Covid eastern suburbs: Your guide to lockdown

With Covid cases growing the Premier has put the eastern suburbs into lockdown. Here’s your guide to what’s open, what’s closed and what you can and cannot do.

Daniel McGookin, David Barwell and Eliza Barr

3 min read

June 25, 2021 - 5:17PM

Wentworth Courier

Four Sydney LGAs thrown into lockdown: The conditions you need to know

Wentworth Courier

Don't miss out on the headlines from Wentworth Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.

As the eastern suburbs enters a week-long lockdown here’s your guide to what is and isn’t open.

On Friday morning the Premier announced the stay-at-home orders for the eastern suburbs.

This will be in place until at least the end on next Friday (July 2).

This means you can only leave home for the following reasons:

· Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;

· Medical care or compassionate needs;

· Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer;

· Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

As a result the local councils have made a series of announcement detailing what is and isn’t open over the next week.

Waverley Council has announced closures across its sites including its libraries and the council’s Customer Service Centre in Spring Street, Bondi Junction, for at least the next seven days.

Locals were out in Bondi on Friday before going into lockdown. Picture by Damian Shaw

Waverley Council Chambers is also closed and the council’s school holidays programs are cancelled.

An assessment of the situation will be made towards the end of next week to determine the rest of the holidays.

Seniors events and programs including those at the Margaret Whitlam Recreation Centre are also cancelled until further notice.

Shortly before 6pm on Friday it was announced that Bondi Festival had been cancelled.

However, the council has announced lifeguard patrols will continue as normal and playgrounds and outdoor fitness gyms remain open given that leaving your home for exercise is still permitted.

Childcare also remains open.

Mayor Paula Masselos said it was vital the community supports each other.

“Waverley Council has a proud history of supporting local businesses in the LGA and we will be revisiting our business support package to see what actions may need to be taken in light of this new outbreak,” she said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement during her Friday morning press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

“I would again like to thank the thousands of people who have been tested in the past 24 hours and would like to see these high rates of testing continue in Waverley.”

Woollahra Council has confirmed its Customer Service Centre, libraries and community venues will be closed for the next seven days.

However, library staff are available on 9391 7100 and email library@woollahra.nsw.gov.au. You can also download the Woollahra Libraries App and access the library collection from your phone.

Any overdue fees will be waived for this period.

The council’s beaches, harbourside pools and parks will remain open.

All Randwick Council libraries, Des Renford Leisure Centre, community centres and the Randwick Recycling Centre will close for at least the next week.

The Ice Rink, Bondi Beach, which was supposed to open on Monday as part of the Bondi Festival. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

This includes the Randwick Council Customer Service Centre and Administration Centre, Lionel Bowen Library, Maroubra, Margaret Martin Library, Randwick, Malabar Community Library, Matraville, Randwick Community Nursery, Kingsford and Community centres including Randwick Town Hall and Prince Henry Centre in Little Bay

Mayor Danny Said said: “While no doubt this will be disappointing for those with school holiday plans, this is a measured and reasonable response to the unfolding situation we find ourselves in.

Danny Said, Mayor of Randwick Council urged residents to stick to the guidelines. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“Our beaches, outdoor ocean pools, sports fields and playgrounds remain open and available for people to access for exercise purposes only while continuing to practice the social distancing and hand hygiene protocols that we are all well-familiar with by now.”

Much of the weekend’s sport has also been cancelled including all fixtures in the Shute Shield regardless of where they are being played.

“Ultimately the risk to players, fans and the public is too great,” a statement read. “We will revisit the situation next week, in preparation for Round Twelve. To the Shute Shield community, stay home and stay safe.”

Sunday’s Western Sydney Marathon which was due to be held at the Regatta Centre has also been postponed.