COVID restrictions ease across the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The easing of COVID restrictions is being met with relief and anxiety across the Hunter.

QR codes in most settings and density limits are already gone, with masks to disappear everywhere but hospitals and transport next Friday.

The check-ins will stick around for festivals and nightclubs.

It's still not clear how these rules will apply to schools. 

The State Government says it will consider bringing restrictions back if cases spike.

Gyms, Yoga Studios, Massage and Tattoo Parlours, and Kids Sport Next to Re-open Across the Hunter

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Gymnasiums, yoga, indoor pools and dance studios can reopen within a fortnight and kids’ sport can resume across NSW from 1 July, as more COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

From June 13th, Fitness, gymnasiums, pilates, yoga and dance studios can reopen with up to 10 people per class and 100 people in an indoor venue.

Community centres, including their recreational facilities can reopen and some indoor recreational facilities including pools and saunas can also reopen with restricted numbers.

Tattoo and massage parlours can also reopen with up to 10 clients.

The four square metre rule must be applied at all venues at all times.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro says he's proud of people across the State for following health advice and flattening the curve. 

“We can now re-introduce kids’ sports and open gyms, sport and exercise boosts morale and this is exactly what NSW needs right now,” Mr Barilaro said.

From July 1st, community sport competitions can restart for those aged 18 years and under.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said COVID-19 safety plans for each activity or sport are critical to enable this re-start.

“Sport and businesses will need to do things a little differently than in pre-COVID-19 times and following their safety plan is key to keeping people safe,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Re-opening kids’ sporting competitions on 1 July gives groups and local government which manages many of these facilities, time to work through all the new changes.”

A decision on a potential return date for adult community sport will be made at a later stage.

Farmers hit back at Government Proposal

BY: ALEX MURRAY

A public forum was held this morning at the Wine Country Motor Inn with discussions of the government's proposed production and rural development policy and its protections for farmers.

The proposal is aiming to support sustainable agriculture and changes to planning particularly those requiring development consent. 

As Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot Macdonald says, "Primary production and managing rural development is vitally important to the Hunter." 

Although, the NSW Farmers Association is calling on the government to consider the restrictions placed on rural farmers in the development of the proposal and to have an understanding of their working conditions. 

Hunter Regional Manager of NSW Farmers, David Banham says: "The message is loud and clear from the people in the room today that there's still work to be done and it needs to be done properly."

"There was certainly discussion around the fragmentation of agricultural land and the minimum lot size which could be potentially changed or present issues." 

"It's a big change from the existing environmental planning policies we've got...including problems where certain farms won't be requiring development consent to go ahead." 

"We've identified some of the issues early on...but we're always looking for positive outcomes from these changes, we just need to need to ensure the planning department understand farming and the issues around it so they can create the right policies."