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COVID-19 PROTOCOLS - 23 AUGUST 2021

Greater Sydney Area – Zoning

NSW Health Orders issued on 21 August 2021 have now removed the Central Coast and Shellharbour areas from the definition of the Greater Sydney Area.

Any person who travels more than 50km outside Greater Sydney must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within the last 7 days and a permit issued by Service NSW. The Orders, however, do not require any eligible person who is travelling from the Greater Sydney Area to work within a 50km radius of the Greater Sydney Area to obtain a COVID-19 test or complete a permit issued by Service NSW.

Permits – Leaving Greater Sydney

Essential Personnel who do not reside in the restricted LGA’s of concern may leave Greater Sydney for the purpose of work where they cannot reasonably work from home, which includes working at a race meeting. The NSW Government has advised that a permit system for regional travel will be required from 12:01am Saturday 21 August 2021. Permits can be obtained at the following link.

Click Here - Travel Permit

Jockey Zones

Racing NSW has determined that jockeys who have elected to ride in the Greater Sydney Zone will continue to ride at Gosford and Wyong as these tracks fall within the 50km zone from the Greater Sydney Area. Kembla Grange and Hawkesbury racecourses are still within the Greater Sydney Area.

Central Coast and Shellharbour Residents

Essential Personnel who reside in the Central Coast and Shellharbour areas now may travel to regional NSW without having to obtain a COVID-19 test or a permit from Service NSW. Essential Personnel from the Central Coast and Shellharbour areas attending race meetings in the Greater Sydney Area should travel by the most direct practicable route and not stop on the way. When returning to the Central Coast and Shellharbour areas from Greater Sydney there is no requirement to obtain a COVID-19 test.

Additional Rules Restricted LGA’s of Concern

On 20 August 2021 additional rules were announced in respect to the following restricted LGA’s of concern.

Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Cumberland, Blacktown, Parramatta, Campbelltown, George’s River, Bayside, Burwood and Strathfield and Penrith suburbs of Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, St Mary’s, North St Mary’s, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park and St Clair

Currently only authorised workers, as defined by NSW Health, who live in these LGA’s are permitted to leave or work within these LGA’s for authorised work. NSW Health has advised that Essential Personnel attending to horses for animal welfare needs (including feeding and exercise) are considered to be authorised workers and may continue to work, including leaving their LGA for the purpose of doing so.

Racing NSW has mandated that Essential Personnel who reside in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA are not permitted to attend racecourses or stables due to the high case numbers in that LGA.

Essential Personnel are advised to ensure they carry their Racing NSW Licence Identity Card to display to the NSW Police should they be questioned by police when travelling to work. If asked, Essential Personnel should provide this identification to Police and advise they are performing animal welfare work as an authorised worker.

Vaccinations – Restricted LGA’s

Effective 30 August 2021, the NSW Government has ordered that any authorised worker that works outside their restricted LGA of concern, must have had their first vaccination dose by that day or be at a work-site where they can be rapid antigen tested. As Racing NSW cannot guarantee that every authorised worker can be rapid antigen tested each day, any authorised worker in this category must have their first dose of vaccine by 30 August 2021 to be eligible to be able to leave their LGA for the purposes of to work.

For example – a stablehand or trainer that lives in the Cumberland LGA and works at stables at Rosehill Gardens (Parramatta LGA) must have had their first dose of vaccine by 30 August 2021 to continue to be permitted to leave their LGA of residence (Cumberland) to work at Rosehill Gardens.

Authorised workers that only go to work within the restricted LGA of concern where they reside are not required to obtain a vaccine, but Racing NSW encourages all Essential Personnel to get vaccinated.

For Example - a stablehand or trainer that lives in the Liverpool LGA and works at stables at Warwick Farm (Liverpool LGA) does not require the first dose of vaccine by 30 August 2021 to continue to be able to be work at Warwick Farm. However, Racing NSW encourages all Essential Personnel to get vaccinated.

Permits – Restricted LGA’s

From Saturday 28 August 2021, authorised workers from the restricted LGA’s of concern are required to carry a permit from Service NSW declaring they are an authorised worker and cannot work from home. Racing NSW understands this will be a self-declaration completed on the Service NSW website.

Curfews – Restricted LGA’s

Effective the NSW Government announced curfews for the restricted LGA’s of concern, not permitting persons to leave home between 9pm and 5am. Authorised workers are exempt from this curfew when attending work and may leave home prior to 5am for animal welfare needs.