Dubbo Lockdown And Victoria Border Bubble

1. DUBBO IN LOCKDOWN 

The NSW Premier has announced in a press conference today that the local government area (“LGA”) of Dubbo Regional Council will join Greater Sydney in a lockdown from 1pm on 11 August 2021 to 12:01am 19 August 2021 after a second COVID-19 case has been confirmed in the said LGA.
 
List of suburbs in the Dubbo Regional Council LGA are:

• Brocklehurst

• Dripstone

• Euchareena

• Eulomogo

• Eumungerie

• Geurie

• Maryvale

• Mogriguy

• Mumbil

• North Yeoval

• Rawsonville

• Stuart Town

• Toongi

• Wellington

• Wongarbon

 
Level of Restrictions
Members will be provided with further information once the relevant Public Health Order (“PHO”) has been updated. For now, it is understood that the Dubbo Regional Council LGA has the same restrictions as Armidale Regional Council and Tamworth Regional Council LGAs.
 
Summary of restrictions
Until the PHO has been updated, here is a summary of the restrictions currently applicable to the Armidale Regional Council and Tamworth Regional Council LGAs:
 

1. Residents must not leave home to work within the LGA unless:

• it is not reasonably practicable for the employee to work at the employee’s place of residence, and

• if the person is required to visit another person’s place of residence to engage in work—the person is authorised under clause 22A in the Public Health Order (“PHO”).

2. Residents must not leave home to work outside of the LGA unless:

• it is not reasonably practicable for the employee to work at the employee’s place of residence, and

• if the person is required to visit another person’s place of residence to engage in work—the person is authorised under clause 22A in the PHO.

• carry evidence showing the address of the person’s place of residence or temporary accommodation, and

• produce the evidence for inspection if requested to do so by a police officer.

3. A person outside of this LGA must not, without a reasonable excuse as per Schedule 1 in the PHO enter into this LGA.

4. Must not travel more than 10km from home for either exercise or obtaining food and other essential items.

5. Must carry evidence of their place of residence and produce this evidence for inspection if requested to do so by a Police Officer.

6. Many of the retail businesses under Clause 24 in the PHO are to be closed during the lockdown. However, members retail operations including selling vehicles to the public, are only permitted if

• a “click and collect” service, where a person buys, returns or exchanges goods by telephone or online and then attends the retail premises to collect, exchange or return the goods, or

• delivering goods to a person’s place of residence or other premises after the person has bought the goods by telephone or online”

Businesses that are allowed to be opened must incorporate and comply with the approved COVID-19 Safety Plan.
 
If any Member has a question or query then please contact the Employment Relations Team on (02) 90169000 or at eradvice@mtansw.com.au
 

2. VIC-NSW BORDER BUBBLE UPDATE  

The Premier of Victoria has announced in a press conference today a one-week lockdown extension for Victoria until 11:59pm Thursday 19 August since 20 cases of COVID-19 were recorded overnight, with six not in isolation during their infectious period.
 
There are currently six reasons to move within the NSW/VIC border bubble. However, people living in border communities with NSW will need to apply for a permit to travel in the bubble from 6 pm on 13 August 2021. The permits will be available from 12 August 2021.
 
For more information, visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/
 
If Members have any questions or queries surrounding the latest updates then please contact the MTA NSW Employment Relations team at P: (02) 90169000 or at E: eradvice@mtansw.com.au