News

Community Advice: Restrictions & Softball Participation

Published Thu 12 Aug 2021

Softball NSW provides the following update in relation to the tightening of restrictions across numerous local government areas in both Greater Sydney and Regional NSW.

We provide this information to aid our community and their membership. As always, please refer regularly to the information provided by the NSW Government and NSW Health.

The following advice is sourced from the NSW Government and NSW Office of Sport.

GREATER SYDNEY – ADDITIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF CONCERN

Due to increasing concerns about community transmission, Burwood, Strathfield, and Bayside local government areas will now have additional restrictions from 5 pm today, in line with previously identified LGAs of concern and 12 suburbs in Penrith LGA.

Suburbs in Bayside LGA include Botany, Brighton le-Sands, Bexley, Banksia, Kogarah, Mascot, Rockdale, and Sans Souci.

People in these LGAs must only obtain food or other goods and services, and exercise, within 5km of their home. You cannot travel to other areas for work unless you are an authorised worker. Full details of the additional restrictions are available at the NSW Government website.

WESTERN NSW LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA RESTRICTIONS

To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions are now in place for the local government areas of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett, and Warren.

Effective until the beginning of 19 August, stay-at-home orders apply to all people who live in these areas or have been there on or after 5 August.

The same restrictions have also been introduced for Dubbo LGA which includes Wellington, Wongarbon, Geurie, Brocklehurst, Stuart Town, Mumbil, and Eumungerie. Effective until the beginning of 19 August, stay-at-home orders apply to all people who live in these areas or have been there on or after 1 August.

HUNTER RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED

The stay-at-home orders that currently apply to the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook, and Cessnock local government areas will be extended for one week until 12:01 am Friday, 20 August.

The most up-to-date information for Greater Sydney, the Greater Sydney local government areas of concern, and the affected areas in Regional NSW can be found via the links below.

Rules - Greater Sydney

Rules - Greater Sydney Areas of Concern

Rules - Affected Local Government Areas - Regional NSW

ACT RESTRICTIONS

The ACT Government has announced restrictions which may impact some of our members. A media statement is available here and advice will be updated on Home - COVID-19 (act.gov.au)

VACCINATION

Similarly, to the NSW Government, Softball NSW is encouraging our community to get vaccinated. NSW Health has advice relating to COVID-19 vaccination for the NSW Community and this can be viewed here: COVID-19 vaccination: information for the NSW community - Vaccination Further Information on the extension of the stay-at-home orders can be found here: COVID-19 | NSW Government

LOCAL COMPETITION PARTICIPATION & PATHWAY UPDATE

With the evolving DELTA COVID-19 outbreak extending beyond the Greater Sydney region and into numerous regional local government areas, coupled with the daily case numbers remaining in the triple figures, it is unlikely that community sport will be allowed to resume by Sunday 29th of August.

Unfortunately, this has caused Softball NSW tremendous concern and like many other sports we are uncertain as to what the immediate future holds for our membership particularly to their physical and mental wellbeing.

Softball NSW along with other sector representatives are liaising with the NSW Government and NSW Health to ensure that sport can return quickly and safely via a roadmap that is applicable following the easing of restrictions. Whilst we are unable to provide any certainty on the roadmap out of lockdown or its timings and inclusions, it is essential for our community to be aware that we will be working in consultation with our Associations in developing a calendar that provides ideal outcomes for local competitions as well as pathway events and programs.

As further information comes to light, engagement sessions will be held with Associations on this.