Regional travel pushed back to November 1

Residents have questioned why a highly-anticipated freedom will now be pushed back until November — the second time the rule has been changed.

Sydneysiders desperate to pack a bag and hit the road bound for the regions will have to wait a little while longer, with the NSW Government announcing intrastate travel will be delayed until November 1.

NSW deputy premier Paul Toole announced that travel into the regions for Greater Sydney residents will not restart for another two weeks because of low vaccination rates in certain areas.

“I know it’s frustrating,” he told 2GB on Friday. “I know it’s a very difficult time because I know that people are wanting to pack their bags.

“They’re wanting to go to regional NSW, they want to go on a holiday, they want to go and catch up with family and their loved ones.”

Deputy Premier Paul Toole announced the major freedom change on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Toole said the decision was made to keep regional communities safe and opening with the current vaccination rates in some areas would put communities in “jeopardy”.

The response to the decision has not been kind, with thousands of people saying the date change only keeps family and friends apart for longer.

What a joke. Absolutely pathetic. First they said 70% there would be travel between regional and greater Sydney, then they said 80% and now they move it back a week every day. People who aren’t vaccinated by now probably aren’t getting vaccinated.

— Luke Jarvis (@lukethorotek) October 14, 2021

I’m absolutely gutted by this, I understand why it’s happened but I am so sick of the constant changes. The premier dangled regional travel in front of us all without thinking about what it would do when they had to renege. And anyone with half a brain knew they would.

— Vaccinated Human on Earth 🌍💉 (@mcleftieface) October 14, 2021

NSW Government told everyone to get vaccinated but now the double-dosed vaxxed being told they can’t travel into regional NSW, even though earlier (at 70% rate) this was promised.
Completely illogical and a blow to NSW tourism and jobs.
And canceling family reunions for many.

— Real Mark Latham (@RealMarkLatham) October 14, 2021

Devastated for double-vaccinated people in cities and the bush who were promised reunions with families in regional areas if they did the right thing.

— Chris Urquhart (@chrisurquhart) October 14, 2021

Earlier reports suggested the freedom would be pushed back by just a week until October 25, but now residents will have to wait more than two weeks to take a holiday.

After concerns about the regions not having a high enough vaccination rate, that original freedom to travel around the state was set at the 70 per cent vaccination mark. However, that was then pushed back in the reopening road map to when the state reached the 80 per cent milestone — which is expected to be met next Monday.

Mr Toole apologised to NSW residents for yet another change in the reopening plan for tourism, admitting it wasn’t an “easy decision” to make.

Regional travel will be off the cards until at least November.

“We have a responsibility here to make sure we keep our regional community safe,” he said.

“It’s important that we don’t actually open up businesses, and then we start to see them have case numbers start to escalate.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet hinted earlier this week that regional travel would likely be off the cards for a few more weeks for Greater Sydney residents.

While the state has reached an impressive milestone for 75 per cent fully vaccinated coverage, certain regions — including Byron Bay in Northern NSW and Cessnock, nearby to the popular Hunter Valley wine region, sit below 50 per cent and 60 per cent respectively.

The popular coastal town of Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast are at just 58 per cent, while parts of the Riverina have only managed 57 per cent coverage.