A cafe owner in Sydney's northern beaches says the State Government's grants program to relieve businesses struggling since the Christmas coronavirus lockdown is an "insult".
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet this morning announced grants of up to $5,000 for small businesses that lost money as a result of the lockdown, introduced in response to the Avalon cluster.
Businesses need to show the lockdown caused a 30 per cent reduction in turnover for a $3,000 grant, or a 50 per cent reduction in turnover for a $5,000 grant.
In December, the northern beaches was the epicentre of a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, which resulted in more than 150 cases linked to a cluster at Avalon.
The northern beaches was separated into a northern and southern zone and strict restrictions were in place, including across the Christmas period.
The last case to be linked to the cluster was on January 14.
Nourished Cafe and Lounge owner Jimmy Arslan said while he understood people needed funds, he considered the amount an insult.
"$5,000, to be honest they can have it, I don't even want it," he said.
"It's going to do nothing to what we went through.
Mr Perrottet this morning defended the package, saying the money would cover "unavoidable" expenses.
"The result today is a fair result, a generous result, and something that will go a long way to helping many businesses get through it," he said.
"We are incredibly grateful to the people of the beaches for what they did over summer and this is recognition for the sacrifices that they made."
Mr Arslan said he'd prefer the State Government worked to incentivise people to visit the beaches.
"We're not a charity, we work hard, we do what we do," he said.
"The people who put us into lockdown, I do think they have an obligation at least during that lockdown to compensate all the businesses and individuals that lost a lot.
"I'd rather them just say they're going to help with tourism and bring people here and encourage people from outside to come and shop and enjoy this area."
The State Government is looking to roll out Dine & Discover vouchers, announced in last year's budget, to the region in February.
Liz Treloar, owner of Beaches Beauty in Avalon, said she was completely booked out before the lockdown.
"The biggest problem for us is the amount of gift vouchers that we missed out on selling," she said.
"We're grateful for any help that they want to throw our way, we're never going to say no.
"It's not enough and it doesn't cover what we will have missed out on over that Christmas period.
