Maryann Langiano keeps the doors open at Manni’s Clothing and Handbags in Lakes Entrance, but she is one of the few retailers on The Esplanade to do so.
“There are 20 odd shops closed down here already,” the 56-year-old told SBS News.
“Here at Manni’s, we are just surviving. It’s very, very bad and it would be a shame if we have to close our doors.”
Like all of rural Victoria, Lakes Entrance is under Stage Three COVID-19 restrictions, with travellers from Melbourne banned under Stage Four.
“I’ve lived here for more than 20 years and I have never seen anything like this,” Ms Langiano said.
Tourism brings millions of dollars to the wider East Gippsland area annually and many regard the popular fishing and sailing town of Lakes Entrance as the ‘jewel in the crown’.
Maryann Langiano hopes tourists will soon return to Lakes Entrance. Source: Supplied
The coastal community of 4,810 residents is about 300 kilometres east of Melbourne, and as the name suggests, it has a vast system of inland lakes fronting the Tasman Sea.
Local café worker Donna Davison is among the many hospitality operators impacted by the COVID-19 downturn.
Lakes Entrance is a popular fishing destination. Source: Supplied
“It’s been very quiet at the café today. We do have a few locals that come in, but we rely on the out-of-towners," she said.
“Melbourne’s Stage Four lockdown makes it hard for everybody here because we don’t get the tourists. And we do depend on Melbournians.”
Lakeside Motel Waterfront owner Michael Li says revenue is down by 90 per cent this year and the vacancy sign is always out.
Cafe worker Donna Davison. Source: Supplied
"This business is usually popular with Chinese tourists who book fishing and crabbing tours," he said.
But this year, international and state border closures combined with COVID-19 restrictions have cut bookings to almost zero.
The 57-year-old, originally from China, moved to Lakes Entrance four years ago from Melbourne to run the motel.
His troubles began earlier this year during Australia’s ‘Black Summer’ when the town was ringed by bushfires.
“Usually we are very busy from December 20 right through until February, we are fully booked. But [this year] because of the bushfires, virtually everyone cancelled.
“And still, until this week, we are almost empty. No one is here,” he said. “Only a few contractors might come through for work. Not many, anyway.”
Michael is relying on savings and loans from friends to help him survive and he is refurbishing the rooms and planting new gardens to improve the appeal of his motel.
"We want tourists back for the September school holidays, we need people to support the local businesses," he said.
“I mean, 2020 we just wipe it off, and then we will be happy to see 2021 when hopefully more tourists return to Lakes Entrance.”
Non-profit organisation East Gippsland Marketing says this year the region has missed out on most of its 1.4 million annual visitors.
Many international tourists visit Lakes Entrance for prawning and crabbing each year. Source: Supplied
“They spend $170 per person, which equates to a lot of money,” said marketing manager Hayley Hardy.
East Gippsland council estimates those losses to be $180 million so far in 2020.
“Tourism is a big part of our economy. And now that is really suffering,” East Gippsland Mayor John White said.
Mr White is among many locals anxiously awaiting details of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ roadmap out of lockdown, but he is concerned about relaxing restrictions too quickly.
“As much as restrictions are hurting [small business owners'] pockets, they don’t want the health risks that go with catching COVID-19,” he said.
Dr John Hall, president of the Rural Doctors Association, said large numbers of COVID-19 cases haven't been seen in rural and remote Australia.
“But we do know that if even two or three cases of severe COVID-19 were to happen in a rural locality like Lakes Entrance, [health] services would fail fairly quickly," he said.
“Many [rural] hospitals can only deal with probably three or four critical care patients at one time. They are limited by the number of staff that they have with critical care skills, to manage patients requiring high-level support and ventilation.
Dr John Hall is President of the Rural Doctors Association. Source: Supplied
“It wouldn't take much for these hospitals to become overwhelmed, limiting their capacity to manage the heart attacks and the road accidents and the other trauma that might happen in their community.”
But there is an upside. While hospitality and accommodation services are suffering, other sectors including real estate and construction are busier than usual.
“We've seen a mortgage broker in Bairnsdale go from seven mortgages up to 48 mortgages a month, which is a really big growth area,” said East Gippsland Marketing's Ms Hardy.
Lakes Entrance is usually a popular holiday destination. Source: Supplied
Many city residents are also moving to rural towns like Lakes Entrance for a more relaxed coastal lifestyle, she added.
Retail store manager Ms Langiano is among those hoping for a boost during the September school holidays.
“I hope the Premier says that people can come out again to regional Victoria and that he lifts the restrictions a bit," she said.
“Otherwise I fear there will be a lot more shops closing in Lakes Entrance.”
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