Lockdown 'no surprise,' says Goulburn Mulwaree Council Mayor Bob Kirk

Mayor Bob Kirk said he'd not seen the formal response but understood ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr had refused the council's request to be among the postcodes for essential workers to pass over the border without permits.

The ACT announced last week that only people from Gunning, Collector, Murrumbateman, Yass, Binalong, Gundaroo, Bungendore, Captains Flat, Bredbo and Michelago could pass in to the ACT for essential work and healthcare reasons without the exemption. This applied to the lockdown period, which has been extended by two weeks to September 2.

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"Clearly now, (with the NSW lockdown) people are supposed to stay at home unless they are essential workers," Cr Kirk said.

"They've (the ACT) had to draw a line somewhere."

Currently, between 2000 and 3000 Goulburn Mulwaree people travel to work daily in the ACT.

The mayor said news of the NSW lockdown was no great surprise, given COVID's spread to the regions.

"We had so many boofheads making up reasons to travel to this region. We saw it happening all the time," he said.

"It is what it is and the only question now is how long the lockdown will last."

Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman advised him of the impending lockdown early Saturday afternoon. The state government has drawn flak for its initial announcement of the lockdown on social media at about 3pm. Only later did Premier Gladys Berejiklian issue a press release.

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Mrs Tuckerman also advised constituents via Facebook at 3.30pm Saturday.

Meantime, some council operations have been affected by the lockdown. The civic centre, art gallery, library, Rocky Hill War Memorial and museum, Visitors Information Cente, Waterworks and Goulburn Community Centre are shut.

All face-to-face customer service contacts will cease but people are still free to call and conduct business online.

Workspace Goulburn remains open to lessees but will not be available for casual or group bookings.

Critical services like water, sewer and waste collection will continue as normal.

Tuesday's council meeting will be deferred to August 24 at this stage.

Cr Kirk said executive staff met on Sunday to put the 'business continuity plan' in place, ensuring essential services continued.

A total 221 of the council's estimated 330 staff have been deemed essential workers. They are primarily employed in operations and utilities.

The Local Emergency Management Committee, comprising emergency services, NSW Health, the council and other agencies will convene this week as part of a scheduled meeting.

The Mayor urged calm following the weekend's rush on supermarkets after the lockdown announcement.

"(I'd ask that) people take time to ponder the lockdown rules and that food and essential provisions will still operate, as will the supply chain," he said.

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"It is not as though food supply will stop so there's no need to rush out. That is the nature of things because people want to ensure they have enough food, drink and of course, toilet paper on hand but they don't have to hurry out and get it."

The major supermarkets reported long queues late Saturday afternoon and well in to the evening for those with longer operating hours. Some shelves, including the toilet paper aisle, were stripped bare. By Sunday afternoon it had quietened down somewhat.

Cr Kirk asked that people "do the right thing" during the lockdown.

"We need people to play their part," he said.

"Just because we have no (COVID) incidents here doesn't mean there won't be and we need people doing the right thing, wearing their masks, exercising personal hygiene and social distancing, and organising the time to get vaccinated if they aren't already."

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