A new ACT Government Outdoor Activation Taskforce has been announced to help support restaurants, cafes and other businesses to utilise public outdoor spaces near their premises once the Territory’s COVID-19 lockdown ends.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the taskforce will support businesses to utilise outside areas in accordance with public health directions as restrictions ease.
He said the taskforce would support business owners to temporarily shift some of their business activities outdoors, where possible, where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is much lower.
“We know this has been a challenging time for everyone and the ACT Government will be taking a range of practical steps to assist with a COVID-safe economic recovery,” Mr Barr said.
“As we move out of lockdown, Canberrans will be keen to support local businesses and this will be a key driver of our economic recovery into Christmas and throughout 2022.”
Minister for Business and Better Regulation, Tara Cheyne says the taskforce would look to make the most of the opportunities our outdoor spaces present for businesses.
“It’s important we do this in a way that supports local business owners to recover, while keeping Canberrans safe from the risks of COVID-19 by following the public health direction.”
Since last year, over 55 businesses have taken advantage of outdoor dining permit waivers, introduced as a COVID-19 recovery measure in 2020. These fee waivers extend through to March 2022, the Minister said.
“The new taskforce will look for innovative ways to open up outdoor public space for venues, so that we can continue to help business to safely return to hosting customers.”
“We welcome business’s ideas on how to make the most of outdoor public spaces in ways that support their business, and we will work with them on making those ideas a reality.
“This will be a staged, thoughtful process delivered as part of the ACT Pathway Forward.
“Venues will have capacity limits after lockdown ends. So moving to an outdoors setting is the safest and easiest way for businesses like restaurants, cafes and bars to begin to operate sooner as restrictions gradually ease.
“In preparation for any initiatives the taskforce introduces in the coming weeks, we are encouraging all interested businesses to register with the taskforce and bring forward their ideas on what might be possible so we can capitalise on these quickly,” she said.
More information on outdoor dining can be found at act.gov.au/outdoor-dining.
