Extended lockdown for Greater Sydney and new restrictions introduced

In response to the evolving Delta outbreak, NSW will extend the current lockdown in Greater Sydney until the end of September, and introduce new rules targeting the local government areas of concern, where the vast majority of new cases are emerging.

TLA Members are advised to familiarise themselves with the new rules and regulations that were announced today particularly those Members living and working in the 12 LGAs of concern in Greater Sydney.

Greater Sydney lockdown extended

The current lockdown in Greater Sydney will be extended until the end of September 2021. The lockdown for regional NSW is still in force until 28 August 2021.

Mask Wearing mandatory 

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August, mask wearing will be mandatory when outside your home except when exercising.  This rule applies in Greater Sydney until the end of September and in regional NSW until 28 August 2021.

Additional rules for the LGAs of concern:

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August the following additional rules will apply for residents and businesses in the LGAs of concern:

• Curfews will be introduced from 9pm to 5am (except for authorised workers, emergencies or medical care) to help reduce the movement of young people.
• Outdoor exercise is limited to one hour per day.
• The following retail premises must close except for click and collect: garden centres and plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, landscaping material supplies, rural supplies, and pet supplies (tradespeople are allowed to shop in-store where relevant).

The following new restrictions around workplaces and authorised workers from the LGAs of concern will be introduced:

• Authorised workers who work outside their LGA of concern are only permitted to work if rapid antigen testing is implemented at their work-site or they have had their first vaccination dose by 30 August.
• From Saturday, 28 August, authorised workers from the LGAs of concern  are required to carry a permit from Service NSW declaring that they are an authorised worker and cannot work from home.
• From Saturday, 28 August, anyone entering an LGA of concern for the purposes of work must carry a worker permit issued by Service NSW.

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August, workers from the Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland and Fairfield LGAs will no longer have to have been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours to work outside their LGA.

Note authorised workers include construction workers on a non-occupied site. TLA will seek further information about the permits from Service NSW and communicate this to Members.

Information on these new restrictions can be found on the NSW Government COVID-19 page here.

New fines and additional NSW Police powers

Additional special powers will also be given to the NSW Police Force including:

• Power for the Commissioner of Police to lockdown apartment blocks while health assesses the COVID risk;
• Power for the Commissioner of Police to declare a residential premise a COVID-risk premise and require all people to present to police during compliance checks;
• Powers to allow Police to direct a person who has been issued with an infringement notice to return to their place of residence; and
• If a person from outside an LGA of concern is found to be in an LGA of concern without a reasonable excuse, they will be fined $1000 and required to isolate at home for 14 days.

Photo – TLA Member – Beyond Tomorrow Landscapes