Can we exercise anywhere on the Northern Beaches (within our LGA) or only 5kms from where we live in the Northern Beaches?
That’s the question on everyone’s lips – especially those who enjoy a regular dive, swim, or surf along Manly and up the coastline.
And the answer is: yes, you can legally exercise anywhere within the Northern Beaches if you are a resident of this local government area. How do we know? Because we directly asked the Premier’s office and our own local MP. This is reliable, factual information. Anything else is social media noise.
Here is the relevant section on NSW Health website:
Like many of you, and other media outlets, we were left a little confused by the wording in today’s statement from the Premier:
“The 10 kilometre rules will be reduced from 12.01am Monday August 16, with shopping exercise and outdoor recreation to be done in a person’s local government area (LGA) or, if outside their LGA, within 5 kilometres of home.”
We checked in with Manly MP James Griffin, who is also Parliamentary Secretary for Health and knee deep in the details and he confirmed, “Thankfully we are not designated as an LGA of concern, so we can still exercise as we have been within the local government area.
“But it’s worth reinforcing that we desperately do not want to become a problem LGA and so need to remain vigilant – otherwise all bets are off.”
It’s important to be properly informed of what you can do – but it’s also important to know that all because you can do something, it doesn’t mean you should. There’s beautiful weather across the next week and popular beaches will be just that; heavy foot traffic will result in police intervention and beach closures. Or worse – more local cases. There are currently 30 local cases, with new figures expected later today.
On the spot fines are also increasing.
Why? Because things continue to get worse. NSW recorded 466 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Sixty-eight cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 303 remains under investigation.
Increased fines for Public Health Order breaches (from 12.01am, Monday, 16 August):
- $5,000 on the spot fine for breaching self-isolation rules;
- $5,000 on the spot fine for lying on a permit (already a criminal offence);
- $5,000 on the spot fine for lying to a contact tracer (already a criminal offence);
- $3,000 on the spot fine for breaching the two-person outdoor exercise/recreation rule; and
- $3,000 on the spot fine for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW for authorised work, inspecting real estate and travelling to your second home.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the joint NSW Police Force and ADF operation – Operation STAY AT HOME – would commence on Monday, 16 August.
“These are some of the strongest powers we’ve ever had in the history of the NSW Police Force, as part of the government’s strategy to get in front of the virus in the coming weeks – it’s all about getting ahead of Delta, not chasing it,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“From this week we’ll be issuing $5,000 fines to people and closing premises which continue to break the health orders. Don’t complain if this happens to you – police are over the rule breakers.”
