Despite the devastating impact COVID-19 restrictions have had on their businesses, a number of publicans across the Great Lakes have admitted they're happy to wait for the health experts to decide when they'll be able to reopen their venues.
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Lakeside Tavern publican, Jeremy Cooper, said the situation hotel operators found themselves in was like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"From a business point of view we want it to open, but from a public safety point of view we're still worried about a second wave," he said.
Nabiac Hotel publican, Matt Morris, said it was very much a waiting game.
He hoped pubs and clubs would be given the green light to reopen soon, but would be happy just to have a date to work towards.
"Once we've got a date to work to then everyone is going to get excited," Mr Morris said.
Both men believed that pubs were no riskier than other venues in terms of spreading the virus, but they expected a number of regulations to be placed on them when they were allowed to reopen their doors.
"I think it'll be heavily regulated," Mr Cooper said.
Despite this, Mr Morris believed the patrons would be happy to comply.
"I believe everyone's going to be happy to be back in the pub to start with, and then I think everyone's going to be really mindful of what we've just been through" he said.
With pubs in the Northern Territory set to reopen their doors from Friday, May 15, Mr Cooper and Mr Morris said they would both be interested to see how things played out up there.
But they were mindful that each state was facing different circumstances.
"They're in a unique situation where they've got so few cases," Mr Cooper said.
"They're not so densely populated."
Mr Cooper said the restrictions had taken a huge toll on his business, but thankfully bottleshop sales and takeaway meals through the hotel's restaurant had kept some money coming in.
Mr Morris was in the same boat.
He believed the pandemic highlighted the importance of having a diversified business.
"There's pubs out there that can't trade," he said.
Employees at the hotels have also been affected, with both men having to lay off staff who weren't eligible for JobKeeper.
But Mr Morris said he was able to retain around 20 staff because of the scheme.
"I think it's a great scheme," he said.
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Patrons have also had a tough time dealing with the closures, with many relying on their local pub for social interaction.
"A lot of people it's their only way of socialising," Mr Cooper said.
"They may not have family and kids and stuff around."
In any case, Mr Cooper and Mr Morris admitted they've got little choice but to play things by ear and wait for the unprecedented situation to run its course.
"You think about the zombie apocalypse and stuff like that but not this sort of thing," Mr Cooper said.
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