How Covid lockdown changed NSW: Picture special

The events of the last two years have impacted every aspect of our daily lives. Now, thanks to stunning aerial photography and on-the-ground reporting we can reveal just how Covid has changed us.

These are the stark images which show just how much the Covid lockdown changed every aspect of our daily lives.

Photos from aerial imagery company Nearmap combined with images taken on the ground by our reporters across NSW give a snapshot of the changes to our daily lives.

While we are not quite back to normal, businesses are reporting the green shoots of recovery and there is optimism in the air.

The aerial images are courtesy of Nearmap, an Australian company which provides photography for clients around the world.

The company has captured key sites in Sydney and beyond before, during and after lockdown to reveal how the events of this year changed the way we lived, travelled and worked.

The images of our shopping centres show the impact Covid has had on our traditional retail.

While before lockdown car parks were near capacity, lockdown images show a sea of tarmac as people turned to buying online.

The empty car park at Sydney Airport lays bare the devastating impact Covid has had on the aviation industry.

However, there is little change at Port Botany as the demand for products if anything increased.

The images for the Port were taken during and then after the lockdown.

Tourism has clearly taken a huge hit during the last two years and images of The Rocks, Opera House and Sydney’s beaches show just how devastating it has been.

NSW opened up once the vaccination target was hit in early October and restaurants and pubs are catering to customers for the first time in months.

We sent out our reporters to popular cafes, venues, pubs and restaurants in the weeks before and then after lockdown to get an idea of how the recovery is progressing.

“It’s looking pretty good,” Damian Kelly of Business NSW said.

“Most places are reporting really strong traffic. At the start, when restrictions first eased it was very difficult for a number of premises because of the four square metre rule and now those restrictions have eased, restaurants are very full.”

He said the hospitality industry was far from back to pre-Covid levels but declared there to be a “great buzz and great excitement”.

He added: “Lots of people having catch ups they’ve been looking forward to for months. People are out enjoying diners with family and friends. But there’s a long way to go before we are talking pre-Covid levels.”

He added: “The big problem now is the lack of staff … We need the international borders open as quickly as possible. We need international students back, travellers back. Lots of those causal jobs are done by international students and travellers. It will provide a massive boost when that happens.”

Paul Nicolaou, Executive Director of Business Sydney, said there was slower progress for many CBD businesses.

“Business in the Sydney CBD are recovering very slowly as workers gradually return to city offices, although not five days a week, so there are many cafes and food outlets – especially in food courts – that are either still closed or open reduced hours.”

He added: “It’s a much better story in suburban high streets and shopping centres where foot traffic is up to around 60% and the recent easing of capacity limits has seen a marked improvement in trade for the larger restaurants and hospitality venues.”

He too said the problem now was staffing.

“It is the difficulty in finding enough staff – from baristas to chefs and front of house staff. I’ve spoken to a number of cafes in the CBD who can’t get responses to their ads for staff.”

For many business owners it has been quite an emotional experience welcoming back customers for the first time.

General manager of Surry Hills pub Forrester’s, Shaun Brown, said he was delighted with the steady stream of customers in since reopening.

“It’s been great and really refreshing to have everyone back,” Mr Brown.

“Everyone has been really thirsty.”

Catalina Rose Bay owner Judy McMahon could not wipe the smile off her face during a glorious midweek lunch service.

First class Qantas flight attendants, whose skills are greatly appreciated as they wait to get back in the air, greet diners as they walk in the front door, checking vaccination certificates.

“It’s just been amazing to see the support and positivity from all of our customers,” Ms McMahon said.

“Everybody is so excited to come in and have a great time.

“The flight attendants are wonderful. They’re just so warm and professional and they are just taking the bit of extra pressure off for us.”

The waterfront restaurant is booked solid on weekends and midweek is similarly busy.

“The waitlists are huge but it is still worth getting on them because people’s plans do change,” Ms McMahon said.

There have been encouraging signs over on the northern beaches as well.

Speaking shortly after reopening Tom McLoughlin, assistant manager at The Bavarian in Manly, said they had been at capacity for most of the first week out of lockdown and had to turn some people away who had not made bookings.

“Last week was incredible,” he said.

“It was pretty much what we expected for our first week back. We knew people were dying to get back to the pub.”

Mr McLoughlin said it was great to be back after kicking around for four months “not doing much”.

However, Andrew McKellar, chief executive Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, issued a note of caution.

“Ending lockdowns and restrictions is instrumental in getting the country back to business, however reopening a business is not as simple as flicking a switch.

“It will take time for a business to get their employees and customers back and therefore operate at full capacity.

“While expectations for the future remain positive, businesses across the country are facing skills and labour shortages not seen in decades as well as the closure of international borders to tourist and students.

“Governments need to ensure adequate support and a clear plan to immediately resolve these challenges.

“Business support should reflect the ongoing impacts of the pandemic that will be faced by businesses after lockdowns and restrictions end.”