NGIV's sustained advocacy efforts help in early reopening for retail garden centres

On Sunday 20 September, the Victorian Government announced Victoria’s new four step roadmap to deliver the National Plan.

There was finally some welcome news for our metropolitan retail members, who will be able to open for outdoor service, in addition to contactless click and collect and delivery, at Phase B of the National Plan (indicative date 26 October 2021). 

At this stage we have not been briefed as to what 'outdoor service' will look like operationally, but we will seek clarification and provide you with updates.

On Friday 17 September, during a Small Business Recovery Committee meeting, NGIV CEO Craig Taberner was told by Minister for Small Business the Hon Jaala Pulford MLC, that NGIV had done everything in its powers to advocate for the early reopening of metropolitan retail garden centres and that we had represented our members to the fullest. 

And whilst we always believed that retail garden centres, due to their outdoor low-risk nature and the benefits to the community, should have remained open throughout the various lockdowns, we are pleased that garden centres who can trade outdoors are reopening prior to other 'non-essential' retail. 

If you have any questions relating to the announcement and/or how your retail garden centre will offer 'outdoor service' please contact NGIV at [email protected] | (03) 9576 0599. We will endeavour to get your questions answered.