To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, the current lockdown in Greater Sydney will be extended until the end of September 2021, and new restrictions will come into place in NSW.
The Public Health (COVID-19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (no 2) 2021 and the Public Health (COVID-19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (no 2) Amendment Order 2021 have now been published.
New requirements in the Order relevant to the freight industry are:
· Greater Sydney is now defined as Greater Sydney Region, including the Blue Mountains and Wollongong. It no longer includes Shellharbour and the Central Coast LGAs, which are now classified as regional NSW
· A person must not enter Greater Sydney without a reasonable excuse, freight work that cannot be done from home is a reasonable excuse
· A person who lives in Greater Sydney must not go further than 50km outside Greater Sydney (see map for updated boundaries) for work unless they have been tested for COVID-19 in the last 7 days and carry evidence of the test. Rapid antigen testing cannot be used for this purpose. They will also need to register to travel with Service NSW. More detail on the registration to travel application below
· Occupiers must not allow persons to enter the premises outside of Greater Sydney (plus 50km buffer) unless they are satisfied that the worker from Greater Sydney has been tested for COVID-19 in the last 7 days. Rapid antigen testing cannot be used for this purpose
· From 12:01am on Monday 23 August, mask wearing is mandatory when outside your home, except when exercising
· From 12:01am on Monday 23 August, freight workers from the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA will no longer have to have been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours to work outside their LGA
· From 12.01 on Saturday 28 August, new restrictions and permits come in for Authorised Workers leaving Areas of Concern and for workers entering Areas of Concern. Further information is provided below
· From 12.01am on Monday 30 August, new requirements for Authorised Workers in Areas of Concern come in, including rapid antigen testing and vaccinations. Further information is provided below.
Register to travel to regional NSW
If you reside in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and Wollongong, and are required to travel to regional NSW for essential work you will need to apply for a travel registration.
You will need to register to travel if you are:
· travelling more than 50km outside of Greater Sydney for work and you are:
· an Authorised Worker from an Area of Concern, or
· from a non-area of concern and your work cannot be done from home
· inspecting a property because you genuinely need a place to live in (no investment properties)
· moving between residences, including travelling to your second home if you:
· are using the home for work (if so, only the worker may travel), or
· need to undertake urgent maintenance, repairs, or attend to animal welfare (if so, only one person may travel to the second home).
· Registration is valid for a maximum of 14 days. You will need to reapply for travel registration if you are travelling for more than 14 days.
You must carry your travel registration and supporting documents with you at all times as you will need to provide these to NSW Police if requested.
Freight workers will need to continue COVID-19 testing on a 7 day rolling basis and carry evidence of the test. Rapid antigen testing cannot be used for this purpose.
Please visit Service NSW to register to travel outside Greater Sydney.
For more information on the restrictions please visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/affected-regions.
We are aware that industry is seeking clarification on the registration requirements and information needed to complete a permit application for freight workers servicing multiple addresses and moving back and forward between Greater Sydney and the regions on multiple occasions over a 14 day period. We are working with Service NSW on identifying a solution.
Authorised Workers in local government Areas of Concern
From 12.01am on Monday 30 August an Authorised Worker must not leave their Area of Concern for work unless they:
· have had at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine; or
· have been issued with a medical contraindication certificate.
An Authorised Worker must carry evidence of the vaccine or medical certificate and produce that to the following if requested:
· Worker's employer
· Occupier of the place of work
· Police officer
· Other Authorised Officer (i.e. safe work inspector).
If a person is tested under a rapid antigen testing program in accordance with a system approved by the Chief Health Officer, they do not need to have the vaccine and are not required to produce any evidence to their employer of vaccination status.
Further information about rapid antigen testing can be found on the NSW Government website.
Authorised Workers from local government Areas of Concern are eligible for priority vaccination programs. To book an appointment visit the NSW Government website.
Authorised Worker Permit
From 12.01 on Saturday 28 August, Authorised Workers must not leave their Area of Concern for work without an Authorised Worker permit issued by Service NSW. The Authorised Worker Permit is not operational on Service NSW and we will provide more information as soon as it is available.
Permit to enter an Area of Concern
From 12:01am Saturday 28 August, a person must not enter an Area of Concern to carry out work in the Area of Concern without a permit issued by Service NSW. There are exemptions for people transiting through who do not leave a vehicle. We will provide further information as soon as it is available.
Thank you for your continued work to ensure freight can move safely during this time.
Regards
Susie Harwood
Executive Director Freight
Customer Strategy and Technology
Transport for NSW