay on repayments were not a long-term solution for some.

The Chamber last week hosted small business minister Damien Tudehope, who spoke about available support during the pandemic. Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman also addressed the meeting along with Mission Australia's southeastern/ACT area manager, Daniel Strickland. The latter spoke about mental health impacts, an area Mr Weekes said was very real for business owners.

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"After 18 months of this you can see the tension when you go down the street because people feel they have nothing to look forward to," he said.

"...When you remove that, it sucks the joy out of life."

People couldn't plan holidays, for example.

Mr Weekes said some businesses that relied on Sydney supplies had been doing it tough since the Sydney lockdown. With the latest one, he predicted restaurants and service industries would suffer a "huge impact."

Nevertheless, the Chamber is pressing ahead with its virtual business awards night on October 9 in the hope of giving people "something to celebrate."

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