THERE will be slim pickings at Warrnambool eateries this weekend as the wage impost from the new Easter Sunday public holiday forces proprietors to tighten their belts.
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Some have decided to close for the whole weekend saying they would be losing money if they opened for trade with four consecutive days at public holiday wages.
Others have reduced staff in an effort to limit the whack from the double-time-and-a-half penalty rates.
Warrnambool City Council’s wages bill will jump from about $11,000 to $27,000 for staff rostered on Sunday at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, its foreshore caravan parks, AquaZone and other services.
Operators face another crunch in September with grand final eve also added to the public holiday calendar.
“Madness” was how Pavilion Cafe and Bar proprietor Jon Watson, Hotel Warrnambool owner Steve Phillpot and several other operators described the holiday declarations.
Brightbird Espresso proprietor Mark Brightwell said he had already decided to close for the whole weekend, despite it being one of Warrnambool’s busiest periods.
“Even if we had a crazy busy day, we’d still be paying money just to come to work,” he said.
Cafe Lava owner Chernae Scott has also decided to close all weekend. “At $48 an hour for casuals we’d have to sell 10 coffees an hour just to pay one wage,” she said.
Jonathan Dodwell, who operates Images Restaurant and the City Memorial Bowls Club bistro, said he would keep the doors open, but would add a small surcharge to recover some of the extra costs.
The Hotel Warrnambool dining room will be closed for the weekend.
“It would cost us $3000 in wages per day to run it,” Mr Phillpot said.
“We’ll keep the bar open with an altered menu.”
Mr Watson said the Pavilion was obliged to remain open, except for Good Friday, because of its prime beachfront location.
“However, I’ll have reduced staff and customers will have to be patient,” he said.
Piccolo’s co-owner Keri-anne Robertson said she was fortunate to have a family-operated restaurant and would remain open.
“I feel so sorry for other operators who face big wages where it would cost $45 an hour to employ a teenage dishwasher,” she said.
At Port Fairy Rebecca Nelson will soak up the hefty wage costs to operate her three outlets on all four days to cater for the tourist influx.
Ponting’s Hardware general manager Michael Miller will remain open on reduced staff.
