30 JULY 2021
ISSUE 303
News
As the region gets set to enter its sixth week of lockdown, calls for a mass COVID-19 vaccination centre on the Central Coast are heating up. See page 5
Out&About
Dog days
After years of searching for “the one”, Hugo the Galapagos tortoise has finally seen his new girlfriend Estrella – albeit virtually.
As the region’s students continued with on line learning last week due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, Central Coast Grammar School decided to lighten the mood a little by inviting students to submit pictures of learning from home with their pets for a special Facebook campaign.
See page 17
Business
See page 35
Protest ends hopes of early release from COVID lockdown The Central Coast is unlikely to receive an early reprieve from the extended Greater Sydney lockdown, now set to continue until August 28. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, has laid much of the blame for the region’s extended lockdown at the feet of around 150 Coast residents who attended anti-lockdown protests in Sydney on July 24. “I am disappointed to report that the Central Coast’s lockdown cannot be ended,” Crouch said. “This is due to the unbelievable selfishness of approximately 150 local residents (who) attended the ‘anti lockdown’ protest in Sydney on July 24.
“Each one of these people could be the cause of a seeding event in our region which would have disastrous consequences. “It will also take approximately 14 days to see what impact the protest has on local case numbers.” A number of cars drove from Shelly Beach to Gosford waterfront on the same day in a ‘Freedom Drive’ advertised on the Central Coast Conscious Community Facebook page but were prevented from parking at Gosford when police blocked carpark entries. The activity prompted a reminder from NSW Police that Brisbane Water Police District officers are conducting daily operations to ensure people across the region are adhering
to the current restrictions. “The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, however, protest activity is in breach of the current COVID-19 Public Health Orders,” a statement from Police said. “The priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community.” Crouch said five active Coast COVID cases also made the health risk too high for an early lockdown release. Confirmation came from Central Coast Local Health District on the weekend that the five cases, from one household in the north of the region, with the first of them
linked to a Sydney construction site, have been moved to Special Health Accommodation in Sydney to isolate, with health staff undertaking daily wellness checks. The announcement of the fifth case, who had originally tested negative, led to the release of a lengthy list of possible exposure sites at San Remo, Tuggerah, Lake Haven, Charmhaven and Northlakes, which is available for viewing on the NSW Health website. “To end the lockdown now would only speed up transmission of the Delta strain,” Crouch said. “It will take a few days to see if any community transmission occurred at one of the 18 exposure sites on the Central Coast.
“Hundreds of people were unknowingly exposed to COVID-19 and are now being tested.” Community concern spiked this week, with lengthy lines at COVID testing sites all over the region. Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the lockdown extension would allow residents more time to be vaccinated. “Though the Pfizer supply is insufficient there is plenty of AstraZeneca and updated federal health advice recommends anyone aged 18 and over in Greater Sydney should access the jab,” Berejiklian said. Continued page 6
As the Tranche 3 revised land sale list went to the July 27 Central Coast Council meeting for ratification, work on selling Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 land continues. See page 29
Education
Central Coast Community College, which provides training for disadvantaged students from all over the region, has received a $33,000 boost through the latest round of a NSW Government fund. See page 37
Puzzles page 22
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