MPs on Sydney outskirts told lockdown rules could ease soon

Some areas of Sydney are tipped to exit lockdown sooner than others – but last weekend’s protest march in the city might complicate the plan.

Areas on the outskirts of greater Sydney could exit lockdown ahead of suburbs that have been harder-hit by coronavirus.

However fears of virus exposure at last weekend’s protest march in Sydney could impact the plans and push back the date for the establishment of potential “green zones”.

The government has indicated to MPs in electorates on the fringes of the lockdown zone, where there has been virtually no spread of the virus, that restrictions there are being considered on a “day-to-day basis”.

This means they could be lifted ahead of other areas.

Central Coast MP Adam Crouch wrote on Facebook: “ I spoke to the Premier yesterday and she will end the Central Coast’s lockdown as soon as it is safe to do so.”

However he said the fact five local cases had recently been discovered in the area would prevent the rules from being eased for now.

The northern beaches is another area where restrictions could be eased ahead of schedule.

“I'm hopeful that any easings of restrictions that are being considered would include Manly and the Northern Beaches,” Manly MP James Griffin told NCA NewsWire.

Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches could be one of the suburbs exiting lockdown ahead of schedule. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday she was hoping to make an announcement about changed lockdown rules as early as Wednesday morning.

Greater Sydney has been in lockdown since June 26 because of a coronavirus outbreak that continues to spiral out of control, with nearly 2,400 cases recorded.

The current end date is set for Saturday but NSW is widely expected to continue to have some form of lockdown rules in place after that.

“The NSW government does need to consider some difficult decisions, but also some decisions which get the right balance for us in some settings, in some areas, so I just asked everybody to just be a little bit more patient,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Another issue that could further complicate the process of exiting lockdown is the risk of transmission from last Saturday’s protest march in central Sydney.

Greater Sydney has been in lockdown since June 26. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

About 150 people from the Central Coast went to the march and then back home, potentially compromising that area, Mr Crouch wrote in the Facebook post.

“I am disappointed to report this morning that the Central Coast’s lockdown cannot be ended,” Mr Crouch wrote.

“This is due to the unbelievable selfishness of approximately 150 local residents that attended the ‘anti lockdown’ protest in Sydney on Saturday.

“This is also due to the 5 new local cases announced last weekend. Unfortunately the health risk is just too high.”

Other MPs in areas with little or no virus spread have also advocated for creating “green zones” where restrictions could be eased before the outbreak is over.

Potential green zones could see schoolchildren return to physical classes, some retail stores open, and some construction come back, especially if the labourers live in the same area where they work.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward, who represent a south coast electorate where many need to travel into the lockdown zone for work, said the rules there should be reconsidered.

“For the government to impose restrictions, there needs to be good reason,” he said.