Shellharbour residents will not require permits to enter regional NSW under a new system coming into play this weekend, Kiama MP Gareth Ward says.
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However, the NSW government has not yet made available the exact details of how the permit system will work, nor any specific exemptions that might apply to Shellharbour residents.
It has been confirmed that from this Saturday, residents of the Greater Sydney lockdown area will need a permit when entering regional areas to inspect real estate (to live in, no investment properties) or to travel to a second home (only for urgent repairs or to use as work accommodation).
Authorised workers from the listed LGAs of concern in metropolitan Sydney will also require a permit to enter regional NSW.
Mr Ward said on Tuesday that Shellharbour would no longer be included in this new measure.
"I am thrilled that Shellharbour has finally been recognised as being separate from Wollongong and Sydney," he said.
"This has been my view right from the very start and I have never stopped fighting for our community."
In response to a question, Premier Gladys Berejiklian told regional journalists on Tuesday that a "special permit system" would be introduced for Shellharbour and the Central Coast because of concerns that people from Sydney were visiting their holiday homes in those areas.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said more detail would be released "in the next day".
If Shellharbour is exempt, it will be the first time the city has fallen under different rules to Greater Sydney since the lockdown began seven and a half weeks ago.
It raises the question of whether the state government would continue to include Shellharbour with the rest of regional NSW moving forward.
Mayor Marianne Saliba said she did not necessarily think this was the case, given the government knew Shellharbour was not part of Sydney when it brought in the lockdown.
However, she said she was "always hopeful" of changes, and noted that to date no infections had come from a COVID-positive person visiting local businesses.
"I would love to see Shellharbour come out of lockdown, I think we've proven we're abiding by the rules," Cr Saliba said.
While she appreciated what Mr Ward was trying to achieve in removing Shellharbour from the permit system, she said it did create some confusion for Wollongong residents who needed to enter the city.
Ms Berejiklian said there was "always a higher risk of transient cases" in Shellharbour because of its proximity to Wollongong and Sydney.
"That's why the NSW government, based on the health advice, took a very conservative approach to Shellharbour, because of that close proximity, and just to make sure we keep the community safe," she said.
Ms Berejiklian said once the government was in a position to consider moving out of lockdown, considerations around Shellharbour's inclusion in regional NSW could be made.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
