An Oakleigh trader says the suburb’s famous Hellenic precinct will survive and thrive again despite much of it being fenced and taped off with displays of COVID-19 warning signs in Greek and English.

The trader, who did not want to be identified, said businesses in the famous Eaton Mall had also been threatened with hefty fines and even barricading the entire mall if they and customers didn’t obey the rules.

The trader said business had dropped even further since the fencing and taping was installed on Monday 24 August.

“It’s pretty bleak,” the trader said. “But, you’ll never kill Oakleigh.”

The trader said before the fencing and taping were installed, there were undercover police and council staff in the mall watching to see if people were wearing masks.

If people continued to disobey stage 4 lockdown rules authorities said they would “barricade the whole mall”, the trader said.

A COVID-19 inspector threatened traders with a $20,000 fine if customers didn’t wear masks in their shops, the trader said.

The trader said the authorities’s tactics were hostile and contradictory.

“But they also tell you to shop local,” the trader said.

The trader said the tall metal fence in the heart of the mall, between Risk Bar and the boutique MsShelly, was imposing.

“It took 10 people in hi-viz to get that up,” the trader said.

READ MORE: Monash Council enacts COVID-19 10% rates waiver for new financial year

The trader said businesses weren’t consulted about the barriers.

Neos Kosmos visited Eaton Mall on Thursday 27 August, between 4 and 5pm.

In the short mall, we saw one high, metal fence in the heart of the mall, another smaller fence, and three other taped off areas.

Two seats at the top of the mall facing Atherton Rd were clear to sit on. But, between these seats and Chester St, there were witches hats around benches directly opposite Alimonakis Pharmacy, the tall fence between Risk Bar and MsShelley boutique and a taped off empty area between Vanilla restaurant and, across it, Vanilla cakes.

In the second half of the mall, there was a short metal fence between Nikos Cakes and Giannis Jewellers opposite, and a fenced off seating area near the entrance to Oakleigh Central.

READ MORE: Banks, rents and rates still problems for Oakleigh traders

There were also signs in English and Greek instructing people that an area was “out of bounds” and illustrating social distancing.

Neos Kosmos reported two weeks ago on criticisms that Oakleigh’s Greek community were not adhering to stage 4 rules after photos posted on social media showed a busy Eaton Mall,on Saturday 15 August.

Saturdays are traditionally a busy shopping day in Oakeligh and the date 15 August is Assumption, the biggest religious day in the Greek Orthodox calendar after Easter and Christmas.