RIVERINA hospitality operators are cautiously welcoming the fast-tracking of the NSW roadmap to reopening, which was announced on Tuesday.
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Under the changes, restrictions meant to lift on December 1 were brought forward to Monday.
Hospitality will be then subject to two-square-metre density requirements while major stadiums and events will be allowed 100 per cent capacity.
Albury restaurant The River Deck operator Alex Smit welcomed the easing of restrictions, which would allow businesses to reopen more fully.
"They are definitely welcome changes," he said.
"It's good to have some optimism and hopefully we can remain optimistic.
"Albury definitely needs some visitors through the town; for my business and others like mine it's critical.
"It's been a quiet few weeks but it's starting to pick up now.
"People from Sydney and Melbourne are starting to circulate and hopefully we'll have a bumper summer.
"We all need a bumper summer!"
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Mr Smit said the events sector would welcome the certainty under the changes.
"It's been extremely difficult to book functions or weddings in the past 18 months," Mr Smit said.
"Some weddings were pushed back three times; we certainly hope to offer weddings and events again.
"We want to put our best foot forward and get everybody through safely."
Taco Bill Mexican Restaurant co-owner Gisella Henry said she would take a cautious approach to the changes.
"Safety is our main concern," she said.
"In 36 years in the industry I've seen a lot of changes but these changes are happening on a daily basis.
"Our customers range from little kids to my age group and we want everybody to be safe."
Ms Henry said they might operate at four-square-metres for a little longer.
"We won't allow stand-up drinking again," she said.
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