Northern beaches residents wrongly rejected from venues in NSW following COVID cluster

Disgusted and appalled is the reaction from politicians and health experts following the treatment of peninsula residents at holiday spots in NSW after the COVID lockdown.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard says there’s no logic to barring northern beaches residents. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Northern beaches residents are finding themselves barred from multiple venues including bowlos, golf clubs, restaurants, museums, up-market day spas and caravan parks while holidaying in NSW due to the stigma of the recent COVID cluster.

Reports of discrimination are occurring in many popular spots among them Byron Bay, Jervis Bay, Blue Mountains and Kingscliff, with returned holidaymakers saying they were made to feel like “lepers”.

Holidaymakers in Byron Bay have reported being barred from some venues because of their northern beaches postcode. Credit James Horan.

In one instance a girl with an injured wrist was not allowed entry to Tweed Hospital’s emergency department because of her postcode and was forced to wait and be treated in the carpark on a hot day.

Her mum wrote on the Manly Daily Facebook page that she was initially told her daughter couldn’t have an x-ray unless she returned a negative COVID test which could take up to three hours.

“We presented to Tweed Heads ER... for a broken wrist,” she wrote.

“Was made to triage in carpark. Was told daughter would need to return a negative COVID test before X-ray (could take 3 hours) eventually they brought the X-ray machine to us without having to wait for COVID test – but was ushered back to car park to wait, be seen and treated.”

The Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia on sunrise. Photo: iStock

She added that it was a “hot and sticky” wait in the carpark.

A car with a Brookvale number plate was also keyed in Jindabyne, with the owner suspecting it was because he was from the northern beaches.

Brad Hazzard, NSW Health Minister and Member for Wakehurst, said no hospital in NSW should deny a patient access on the basis of coming from the northern beaches.

“It is not acceptable,” he said.

Some venues in Jervis Bay have barred northern beaches residents, despite the lockdown being lifted. istock

He added NSW Health gives clear pronouncements when there are health issues and at the moment there are no issues on the peninsula that warrant that at this time.

He said there was “no logic” for venues barring people.

A spokesman for Northern NSW Local Health District said “to minimise risk to patients and staff, the patient was asked to wait in the undercover area outside the entrance to the Emergency Department and to follow PPE protocols,” he said.

“They were provided with and wore a mask.

“The patient was attended to very quickly, including being given a COVID test, an X-ray and was seen by a doctor and diagnosed with a soft tissue injury to the right wrist.

“We have contacted the family to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Meanwhile, Pittwater state Liberal MP Rob Stokes told the Manly Daily he was “disgusted at reports that northern beaches residents are being treated as second class citizens” by some venue owners.

“There’s absolutely no justification for supposing that northern beaches residents pose any additional health risks,” he said.

“The facts are that people in our community provided an exemplary response to a public health emergency.

Pittwater MP and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

“Having done the right thing it’s appalling to hear locals are being treated badly in other parts of NSW.”

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said he was also “appalled with that sort of treatment”.

“It is the same case for the suburb of Berala?” he said.

“Are they being singled out?

“It’s utterly discriminatory and I hope they wake up to themselves.”

Michael Regan, Mayor Northern Beaches Council says he is appalled at the treatment of local residents by some venue owners in NSW. Picture / Monique Harmer

The northern beaches was locked down a week before Christmas after a number of cases emerged in Avalon.

The southern part of the peninsula, south of Narrabeen bridge, was under stay at home orders for two weeks and those north of the bridge in lockdown for three weeks.

Following the sudden outbreak the northern beaches came out in their thousands to get tested and were repeatedly praised for their efforts by chief health officer Kerry Chant and the Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Professor Robert Booy, an infectious diseases paediatrician and expert in the fields of vaccinology, epidemiology and infectious diseases at the University of Sydney, told the Manly Daily the northern beaches had paid its dues.

“They’ve gone through a lot by shutdown, lockdown, careful observance, social distancing and masks,” he said.

“They’ve paid their dues.

“They have been shown to be low risk and we should treat them that way.

“I don’t believe northern beaches is a high risk centre any longer and we should observe what NSW Health is recommending.”