The end of regional Victoria’s lockdown this week has brought relief to business owners along with the added pressure of a policing role some are reluctant to take on. Key points Businesses in regional Victoria face hefty fines if they are caught serving customers and guests who should be locked down in Melbourne Traders are checking IDs but worry it exposes their staff to confrontation Regional communities say they will do whatever it takes to stay open and remain free of COVID-19 Without the so-called Victoria Police ring of steel to check traffic leaving the city, businesses face fines of $9,913 if they are caught serving customers or guests who should be locked down. Glenda Jones, who runs a fresh produce and plant shop with her husband in Bacchus Marsh, said the responsibility to check customers’ addresses “may be OK for the big corporate businesses that have got plenty of staff”. But she said it placed pressure on smaller businesses like hers and created anxiety for workers. “I really don’t want to get into a confrontation with anyone who is a sceptic, doesn’t believe, or who is political, or whatever,” she said. Want more local news? Sign up to Ballarat’s weekly email newsletter. On the front line Ms Jones said her business was rigorously enforcing QR code check-ins, with Bacchus Marsh taking no chances after its own COVID-19 scare last month. The town is near the boundary of Greater Melbourne and about 60 per cent of the Joneses’ clientele would ordinarily come from areas currently locked down, including Melton and Caroline Springs. Lucas Reid, who runs The Cally pub in Warrnambool, said the pressure of checking identification was “easier for full-time staff because they know a lot of the regulars”. “But for the casual staff, it is difficult,” he said. Mr Reid said appointing a COVID marshal was also an additional cost he hoped would only be required for the short term. A hospitality venue in Ballarat advising patrons their identification will be checked. Ballarat Christopher Testa Businesses do ‘everything asked’ Sergeant David Walkley, based in the coastal tourist town of Port Fairy, said police “certainly wouldn’t want it to come to [issuing fines to businesses]”. “We’d hope that they’d be doing the right thing to keep our community safe,” he said. Sally Cannon, co-owner of the Apollo Bay Bakery and Great Ocean Road Bakery in Lorne, said her businesses historically relied heavily on the tourist trade but would do “everything that’s asked of us” to stay open. She said few travellers were likely to try escaping to the regions. “I know in our small little town in Apollo Bay, as soon as somebody turns up in an empty house, we know straight away that they are probably not from regional Victoria if that’s the case,” Ms Cannon said. Loading… Read our full coverage on COVID-19 here Loading…