As residents and small business owners across the Southern Highlands celebrated the easing COVID-19 restrictions, one business was told they had to wait until December.
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Indoor play centre Neeny's Playhouse has had to keep its doors shut while businesses around them open.
Shirley Collins from Neeny's said they could not open until December 1.
"However we have also been told that this can change at any time," she said,
"We are constantly checking for updates and hope that we can get a little bit of notice so we can order stock, re-clean, train new staff and get all the amazing children who missed out on parties booked in again.
"We had been told that we could open once NSW reached the 80 per cent milestone. We went in and got everything ready to open and rebooked parties only to find out on the day that we have been pushed back again.
"We have been so frustrated with how often the rules have changed with little to no notice, and never knowing how long we would be locked down for."
The changes in COVID-19 rules and regulations have left Neeny's in a state of limbo, and it's not just the business that is missing out - the children are too.
"We had to continually go over to check when food would expire, not knowing what to tell staff (some of who needed to get other jobs while waiting) the poor parents and children who wouldn't know if their party was going ahead or not until the week before," Shirley said.
"Some of whom this is the second year they've missed out."
The COVID-19 lockdown has also had a financial impact on the business.
"The months that we have been closed would have normally been our busiest with the Southern Highlands weather being colder," Shirley explained.
"It's the go-to place for younger children to play during the week and children's parties on the weekend. We rely on the colder months to help us throughout the year.
"We also have fundraising disco's throughout the to raise money for different local charities who have missed out too."
Despite the setbacks and frustration, Shirley can't wait to open up and has a COVID-safe business plan ready to go.
"We have always had the highest cleaning practices such as sanitising station throughout the centre, disinfecting from head to toe every day," she said.
"We had removed a quarter of our dining table for the last year to allow for social distancing and offering private hire to allow for less interaction within social circles.
"We have a COVID safe business plan in action which we are ready to update whenever NSW health decides we need to."
When Neeny's does open up, there's one thing Shirley can't wait for - welcoming the kids back.
"There are so many things we are excited for once we open but mostly the children," she said.
"Seeing how much they've grown in the last few months, seeing their excited little faces when they walk in the door, watching them play with their friends again, watching them make new friends each time they come and helping sing Happy Birthday and making sure their day is extra special.
"They've had such a hard time over the last few years these kids so we are so keen to get in and bring them some pure joy."
Read also: In case you missed it | Weekly Wrap
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
