BRIAN Lizotte was one of many Hunter business owners despairing at the news of COVID-19 restrictions coming into effect on Saturday, immediately taking a heavy toll.
As the owner of live music venue, Lizotte's, at Lambton, he joined three members of staff to get in touch with 400 people holding tickets to the Johnny Diesel concert on Saturday night, as well as the booked-out Kate Cebrano show on Sunday.
The team managed to get in touch with all those affected.
"What we've got is a huge administrative nightmare," Mr Lizotte said.
"We were back to full capacity. I feel for the musicians in particular because they have been robbed far too many times, and there is so much administration that goes into cancelling and postponing, and crediting and perpetuating a ticket, we were only just finishing those shows that got postponed a year ago."
The knock-on effects of cancelled shows, in terms of accommodation and associated business, was "phenomenal", he said.
The cancellation of outdoor events at the weekend alone affected thousands of small businesses geared up to do a day's trade.
They include the owners of Newy Burger Co who were giving food away after preparing upwards of 300 food truck burgers to feed guests at the Love Lambton 150 years celebration on Sunday which was also postponed.
"Couldn't sleep thinking of what to do with a truck full of food and what today and the coming weeks will bring so decided to spin a little kindness," they told customers.
"Have made a huge batch of pumpkin soup for people to take home along with packs of our fresh buns so they don't go to waste."
The COVID restrictions announced by the Premier earlier in the week were already having an unintended impact on the hospitality and tourism sector in Newcastle and the Hunter region, according to Business HunterChief Executive Officer Bob Hawes.
"Similar to what occurred in late 2020, a number of the region's businesses are reporting pre-emptive cancelations and deferments of school holiday accommodation and other bookings," Mr Hawes said.
"There's no doubt these restrictions and the response of the travelling public will have an impact on business in our region, just when many are starting to emerge from this pandemic."
