Outdoor pools are permitted to reopen across the state, with even the unvaccinated allowed to swim within their local government area.
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Across the Illawarra, however, only one outdoor pool will reopen in time for residents to enjoy a swim during the second week of school holidays.
Shellharbour City Council staff will on Saturday welcome people back to Oak Flats Pool, one of four council-run swimming facilities in the LGA.
But Wollongong residents could be waiting months for a COVID-safe reopening of outdoor pools.
Wollongong City Council - which operates the Continental Pool, as well as multiple heated pools across the city - said preparations are underway, but had provided no firm date except for "summer".
"With the announcement last Sunday that permission would be granted to reopen the pools, we've fast-tracked the induction of our seasonal pool lifeguards who had been on standby ahead of the start of the pool season," the council said in a statement.
It expects to be able to provide an official date mid-next week.
In the Kiama LGA, the council's one open-air pool in Jamberoo only opens from December to April.
More than 85 per cent of people over 16 have had at least one vaccine dose, while around 60 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Meantime, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said details about a number of key changes to the roadmap out of lockdown will be revealed on Monday at the government's daily briefing, and stressed rural NSW needs to be protected.
"What we don't want is a seeding event in the regions," he said on Monday.
The plan will expand on the restoration of freedoms, which will start at 70 per cent double-dose vaccination coverage, for the fully vaccinated.
The new freedoms are expected to include larger gatherings, increased major event crowds and the resumption of auctions and community sport.
Construction sites in NSW are now able to return to full capacity with COVID safety plans, after previously being restricted to 50 per cent.
Meanwhile, Business NSW has dubbed the 70 per cent re-opening day - likely to be October 11 or 18 - 'back-to-business day' with CEO Daniel Hunter urging people to support local firms.
But he says business owners are still awaiting new public health orders about how to deal with vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
"The government has indicated it is going to be an individual accountability, so if you're not vaccinated it's actually going to be on you to not enter those premises," he told 2GB.
"We actually applaud that, because those small businesses can't afford the resources to be policing who's vaccinated and who's not," he said.
Nine deaths were reported on Sunday, as the state recorded 961 new local cases of COVID-19.
Australian Associated Press
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