MEMBERS’ ALERT – New rules for Greater Sydney explained

New rules for Greater Sydney explained

Further to our advice yesterday, the NSW Government has released its updated official Public Health Order that outlines the new restrictions. You can find a copy of the Official Health order here.

The main changes to work in the landscaping sector are as follows:

Pause on construction activity

From Monday 12:01am on 19 July 2021, work at construction sites in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, is not to be carried out unless the work is urgently required:

• to ensure the safety or security of the construction site
• to deal with environmental risks
• to maintain critical plant or equipment that would otherwise deteriorate
• to receive deliveries of supplies that would otherwise deteriorate
• to maintain public utilities*
• to ensure the safe operation of existing transport infrastructure
• by or on behalf of NSW Health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
• because of an emergency.

* Essential services can continue for the maintenance, safety and upkeep of public and recreational spaces

Residential renovations, alterations and additions

All renovations or other works at a place of residence to make alterations or additions are not allowed unless they are necessary for the safety or security of the site. This means that the site of any existing renovations can be made safe and secure, but then all work must stop.

Critical repairs, maintenance and cleaning

To reduce the risks associated with mobile workers, restrictions apply to services provided to residential premises in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

From Sunday 18 July 2021, services cannot be provided to a residential premises for:

• repairs
• maintenance – This includes Garden maintenance and Pool and Spa maintenance.
• cleaning.

Repairs, maintenance or cleaning services are allowed only if urgently required for

• the health, safety or security of the premises or members of the household or
• because of an emergency.

Any repairs, maintenance or cleaning that can be delayed should be rearranged. From Sunday 18 July 2021, it is not a reasonable excuse to leave your home in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour to provide these services.

Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown LGAs

If you reside in any of these Local Government Areas, you must stay within your LGA until midnight on Friday 30 July, 2021.  

You are not permitted to leave these areas unless you are an authorised worker. Anyone involved in this kind of work must have a COVID test before leaving the area and must continue to be tested every three days.

Travelling in Private vehicles

You may only travel in a car with other people that you live with, unless it is for:

• an emergency
• a compassionate reason
• to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person
• Use of the car as a taxi or rideshare.

If you use a vehicle for work, you are allowed to share the car with a person you do not live with (carpool) if it is required for your work (for example, if you are a police officer working in a team of 2 people).

Greater Sydney COVID-19 tests

If you live in or are staying in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, you must have a COVID-19 test in the 7 days before working if your workplace is 50km or more outside Greater Sydney.

You must get tested as soon as possible. You have until the end of today Sunday 18 July 2021 to get tested so you can work 50km or more outside the area. You can go to a COVID-19 testing clinic near your home or near your work. Please see here for map.

Closure of retail businesses

From Sunday 18 July 2021 most retail premises in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour are closed to the public.

Retail premises providing essential products and services that can be open are:

• supermarkets
• grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable, seafood and other food retailers)
• kiosks and other small food and drink premises
• petrol stations
• liquor stores
• chemists providing health, medical, maternity and baby supplies
• banks and financial institutions
• hardware, building supplies
• landscaping material supplies
• agricultural and rural supplies
• pet supplies
• post offices and newsagents
• educational products
• garden centres and plant nurseries
• vehicle hire premises, not including the premises at which vehicles are sold
• shops that predominantly carry out repairs of mobile phones.

Employees and business support

In the case of workers who cannot work other than on a construction site, accrued leave or rostered days off may be utilised by employees to cover all or some of the lock-down period.

However, where such accrued paid leave is not available, such employees may need to be stood down. Where this occurs, employees may qualify for Government funding. Businesses may also qualify for Government funding. Information on business support packages can be found here on our website.

Please note we encourage everyone to seek professional advice from your financial advisor.

While we know these tightened measures have an enormous impact on the landscaping sector, we encourage all members to adhere strictly to the measures imposed. This will ensure the best chance of the lockdown ending at the earliest possible time.

Please contact the TLA team on (02) 9630 4844 or via team@landscapeassociation.com.au should you need assistance.