Shellharbour is "being punished for something we didn't do" by being kept in lockdown for another four weeks, according to Mayor Marianne Saliba.
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On Wednesday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced Greater Sydney - which includes Shellharbour and Wollongong - would remain in lockdown for another month.
The decision angered Cr Saliba, who said the city had had no active cases since June 18, when someone from outside the Shellharbour LGA visited Baby Bunting.
"We're being punished for something we didn't do," Cr Saliba said.
"Nobody has spread the virus, nobody is doing anything in Shellharbour. We're obeying the rules and there's no virus and yet we're still being kept in our rooms."
While Ms Berejiklian did suggest areas that showed they were keeping the virus under control could be released from lockdown early - as had happened in the state's Central West - Cr Saliba wasn't expecting that to happen for Shellharbour.
"I don't believe that she will, because she's been saying this for the last two weeks," Cr Saliba said.
"I have been sitting here in heightened anticipation that at some stage she will let Shellharbour out and I don't think they will. I don't think they care enough about the people of Shellharbour to give a damn.
"How much better do you have to do than zero cases over a month? There's been zero cases the whole time we've been in lockdown."
She said she had written to NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and the Premier, asking why the city remained in lockdown but received no response so she was now considering ways to take the issue further.
"I'm probably going to put together a petition that I would expect would be tabled in parliament and I will fight it that way because obviously writing to them has not made one ounce of difference," she said.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the four-week lockdown extension didn't come as a surprise.
"I think it was fairly predictable in as much that the numbers were clearly going to get worse and not better but also the number of people who are still infectious and out in the community," Cr Bradbery said.
While he was pleased construction could start again, Cr Bradbery was concerned for the future of a number of small business and whether they would survive the next four weeks.
He said council was working on a COVID assistance package that would go before councillors next week.
"It's not just about stimulating business but also the opportunities of how we're going to facilitate the vaccination hub in the city as well."
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