Taxis and Ubers banned from Sydney CBD during planned protest

Police desperate to crack down on a planned anti-lockdown protest in the Sydney CBD have issued a stark order to taxi, Uber and other rideshare services.

Taxis and Ubers have been ordered to stay away from Sydney’s CBD on Saturday in a bid to stop protesters travelling to a planned anti-lockdown rally.

NSW Police prohibited seven rideshare and passenger services from taking residents to the city’s centre between 9am and 3pm as an extraordinary response to “planned unlawful protest activity”.

More than 1500 officers have been deployed to the areas where Covid-deniers are expected to breach public health orders and protest against the statewide lockdown.

“The transmission of the delta strain of Covid-19 presents a clear and present threat to the community,” Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell said. “Now is not the time to gather in groups in protest.

Authorities have moved to limit travel ahead of planned protests. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

“This prohibition notice is just one of our strategies to prevent any unlawful mass gathering and keep our community safe.”

The direction to taxis and rideshare companies does not apply to essential workers and anyone who needs medical treatment who will be able to travel to the CBD.

The boundaries of the exclusion zone are:

• Western boundary – West Link Road and The Crescent at Lilyfield
• Southern boundary – South Dowling Street and Todman Avenue at Zetland
• Northern boundary – Bradfield Highway at Milsons Point
• Eastern boundary – New South Head Road and Ocean Avenue at Edgecliff

Companies who fail to comply with the notice risk a maximum penalty of $500,000, while individuals face fines of up to $100,000.