New lockdown rules for Fairfield, Campbelltown and other LGAs of concern begin

A swath of new rules came into effect overnight, hitting Sydney’s LGAs of concern hard, and some leaders from the west are not happy.

Mayors and politicians from western Sydney have hit out at tough new Covid-19 restrictions for areas of concern including curfews, more mask rules, and limits to exercising as NSW deals with a rising outbreak.

Most of the new rules will come into effect at 12.01am this morning, highlighted by a tough new curfew in place from 9pm to 5am daily which authorities said would “help reduce the movement of young people”.

Outdoor exercise has also been reduced to one hour a day, while all school exams or professional development related activities will be moved to online, except for those doing their HSC.

In addition, the following retail venues must close except for click and collect services: garden centres and plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, landscaping material supplies, rural supplies, and pet supplies.

This applies to the 12 Local Government Areas of concern as deemed by NSW Health, which are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and some suburbs in Penrith.

Under the changes, mask wearing will also be mandatory across all of Greater Sydney when outside your home except when exercising.

COVID-19 drive through clinic at Fairfield, an LGA of concern. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Political leaders from some of the LGAs are furious and have claimed health officials are setting a double standard, with Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali hitting out at the difference in restrictions between western Sydney and the affluent eastern suburbs.

“It’s not a good look to have people enjoying themselves at the beach in the east and completely locked down in the west – the Sydney basin is the Sydney basin and people should be treated equally,” he said.

The Mayor of Cumberland City Council, which stretches from Sydney Olympic Park out to Westmead, Steve Christou, said the measures were a blow to businesses already struggling.

“Today’s announcement of increased restrictions and curfews is another blow to the Cumberland community (which is) reeling and has been brought to its knees,” he said on Friday.

“We need direct support from the NSW Government. Councils play a vital role in providing services. In this time of need, the state government needs to be working with the local councils. I welcome the Premier (Gladys Berejiklian) to Cumberland to see the impacts on the community for herself.”

Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone said restrictions should be the same everywhere and pointed to a potential super-spreading party held at Maroubra.

Revellers socialise at Bondi Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“Well I don’t know who attended, but the (parties) were held in Maroubra and the Tweed, the last time I looked both were not located in our LGAs and residents from those councils would surely also have played a part, given that was where the houses were,” he said.

“I’m not against the restrictions, no doubt we do have cases and we need to move forward and stop the spread, but I think restrictions should be the same everywhere, given the virus is everywhere. “