There has been some understandable confusion on the five-kilometres-from-home travel rule that has come about since NSW was put into lockdown on August 14.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The recent lockdown announcement has left many wondering how the new regulations relate to them, particularly those regional residents who have to travel anywhere from 15-45km to their nearest grocery store or local services.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro confirmed on Monday morning that there are no travel distance restrictions within a local government area.
For residents in outlying villages across the Bega Valley, you are permitted to travel elsewhere in the shire for your essential goods and services, provided you are only leaving home for one of the allowed reasons.
The 5km rule, which as of August 16 replaces the previous 10km restriction, is designed to significantly limit the potential transfer of infection across regions.
If you live near an LGA boundary and your closest grocery store or medical service is in the neighbouring shire, that is when the 5km rule comes into play. i.e Provided you follow the permitted reasons for leaving home, and the service you require is within 5km of your home, that travel is allowed.
If that service is beyond 5km from your home, you must utilise alternatives within your own LGA instead for as long as this lockdown rule is in place.
The list of reasonable excuses to leave your home, as stated by the NSW Government on its Regional and rural restrictions page:
- Obtain food or other goods and services locally
- Leave home to go to work if - you cannot reasonably work from home and the business is allowed to be open
- Leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home
- Exercise and take outdoor recreation
- Go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.
Other reasonable excuses include:
- Donate blood
- Access childcare
- Continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children
- Attend a funeral or memorial service that complies with the rules for funerals and memorial services
- Provide care or assistance (including personal care) to a vulnerable person or to provide emergency assistance
- Access social services, employment services, services provided to victims (including as victims of crime), domestic violence services, and mental health services
- Move to a new place of residence, or between your different places of residence or inspecting a potential new place of residence within regional or rural NSW
- Undertake legal obligations
- Avoid injury or illness or to escape the risk of harm
- In case of emergencies
- For compassionate reasons, including where 2 people are in a relationship but do not necessarily live together
- To provide pastoral care if you are a priest, minister of religion or member of a religious order
- Gathering at Parliament for the purpose of its normal operations.
