Thursday, 9 September 2021
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall is today rejoicing following the announcement all six of the electorate’s local government areas (Armidale Regional, Glen Innes Severn, Gwydir, Moree Plains, Inverell and Uralla) will be released from the COVID-19 lockdown, at 12.01am Saturday, 11 September.
Mr Marshall had been campaigning alongside business leaders and local councils for an end to lockdown in LGAs that had no active cases of the virus.
“Today’s announcement is a sweet reward for the hardship and major sacrifices made by families and businesses for the best part of five weeks,” Mr Marshall said.
“I am so pleased the State Government has recognised the hard work done by all of us, to keep each other safe and our region free from the deadly virus.
“By good management and some good luck, we have no active COVID cases across the Northern Tablelands, our sewage test results are broadly clear and we’ve been rolling up our sleeves to get vaccinated in record numbers.
“From Saturday the sound of bustling retail stores, cafes, gyms and hair dressers will again be heard everywhere, a sign we are ready to get back to business and work towards a time without lockdown.
“Based on the Roadmap to Freedom announced today, I hope we never have to endure another period of extreme restrictions.
“The coming weeks will be difficult for many businesses, as they reopen their doors and try to rebuild.
“I encourage everyone to shop local and give our economy the best chance to bounce back.
Mr Marshall said while the news was a relief for the community, this was not the time for complacency.
“The State Government has made it clear, if a community records just one positive COVID case within a LGA, that LGA will go back into a lockdown for 14 days,” he said.
“This means the restrictions which will be in pace from Saturday must be followed to a tee.
“It’s also up to us now to keep up the vaccination effort, and do our part to get NSW to those 70 per cent and 80 per cent fully vaccinated rates.”
Mr Marshall added, with the lockdown now ended for all border LGAs, there is no excuse for the Queensland Government not to reinstate a workable border zone.
“The Queensland Government MUST now review its policy on the border zone to reflect the true reality that there is ZERO cases in that region and now cannot possible be considered a hotspot.
“As much of our area stares down the biggest harvest on record and with boarding school children desperate to get home to their families, I again call on the Queensland Premier to show some humanity and reinstate a reasonable border zone.”
The following freedoms come into effect for ALL Northern Tablelands residents, regardless of vaccination status, from 12.01am Saturday, 11 September.
| Gatherings in the home and public spaces: |
- Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under).
- Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
| Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms: |
- Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
- Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.
- Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
- Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.
| Schools: |
- Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.
| Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities: |
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
- Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
- Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
| Weddings, funerals and places of worship: |
- Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
- Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
- Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.
| Travel: |
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
- Carpooling will be permitted.
| Masks: |
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
- Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.
| For more information, please visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 |