Businesses on the Border Celebrate Daylight Savings End

Construction workers working on a clock, Sydney, Australia, March 6, 2018. William West/AFP via Getty Images

Toby Bamford operates his bakery in a time zone different from those less than one kilometre away.

On Sunday he plans to celebrate joining his Queensland neighbours.

For almost 20 million Australians, the end of daylight savings means an extra hour’s sleep.

But for Bamford, it means clarity on opening hours and reservation times for customers between states.

“It is really challenging at the moment,” he said.

“Whilst NSW customers are up and about, the Queenslanders are just waking up.”

Bamford owns Baked at Ancora in Tweed Heads, a cafe attached to a wedding venue located about 900 metres from the NSW border.

Bakers who live in Queensland start work at 3:45 a.m. during summer, a result of the one-hour difference.

Bamford said the disparity can also come in handy for staff running late.

“You’re never quite sure whether or not they’re just using it as an excuse,” he said.

Despite navigating its challenges, Bamford said he enjoyed the benefits of daylight saving during summer.

“I look forward to daylight saving for the long days and the long evenings,” he said.

“That’s a really exciting time.”

Daylight savings ends on Sunday at 3 a.m., when clocks move back one hour in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania.

The time difference has become second nature to Bamford but he would love for daylight savings to be applied to the communities who live close to the border in Queensland.

“Just where all the people live and the cows aren’t affected,” he said.

“It would make our lives a lot easier.”

Queensland and the Northern Territory don’t observe daylight savings.

‘Neither does Western Australia and its businesses dealing with eastern states say the extra hour is a tough adjustment.

“It forces teams to adapt - starting earlier, shifting schedules and adjusting operations just to stay in sync,” Fremantle Chamber of Commerce chief Chrissie Maus told AAP.

“In a globally connected economy, we need solutions that empower WA businesses, not hold them back.”