The issue of whether people from the lockdown zone can come down to properties they own in our area is still being muddied by the inclusion of ‘moving between different places of residence of the person’ as a reasonable excuse.

While there is no doubt that people in the lockdown zone cannot leave home without a reasonable excuse, it seems some are taking a broad interpretation of the different places of residence excuse to do so.

A spokesperson for Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has sought to clarify the issue, “Taking a holiday is not a reasonable excuse. If you have two residences, you can move between them provided this is part of a normal routine, and providing you follow the stay-at-home rules if you have left Greater Sydney to do so. You cannot take a holiday in a second home.

"A person over 18 who is leaving Greater Sydney must carry evidence showing their address and produce it to a police officer on request.

"These restrictions limit interaction between people from different households and reduce mobility to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the community.

"NSW Health is urging people to not only comply with Public Health Orders, but to make practical and sensible decisions that limit the risk of acquiring COVID-19 and keep their loved ones and the broader community safe at this critical time."

While some people may move between homes ‘as part of a normal routine’, the exemption does not apply to most property owners. Anyone who does come down must comply with the stay at home orders while here.

The Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, believes it is a loophole that should be closed.

“If the intent of the Public Health Orders is to stop the spread of the virus by limiting the movement of people, the Public Health Orders should be amended to require people to reside at their primary place of residence as listed on the Federal Electoral Roll,” he said in a letter to the Health Minister, Brad Hazzard.