Council provides support for local food businesses

Published on 15 May 2020

Local cafes and restaurants planning to re-open under the new Government restrictions are being reminded to ensure they can not only abide by the physical distancing and people limits but that they have adequate measures in place around good food safety and hygiene practices.

Snowy Valleys Council’s Executive Director Community and Corporate Paul Holton said Council had developed a special information sheet after receiving a number of queries from local food businesses regarding requirements for food safety and hygiene practices.

“We are committed to minimising the risk of COVID-19 in the community and we want to help local businesses to ensure good health and hygiene practices, even more so at this time,” he said.

From Friday 15 May 2020 under the new rules NSW cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs can seat up to 10 patrons at any one time for an eat-in service.

Mr Holton says examples of questions raised about re-opening included the need for single use crockery and cutlery if you didn’t have a dishwasher that sanitises at over 80 degrees and setting up additional hand-washing and sanitising points throughout the business.

“Good food safety is the foundation of any food business and we have developed the Frequently Asked Questions sheet as a resource for our local businesses and to capture those recurring questions as they traverse this new COVID-19 landscape,” he said.

Council continues to provide support to local businesses across the region in different ways.

Mr Holton said the local business economy had taken many hits since the start of the year, first with the bushfire threat and aftermath and then COVID-19.

“We are working closely with the local Chambers of Commerce as well as the NSW Small Business Commissioner to ensure we can help to empower small businesses with advocacy and support,” he said.

To download the Food Business COVID-19 FAQ sheet visit https://bit.ly/3dN5JmX

-ENDS-