As the Central Coast prepares to enter its fourth week of lockdown, tighter restrictions imposed from July 19 have added to fears the lockdown could be extended beyond July 30.
But the push for an early release from restrictions for the Coast is gathering momentum.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said Premier Gladys Berejiklian had flagged that an easing of restrictions for the Coast, as well as the Wollongong area, is being considered.
“At Wednesday’s press conference, the Premier said: ‘But we are also looking at opportunities to perhaps address those regions [Central Coast and Wollongong] in a particular way given we can keep the virus out’,” Crouch said.
“Last week I committed to fiercely advocate for the Central Coast region’s lockdown to end, but only if it is safe to do so.
“Every decision made by the NSW Government should follow the health advice to the letter.
“I’ve been speaking to the Premier daily about our region and how the majority of people have done a great job by following the stay-at-home orders.
“Right now the ball is in our court to keep on following the rules and to get tested if you have any symptoms at all.
“All it could take is a single case to scuttle our hopes of getting out of lockdown, so there’s never been a more important time to remain vigilant.”
Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris, said he had been working with Crouch to see the Coast released from severe restrictions “as soon as is feasible”.
“They tell us they have it under rolling review, but we will continue to push,” Harris said.
“There have been no locally acquired cases or community spread on the Coast and we may be able to get back to fewer restrictions than are operating now.”
Not surprisingly, pressure from local businesses is mounting for an early release for the region.
Business NSW Central Coast is advocating for a return to work for the construction industry under reduced operating conditions.
Representatives said that a pause on non-essential construction work was one of the most devastating of the new measures announced from July 19, with estimates it could cost the region many millions of dollars.
Non-essential retail premises on the Central Coast were also directed to close until midnight on July 30, although click and collect, takeaway and home delivery can still operate.
Only the following can remain open: supermarkets and grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stores, liquor stores and fishmongers); stores that predominantly sell health, medical, maternity and infant supplies; pharmacies and chemists; petrol stations; car hire companies; banks and financial institutions; hardware, nurseries and building supplies; agricultural and rural supplies; pet supplies; post offices and newsagents; and office supplies.
Anyone who leaves the home must have a mask with them at all times.
They must be worn when you are working outdoors, in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in outdoor queues waiting for products such as coffee and food.
All carpooling must be stopped unless among members of the same household.
Employers must allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so; failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $10,000.
All other restrictions remain in place.
Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said the new restrictions were “an incredibly tough decision but a necessary one”.
Member for The Entrance, David Mehan, has called on the State Government to review the impact of the car pooling restriction on workers who cannot work from home.
“Hundreds of Central Coast blue collar workers and those who cannot work from home are bearing the brunt of the health restrictions and the risk of contracting the virus,” Mehan said.
“The latest restriction which will impact these workers is the ban on car-pooling to get to work.
“Many Coast workers car-pool to get to work to save on the high cost of travelling to Sydney or Newcastle to locations which are typically poorly services by public transport.
“These workers can’t choose whether they attend a workplace or not and now the State Government is dictating how they will travel to work, without compensation.
“I’ll be asking the Health Minister to review the impact the current restrictions have on those who cannot work from home.”
CEO of Regional Development Australia Central Coast (RDACC), John Mouland, said the RDACC supported the NSW Government’s decisions to increase restrictions, but encouraged everyone to buy local to support the many businesses doing it tough.
“Some will not survive the COVID-related challenges they have encountered over the past two years,” he said.
“We need to ensure that our key regional industry sectors such as construction, retail, hospitality and tourism reopen as quickly as possible once the immediate threat subsides.”
Terry Collins
Lockdown is COMPLETE MISMANAGEMENT of covid and has no scientific basis. It only unnecessarily destroys society and causes severe impoverishment. As a doctor I’m absolutely appalled by this misguided sledgehammer approach to manage a viral outbreak with >99% survival rate.
In fact there are safe efficacious life saving covid treatment options that can effectively end Lockdowns, yet the NSW Health is withholding it. This is a serious health blunder perpetuated from inappropriate management of a viral outbreak.
Also healthy people wearing mask is completely useless, again not scientifically based approach. Outrageous conduct!
Restrictions tighten, every time the media mention what’s open, and what’s been closed due to covid, no mention about mechanical business at all, we don’t count obviously !!!!
Why are some real estate agents offices fully manned when other local businesses cannot open?
Agree with the Mask comments from the doctor.The nurse who administered my vaccination said that most masks became porous after 5 minutes of you breathing into them & therefore were really only beneficial in preventing you passing something onto someone if you were sick. So,if I was sick I would be happy to wear a mask but if I’m healthy surely it’s my choice to wear one or not.What’s next.. will they be telling me to wear a red shirt on Sundays because red keeps the flies away !
In the same way the Central Coast has so unnecessarily been smashed when Newcastle which is 70 kms up the road & probably has more people commuting to Sydney has been left untouched.
Surely, it’s time to invest some common sense and consistency back into the thinking & decisions being made.
Rules should be relaxed also for those who are fully vaccinated and have proof. Central Coast definitely needs to be excluded from Sydney lockdown. Get vaccinated please.
Rules should be relaxed also for those who are fully vaccinated and have proof. Central Coast definitely needs to be excluded from Sydney lockdown. Get vaccinated please.
Are there any benefits other than the obvious to having both injections
No early release with CoVid cases on the coast and idiots protesting in their cars todsy
I would like to know about car pooling. I take one person to work, the only reason is they don’t have a driver’s licence.
Why oh why is the central coast part of Sydney why can’t this finish at th Hawksberry river bridge and also we need people to stop the Sydney Sixers from coming up to the central coast for weekend visits to stop the spread of this Delta virus 🦠 up here.
Please please stop 🛑 us from being part of Sydney greater area.
Thank you so much
There are side effects in all medications. Most at risk can be otc painkillers, cardiac medications, oral contraceptives, and illegal drugs. People still use them though. There is is a much smaller risk with AstraZenica shots. Get them done… ASAP.
Lost part time job hours now it’s back to living on a dole check. Wait till the winter electricity bills come over the top. Fed up!
Gladys declared a national state of emergency, well it’s not her position to do so but for the PM.
Scomo said it had been one for two years, that’s funny why weren’t we told.
It costs NSW 2.1 billion a week so how much the whole country, clearly this is not sustainable.
The Federal government has completed mismanaged the whole thing, we two two tier vaccines as they wanted to do it on the cheap.
The cost to the social and mental fabric of the community is astronomic, we are social beings.
Unless you totally eradicate the virus then lockdowns are not going to work as it only takes ONE person to spread it.
The only solution is to vaccinate everyone with Pfizer and even then it is still possible for people to get covid