A range of the COVID-19 measures have been amended, and we will do our best to explain them for bike riders in NSW.
Bicycle NSW uses the latest published amendments to the health orders to develop advice and update our table. At times this has meant that Bicycle NSW information regarding restrictions has been ahead of some Government websites (including the NSW Health) and some media outlets.
Changes to who is locked down
The whole of NSW remains in lockdown until the 28th of August, and the Greater Sydney lockdown has been extended to 30 September.
For the purposes of the legislation, Greater Sydney still includes the Blue Mountains and Wollongong, but no longer incorporates Shellharbour and the Central Coast, which are now classified as regional areas.
Entering and leaving Greater Sydney
If you live outside Greater Sydney you are not allowed to enter without a reasonable excuse, and exercise is not one of the reasons. If you live in Greater Sydney and you wish to relocate, travel between places of residence or work more than 50km outside Greater Sydney, you need a permit which can be obtained from Service NSW.
Masks
Mask wearing will be required in all of NSW, for anyone over 12, indoors other than inside your home and if you are waiting for public transport outdoors. From today everyone must wear a mask outdoors unless you are exercising. The requirement that exercise had to be strenuous was confusing, and has been removed.
LGAs of Concern Curfew & Exercise Limits
From today a curfew will apply to residents in the 15 local government areas (LGAs) of concern; they must stay home between 9:00pm and 5:00am. People in these areas are also only allowed to exercise outside their home for 1 hour a day.
The Local Government Areas of concern remain the same at present and include: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and some suburbs of Penrith.
NSW Police have also been granted additional powers to fine a person $1000 and order them to isolate for two weeks if they enter an LGA of concern without a reasonable excuse. If you live outside the LGAs of concern, do not ride in to exercise.
Permits
People leaving Greater Sydney to travel to regional NSW must have a permit from today, the 21st of August. To apply, visit Service NSW. From the 28th of August, workers entering or leaving the LGA’s of concern will also be required to hold a permit.
Identification Requirements
The requirement to carry a form of identification that proves where you live has been changed to apply to people aged 16 and above, lowered from 18 and above, for anyone leaving home in an area where a stay at home applies.
“We realise this is a lot of information to stay on top of, and we appreciate the efforts of all riders in NSW to stay up to date,” said Bicycle NSW General Manager of Public Affairs, Bastien Wallace.
“Thank you for all your efforts to control the spread of COVID-19,” said Bastien.
Bicycle NSW is not in the position to provide individual information. If you would like further clarification any COVID-19 restrictions, please visit the NSW Health website, the updated health orders or contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.