The NSW Government's decision to keep Wollongong and Shellharbour in the lockdown zone for at least the next two weeks has been condemned by the Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward.

"I support lockdowns where there is an overriding public health reason to do so. When there are no cases of community transition, there is no case to lockdown our region," Mr Ward says.

"If there was a sensible argument for lockdowns in our community, then so be it. But if such an argument exists, I'm yet to hear it.

"If cases of community transmission appear in our community, I am more than happy to revisit the question of lockdowns. But in the absence of a clear explanation about the threshold test to lockdown a community, a clear explanation about the appreciable risk and the associated evidence, it is impossible to support this lockdown."

A petition to exclude the Illawarra from the lockdown, started by Mr Ward last week, has attracted 13,000 signatures but did not sway the Government.

Local businesses affected by the COVID lockdown are still able to qualify for a range of Government assistance packages, even though they are not in a lockdown area.

One measure of particular interest, given the high cost of rent in the Kiama area, is the Government offering land tax relief equal to the value of rent reductions provided by commercial, retail and residential landlords to financially distressed tenants (up to 100% of the 2021 land tax year liability). There is also a capped grant of up to $1,500 for residential landloards who do not pay land tax.

A new police operation has been deployed, to stop residents of the lockdown areas travelling into regional areas without a permitted purpose.

A notification from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command says, "Police will verify the reasong for travel with motorists to ensure compliance with the current public health order and take action against any person found to be in breach."

In addition, police will continue to monitor rail passengers travelling out of the affected areas.

Mr Ward has also called for the August sittings of the State's Lower House to be delivered on-line, rather than requiring regional members to attend in person.