NSW cases and Sydney restrictions: Bunnings forced to close

Retailers will be impacted by harsh new rules as this state grapples to bring its exploding case numbers under control.

Bunnings has announced it will close all its stores across Greater Sydney to customers and not just in hotspot LGAs.

The hardware store and other major retailers are being forced to close their doors as harsher restrictions were announced as part of Sydney’s lockdown.

The new rules apply to Sydney’s 12 local government areas of concern, with retailers such as Officeworks and Bunnings being ordered to close their stores and only offer click and collect from Monday, August 23.

But Bunnings has gone one step further, announcing it will close all stores in Greater Sydney to make it easier for their team and to reduce travel between LGAs.

Trade customers can continue to access Bunnings stores, while retail customers will be able to purchase items online using click and deliver and contactless drive and collect, said Mike Schneider, Bunnings manager director.

“Since the outset of the pandemic, we’ve continued to follow government health advice in each of the states and territories where we operate,” he said.

“With the new restrictions on retail spanning a large part of Sydney, Bunnings has made the decision to temporarily close all its stores across Greater Sydney to the general public. This is in support of the government and for the safety and security of team members, customers and the community.

“We know from experience that applying a consistent approach across a metropolitan area is easier for our team to manage and helps reduce travel by residents between LGAs.”

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A Covid-19 check-in and information board greets customers inside the Bunnings hardware store in Randwick, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

He added the absolute focus continues to be the safety of their team members and customers.

“Trade customers who depend on us to keep their businesses running and supplied for emergency repairs can continue to access our stores and we’re pleased that we can continue to support them,” he said.

The retail outlets that will be impacted by Sydney’s new measures include garden centres and plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, landscaping material supplies, rural supplies, and pet supplies.

However, tradies are allowed to shop in-store where relevant.

Bunnings has previously been cited as an example of “lockdown light” and why Sydney cannot get on top of the outbreak but the stores have most often been listed as casual contact sites, rather than places of confirmed transmissions of the virus.

The hardware store said it had stepped up its Covid-safe measures, introducing notifications on its Bunnings Product Finder App to remind customers to get in and out of stores as quickly as possible, upping security to promote Covid compliance and continuing to encourage customers to shop online wherever possible

Where transmission to customers has occurred in retail settings has mostly been in smaller shops such as bakeries, butchers and banks.

Dr Chant has been at pains to stress, however, that part of the reason larger retail stores have seen fewer transmissions is not their sheer size alone but because customers are also taking precautions.

The only option will be click and collect for people wanting to purchase from Bunnings in those impacted LGAs. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Stores located in LGAs of concern in Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith and Strathfield will be impacted by the new restrictions.

It comes as News South Wales recorded a total of 642 new locally-acquired Covid cases – and at least 41 were infectious in the community – while there were four new deaths.

There were a raft of new restrictions announced on Friday too including mandatory masks across the state, a 9pm to 5pm curfew for hotspot Sydney LGAs and a one hour time limit for exercise in hotspot areas across Western and South Western Sydney.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to the media during a COVID-19 press conference in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Ms Berejiklian has outlined why the new rules have been brought in at this stage.

“Clearly, two fundamental things shifted this weekend in New South Wales,” she said.

“The first was the sudden escalation of cases, and secondly the feedback from police about a handful of people flagrantly disregarding the rule.

“For that reason, I asked health and police to work together, to give me a final list of what we can throw at this, to leave no shadow of a doubt as to how serious we are about getting the rate of growth down, the case numbers down. I do not want to leave a shadow of a doubt.

“I want to extend my heartfelt empathy and gratitude to those populations are living in the four local government areas of concern, I know we all know, most of you are doing the right things, but it is to protect you and your loved ones that we are doing.”

Ms Berejiklian also announced that the state’s lockdown would be extended until September 30.