URBNSURF to temporarily close...again

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

As Melbourne again goes into lockdown, old restrictions getting newly enforced, surfers were hoping URBNSURF could stay open.

And it wasn't just citybound surfers anxious for a good outcome, but also those on the Mornington Pensinsula hoping the Tulla Tub could share the load.

But it ain't to be, as of tomorrow the park will be temporarily closed, barely three weeks after re-opening.

A quick call to Rupert Partridge, URBNSURF Brand & Marketing Manager, and his tone - usually chipper, now flat - betrays his disappointment.

"We were checking the news on the hour, every hour," says Rupe of the last three days, "and each update we'd ask ourselves, 'But what does this mean for us?'"

Despite thinking through every workaround solution, jigging this way and that, there was no avoiding the outcome. "The safety of our guests and crew is number one, so we’ve gotta abide by the restrictions and temporarily close again."

The staff who've been rehired, retrained, now have no work. A lone ray of light has been the response from their mainstay community who booked up all possible sessions when the threat of lockdown loomed ("They all wanted to get some last sessions in," explains Rupert), but who've also been supportive of the centre across social media and in person.

"It's disappointing," says Rupert, "but we’re all in this together now and we're optimistic about re-opening soon. Some of the messages of support we’ve received from our members and community have really helped”.

With the turnstyles closed, the crew plan to make use of the time finishing off the fitout for their Three Blue Ducks restaurant, and working on new waves. “We used the last break to develop our new Expert and Cruiser wave settings, which people loved, so we’ll work on improving the wave menu again,” says Rupert

The full press release is below:

Due to the worsening coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, URBNSURF Melbourne will temporarily close from Thursday, 9 July 2020.

Yesterday the Victorian Premier announced that Stage 3 “Stay At Home” restrictions will be reinstated across metropolitan Melbourne from 11.59pm tonight (being Wednesday, 8 July 2020) for a period of six weeks. URBNSURF Melbourne is located within the Hume local government area, and as such, our operations are subject to these reinstated restrictions. Thankfully, we have not been notified of any cases of COVID-19 within the park.

As the situation develops, and we receive further advice regarding our re-opening, we’ll keep you updated via this page, our email newsletter The Forecast (which you can subscribe to above), and our Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Once it’s safe to do so, we’ll be stoked to welcome you back so you can #surfmore perfect waves with us.

To our members

We have paused your monthly billing cycle, your current entitlements will remain valid, and we will extend the duration of your membership for the period of time that we’re closed. If you’re booked in for a session on or after 9 July, we’ll provide you with a credit for your bookings, to use once we re-open.

To our multipack holders

Your current entitlements will remain valid, and we will extend the duration of your multipack validity for the period of time we’re closed. If you’re booked in for a session on or after 9 July, we’ll provide you with a credit for your bookings, to use once we re-open.

To our guests

If you’re booked in for a session on or after 9 July, we’ll provide you with a credit for your bookings, to use once we re-open. 

For the time being, our surf sessions, surf lessons and spectator passes are not available for purchase beyond 8 July 2020, however our memberships, multipacks and gift cards remain on sale.

In the coming days, you’ll receive an email from our friendly CX crew regarding a credit for your booking(s). If you haven’t heard from us by Friday, 17 July, or if you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. We appreciate your patience in us responding to you, as we’re currently receiving a high volume of emails and calls.

We encourage our members, guests and crew to stay safe, strictly observe the reinstated Stage 3 restrictions, continue practicing social distancing and good hygiene, and to get tested if you have symptoms.

Once again, I’d like to thank our loyal members, guests, partners and fans. Without your support, we just wouldn’t have the level of stoke that exists within URBNSURF, and not being able to connect with you all in person is heartbreaking for myself and the team. We want to reassure you that you are all top of mind in every decision we make in this amazing business, and can’t wait to have you back surfing with us soon.

Please stay safe, look after yourselves, and keep the stoke alive!

Damon Tudor, CEO, URBNSURF Group

Comments

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020 at 12:55pm

Tough one for all businesses but super tough when you are brand new and it took longer and more $ than expected to build. I really hope they can hunker down and be up and running in 6 weeks time.....and make a success of the tub. It really is fun place.

Dx3's picture
Dx3's picture
Dx3 Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020 at 2:02pm

Spot on, I'll be saving up plenty of coin to use here when they re-open. Whatever your views on wave pools, you can't deny the epic vibe of the place when you're there, everyone has a big smile on their face and that's all that matters. Excited to see what tweaks might come on their wave settings as they re-open too

geek's picture
geek's picture
geek Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020 at 2:26pm

Agree, pretty sick place. I was lucky to use my credit from the last lockdown last weekend. Really keen to give expert a go!

Stok's picture
Stok's picture
Stok Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020 at 2:45pm

In some ways it was great they opened up and established themselves prior to Covid. Can't imagine how things would've gone if this happened a year ago, before they began construction....you'd be pretty game to take a punt on a new wavepool now.

bipola's picture
bipola's picture
bipola Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020 at 2:52pm

2020 is not a year any of us is going to forget. i doubt things will be normal again.
this could be the new normal ???????

GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020 at 4:22pm

thinking it will be the new normal.

nevertuold's picture
nevertuold's picture
nevertuold Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020 at 10:11pm

It'll probably get recorded as Covid. Make sure they shut down all the McDonalds and Bunnings aswell hey!

nevertuold's picture
nevertuold's picture
nevertuold Wednesday, 8 Jul 2020 at 10:17pm

So ya rekon all the bunnings, big corporate service stations and shopping centres etc should shut down aswell? Doesn't make sense to me that they can stay operational the whole time. What about mcdonalds and hungry jacks? Im sure the staff have f all chance of staying 1.5metres apart. That and flawed testing. Seems like a big con to me!

warddy's picture
warddy's picture
warddy Thursday, 9 Jul 2020 at 7:17am

Yes officer ?
You can’t sit in that spot your not allowed...
Why ?
It’s the rules ...
Oh this whole thing is fucking my mental health :( officer !
See that Chemist Warehouse over there?
Go get some meds they allow 60 in at a time in that little shop so you’ll be feeling better in no time ;)
Thanks officer I feel much better now

JackStance's picture
JackStance's picture
JackStance Thursday, 9 Jul 2020 at 5:47pm

Good to read the comments.

The powers that be clearly understand that everything is conciseness. That is why we are in a psychological war on consciousness, love, truth and dissonance.

Our greatest strength is our unity based on a consciousness that is derived from doing our inner work - looking at our anger, and healing the deep wounds from which is it sourced.

Once our personal healing journey is on foot, we need to take parliament back from the corporate lackies, so that the people can govern for the people, as opposed to what is going on now, and mark my words: "we ain't seen nothin' yet".

Shit is only staring to get crazy.

That is why self care needs to be the top priority - which I know is super fuckin hard as a father... and for the mothers too of course.

So, do your anger work, and beware of the fake "independent" media large or small because more than 90% of it is 'owned opposition' designed to pacify us, or to support ideas and groups that ultimately are against our own interests, basically to make us do anything but retrieving the parliament back to the people.

All for All.

The Conscious Revolution.

D-Rex's picture
D-Rex's picture
D-Rex Thursday, 9 Jul 2020 at 7:03pm

Please Jack, say it isn't so! I thought it was only 'the Murdoch press' who were corrupting our innocent, naive little minds - please don't tell me that the (sacrosant) ABC, SMH, The Age and, God forbid, The Guardian, are also (gasp) not to be trusted?
PS I think you mean 'Breathe', not 'Breath'.