David Barnhill, William Farrer Hotel publican, called for rules to be relaxed in the area particularly as regional NSW and metropolitan areas "are completely different kettles of fish".

"You go further west to the smaller towns, and they are suffering the same restrictions as the cities, I think that's a joke," he said.

"Surely they can increase numbers to one per two square meters. I think they could tick that off sooner rather than later.

"In terms of creating a bubble for regional NSW, that could be hard to police since there's a lot of roads so I think they can relax the numbers allowed in venues."

Mr Barnhill had to shut down The Farrer for nine weeks at the peak of the pandemic and is happy to be open. But, he added, coming into the warmer months people will want to book a table for more than 10, and that should be supported.

"We are trying to claw business back, and we are trying to get people out of the house and visiting their local pub or restaurant," Mr Barnhill said. "We just need to have the rules relaxed."

Wagga Councillor Dan Hayes has said despite numerous hotspots in Sydney, it has been rewarded with an easing of restrictions such as doubling the number of people allowed at the NRL finals.

"Thousands can attend an NRL match in Sydney, but those in Junee must be seated to drink a beer," he said.

"Thousands can attend an NRL match in Sydney, but a Wagga cafe or restaurant cannot take a booking for more than ten people in one group."

Cr Hayes said it was hypocritical that local residents are facing restrictions that have been designed for the hotspots of Sydney where community transmission peaked.

S&D Living owner Sheila Reynolds agreed it was unfair, especially since regional areas were already battling the effects of drought and bushfires before the pandemic.

She said it has been incredibly tough on business owners, who despite working hard to do the right thing are at the whim of customers who try to evade the rules.

Mrs Reynolds also said that while she understood the restrictions were crucial for keeping people safe, it was still a gruelling time for businesses.

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Wagga MP Joe McGirr said while he understood the frustration, he was erring on the side of caution when it came to relaxing restrictions.

He said what happened in Victoria is a stark reminder of how easily the virus can be spread. Mr McGirr added, however, that he believed the state was at a point where restrictions could be eased further.

"I think we are in a position where we could come all out of it together," he said. "There is a level of complexity when you introduce regional versus metro restrictions."

A NSW Premier spokesperson said there is a difference between an outdoor, ticketed event and an indoor restaurant, as previous experience shows how quickly the virus can spread inside.

"In NSW, restrictions are always based on expert health advice, and our response to the pandemic is always evolving," they said.