Yesterday morning, eight workers at the large construction site in Collins Street were found to be in breach of the COVID restrictions, as they had come down to work from LGAs of concern. Four were from Bayside, two from Fairfield and two from Blacktown (numbers updated by Police on 19 August).

On announcing the details today, Illawarra Police Superintendent Craig Ireland said that when officers had visited the site yesterday some of the 33 workers scattered, but when all were accounted for it was established that five should not have been in Kiama.

"They have been issued with $1000 fines," he said.

"Further investigation is going on and some further charges may be laid.

"The message clearly is it only takes one or two people to disobey the Public Health Orders and it puts it all at risk.

"There is nothing to suggest these men are positive, but the risk is through the roof."

Enquiries are being made as to whether the company, Orwell Constructions, has committed offences.

"The information they got from the workers might have been true or false," said Superintendent Ireland.

Police initially became interested in the site when they visited a house being rented by workers in Kiama Downs on the Monday night.

Work resumed on the site that day.