North East businesses are hoping locals will fill restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs and motels this weekend as part of a Valentine’s Day do-over.

Many businesses were hit hard by the Victorian Government’s circuit-breaker five day lockdown on the eve of one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Business Wodonga President, Graham Jenkin says many traders are on the brink of collapse, and the Victorian Government’s support package doesn’t go far enough.

“I understand it’s $140 odd million across the state which is a significant amount of money,” Graham said.

“But if you tell a hospitality business you’re getting two or three thousand dollars when you’ve possibly thrown out 20 thousand dollars’ worth of fresh produce, while paying power bills to run cool rooms, fridges, freezes and pay rent – it doesn’t go very far on what would have been one of their busiest weekends of the year.”

The business community is hoping locals will make an effort this weekend to celebrate the Valentine’s Day plans that were thrown into disarray.

“Even if you celebrated it in NSW, let’s do it all over again, let’s book Wodonga and North East businesses out,” Graham said.

“Come across for the night, spend a bit of money and show your significant others how much you love them by doing it all over again and if you are on the Victorian side and haven’t been able to celebrate, this is your chance to do it and feel special.

“And if you were the bloke who forgot Valentine’s Day a weekend ago, here’s your chance to make up for it,” joked Graham.

“A sell out weekend would be terrific to compensate businesses for all they lost on 14 February.”