Covid Health Order breaches by LGA: Blacktown, Bankstown, Sydney, Cumberland top list

The suburbs with the highest number of Public Health Order breaches have been revealed. See how your LGA ranks on the list here.

A whopping 14,000 people across the state have been issued fines or ordered to appear before a court over Covid-19 Public Health Order breaches — as the local government areas with the highest number of infringements can be revealed.

Police surround the CFMEU Headquarters in Pyrmont. Picture: NCA NewsWire Christian Gilles

Western Sydney communities, which have been strained by some of the state’s harshest and lengthy lockdowns, have topped the list of local government areas, with Blacktown residents being stung with the highest number of health order breaches.

Police officers on horseback disperse protesters during a rally in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

The Blacktown LGA saw 1293 infringements issued from March 2020 to September this year, while the southwest community of Canterbury-Bankstown came in second with 1127 fines issued.

The Sydney Local Government Area was ranked third on the list with 1047 cases, followed by Cumberland with 851, Central Coast with 677, Liverpool with 671 and Fairfield with 648 health order infringements issued.

Protestors clash with NSW Police officers at Town Hall during a protest to rally for freedom of speech, movement, choice, assembly, and Health in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

The Sutherland Shire also ranked in the top 10 communities, with 575 cases, followed by Penrith with 551 and Parramatta with 547 incidents recorded.

Wollongong saw 503 infringements issued, Campbelltown residents were hit with 469 fines, Bayside saw 461 and the Innet West received 410 fines.

SEE YOUR LGA HEALTH BREACH STATS HERE:

Social Demographer Mark McCrindle of McCrindle Research said the number of breaches in western Sydney could be attributed to the hightened levles of restriction with areas of concern and curfews enforced for months on end.

“These were the areas of concern and it was where the focus of NSW Police compliance was,” Mr McCrindle said. “This was where we policed heavily to stop the spread.

“In some parts of the north shore you can go about your whole day without seeing a police officer, but in Western Sydney there were significant resources, mounted police, helicopters and hightened restrictions in place.”

Mr McCrindle said the living situations of Greater Sydney could also be a factor in the number of reaches reported.

Mark McCrindle. (AAP IMAGE/Jordan Shields)

“In the North Shore people have larger blocks, with access to bushland and beaches, while higher density in western Sydney sees life being lived as a communal one,” he said.

“In higher socio-economic suburbs people are more aware of health orders and compliance. “By the time you add in language bariers and travel requirements for work in Sydney’s west, you will see higher rates of breaches.”