Coronavirus in Australia: NSW moves to overrule supermarket loading dock and truck delivery curfews

Relief is on the way for frustrated shoppers faced with bare supermarket shelves, with another government moving to override a legal quirk making restocking tough.

Another state has moved to change a rule that is making it hard for supermarkets to restock shelves left bare by panic-buying and coronavirus hoarding.

New South Wales last night amended restrictions imposed by local councils that essentially place a curfew on loading docks receiving goods at certain times.

In normal circumstances, the local planning guides ensure that loud trucks aren’t arriving at supermarkets in residential areas late at night or early in the morning.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government’s change overrides individual councils’ curfews to ensure trucks can unload at supermarket docks 24 hours a day during the coronavirus crisis.

“We need to make sure these products can move from factories to shelves as quickly as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We are moving quickly so truck drivers can make deliveries to supermarkets around the clock. It is important that people now stop unnecessary panic buying.”

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Police officers distributed toilet paper and paper towels at a Sydney supermarket in a bid to calm coronavirus-related panic buying. Picture: Twitter

The state’s Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said trucks could now make deliveries at any time to ensure shops were getting the essential items they run short of.

“Councils and retailers have been working well together to allow greater flexibility in delivery hours, and this change gives everyone the certainty we need to ensure these deliveries can continue,” Mr Stokes said.

The new rules will apply immediately and remain in place until the current crisis has eased.

Panic-buying of a number of essential items due to the coronavirus crisis continues despite pleas from government and the bosses of Woolworths and Coles to remain calm, and loo roll is one of the most in-demand products.

The problem isn’t that Australia is running out of products. It’s that supermarkets can’t keep up with the unprecedented demand – busier than any other peak time ever experienced, according to Woolworths.

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Early morning older shoppers arrive at a Woolworths in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Earlier this week, Queensland Parliament passed an emergency reform allowing around the clock truck and delivery dock operation.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the reforms relax every individual councils’ planning conditions that impose a curfew on truck deliveries.

“We’ve seen unprecedented demand for groceries like non-perishable food, toilet paper and other essentials,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“We are not running out of products. But we need to make these changes to get products on the shelves as quickly as possible.”

Empty toilet paper shelves at Woolworths in Casino.

Other states and territories have the power to intervene and override local planning curfews.

But in the interim, Labor’s spokesman for local government Jason Clare has called on councils across the country to be proactive.

“Many councils have curfews on truck delivery times. These restrictions are important to minimise noise and disruption to local residents,” Mr Clare said.

“To respond to the current surge in demand, expected to last for at least several weeks, it is important that local governments temporarily lift these curfews.

“I have spoken directly to Woolworths and Coles and they view this as a genuine limitation to their ability to restock in many local government areas.”

A number of violent brawls have broken out in aisles in recent weeks, with police in some states now saying they’ll patrol supermarkets as part of their routine duties.