Parts of the Riverina, including Wagga, are expected to be removed from the regional NSW lockdown on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The easing of the stay-at-home orders is due to be announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro on Thursday morning.
Reports of the Riverina's imminent release from lockdown emerged after Wednesday's crisis cabinet meeting, however, the deputy premier's office declined to comment.
During a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Barilaro again flagged his intention to push for an easing of restrictions in regional areas without any coronavirus cases.
The regional NSW lockdown was set to end on September 10, however areas with high case numbers will remain under stay-at-home orders.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District has not had a COVID-19 case during this outbreak and has been without one for more than a year.
The NSW government is expected to announce details of how the easing of restrictions will affect Riverina residents in its regular morning briefing.
Member for Wagga Joe McGirr said if the Riverina was to re-open he would like to see it done carefully so as to not open the region up to the virus.
"I think people will be relieved but I think people should be cautious ... as we don't want to undo the work that has already been done," Dr McGirr said.
"There are obviously situations with people with loved ones in aged care facilities that can't be visited, families with young kids homeschooling, and businesses also struggling, but I think a cautious approach would be appropriate."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Dr McGirr credited the region's low number of cases to the stringent lockdown rules, saying they stopped the few cases from spreading further.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton said if restrictions were eased then it would be a "huge relief for businesses that are doing it tough, and for everyone really that are isolated from their families".
"I'm hoping that NSW has a plan in place if we have an outbreak of COVID," she said.
"They need to make sure they've got this plan in place because our hospitals, if there is an outbreak, they will be totally overwhelmed and I don't want to see that.
"I think a lot of people will be relieved, but they will be like me and will be very cautious about what is happening.
"I hope the community will continue to be very vigilant."
Wagga-based MLC Wes Fang said: "I advocated strongly for us to exit the stay-at-home orders, given the fact we've had no COVID cases, and I'm hoping that the reporting is accurate."
Serena Hardwick, business manager of the Wagga Business Chamber, has been "really disappointed" in the government's lack of a plan for businesses getting out of lockdown. "There has been, to date, no clear pathway of moving forward for businesses," she said.
Ms Hardwick said an end to the lockdown would be fantastic news for all local businesses, particularly those that have had to entirely close their operations despite the ongoing overhead costs.
Thomas Blamey Tavern is one such business "rolling with the punches" as restrictions are extended or changed. Manager Michelle Staunton said she is planning for a weekend reopening and is feeling hopeful, "but at this stage we're 50-50".
"It'll be tough; we would prefer more notice, but given that they shut us down on two hours' notice via social media on the 14th [of August], we're sort of getting used to it," she said.
Ms Staunton said the business is "ready to scramble", with 20 staff members who are currently stood down on-call to return if lockdown is lifted.
Wagga mayor Greg Conkey said he would "certainly welcome" lockdown being lifted, considering there has been no cases in Wagga during the current outbreak and the city has good vaccination rates.
In particular, he hopes that restrictions will be eased to allow a limited number of visitors.
"I know there's a lot of family members who can't see each other and we're in that category, we've got grandchildren and a son here in Wagga which we can't see," he said.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters