We're generally full up to Easter and sitting at 90 per cent occupancy. At the moment we're about 15 per cent and it goes up and down. We're just ticking over.
- Troy Tutungi
The usual hustle and bustle of Port Campbell is now a distant memory as the tourism centre appears like a ghost town.
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Parks Victoria announced on March 19 the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre and scenic lookouts would close to visitors to comply with government COVID-19 regulations.
Twelve months ago, the Great Ocean Road, Twelve Apostles and Port Campbell were catering for its usual flurry of international and domestic tourists. But as coronavirus swept across the world the tourism industry took a massive hit.
In March last year the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre welcomed 190,763 people according to Parks Victoria's traffic counters and in April 2019, another 196,737 were counted. An estimated 260,000 people visited the iconic Australian landmark during December 2019; the highest monthly amount since the counters were installed in 2015.
Many tourists travelled on to Port Campbell for a meal or to continue their holiday by staying the night.
But today, Lord Street, Port Campbell's main thoroughfare, is practically deserted.
Through the coronavirus pandemic, some businesses are carrying on to ensure the community is supported.
Kylie Treble took over Nico's on February 1 after being involved in the business in a management capacity for about five years.
Ms Treble, like everyone else, had no idea what was about to happen to the town.
"Chinese New Year on January 24 was nothing like it had been and certainly we knew from that date that we weren't getting the clientele through we'd previously had," she said.
"We were still doing a fairly good trade in February though.
"In the last two weeks it's been two-fold. There were 17 staff on the books and I've had to cut it back to four on rotation. We're only offering takeaway and only open for two-and-a-half hours.
"We're not open for lunch because other businesses are open for lunch so it's fairer that way.
"I'm paying my staff because I think it's fair and I don't want them to be out of pocket but I'm cutting back my costs and doing a lot of things myself."
Normally Nico's sells between 80 to 100 pizzas a night but at the moment it's selling about 20.
In a market dependent on overseas tourists, Ms Treble estimates 80 per cent of her usual clientele are international travellers and 20 per cent are locals or Australian tourists. Last night her clientele was made up of 20 per cent locals and 80 per cent trade workers.
Ms Treble has made up a selection of frozen pizzas for clients to buy to take home with them and is still hopeful her plans for the business will be possible after the pandemic.
"The frozen pizzas are also available in the supermarket and when someone orders a hot pizza I'm encouraging them to take a couple frozen pizzas home so they can have some Nico's yummy-ness in 15 minutes," she said.
"I've had my thinking cap on to work out what more I can do.
"The Port Campbell community has been wonderful with ideas and I still have a few up my sleeve.
"I still have my plans for change from when I took over, who knows when they'll happen but I'm hopeful."
Loch Ard Motor Inn manager Troy Tutungi is still operating but has seen a large decrease in clientele.
"We have a minimal amount of gas workers and corporate guests staying who are seen as a critical service," he said.
"We're generally full up to Easter and sitting at 90 per cent occupancy. At the moment we're about 15 per cent and it goes up and down.
"We're just ticking over."
Mr Tutungi said the Motor Inn was complying with all government cleaning and sanitising regulations and he was hopeful to retain all his staff.
"My long-term staff are taking their entitled leave and I have two staff that I've had to tell them to stand by until there's more work," he said.
"90 per cent of businesses in Port Campbell are shut, it's very empty.
"Hopefully things will change soon but I'm not sure there will be anything in the near future."
Owner of 12 Rocks Cafe and Beach Bar Mick Hunt temporarily closed his business amid the coronavirus pandemic but has re-opened and is trialling selling only coffee and cakes to locals.
"I decided to close and I've made sure my workers were looked after until the end of March," he said.
"There's no travellers whats over, but a few locals were asking about coffee and I thought it's not worth doing unless we do it well so we'll trial it for a few days.
"The reality is; if one staff member is in contact (with coronavirus), all of a sudden it's here and the regulations could last a lot longer.
"We're just going to play it by ear."
Mr Hunt hopes the pandemic will awaken people to the importance of buying local produce.
"I hope the importance of buying local rests on people's shoulders. People need to think that we're better off looking to our local producers," Mr Hunt said.
"Port Campbell is a ghost town, it's totally empty. Which is best for everyone at the moment.
"It is what it is."
Peter Field's Port Campbell Shopping remains a stalwart in the town centre.
Despite seeing reduced business from the lack of tourists, Mr Field is remaining open and has begun delivering groceries to some locals.
Due to the rapidly changing nature of the situation, Parks Victoria chief executive Matthew Jackson said he was devastated to announce the closure of the Twelve Apostles centre alongside many other iconic Australian landmarks.
"It's unfortunate to be announcing these closures as I know how important these sites are for our community, but this is a rapidly changing situation and we need to act swiftly to ensure our visitors, staff and volunteers are protected," he said.
"These are unprecedented and challenging times, and it's important for us to all do our bit to implement the advice of health officials and authorities to ensure we keep each other safe.
"Once we are through this very serious health emergency, we look forward to welcoming back visitors to our special places and protecting our remarkable parks for future generations to enjoy."