Tamworth Regional Council’s seven-day lockdown has brought wide-ranging implications for Narrabri Shire and surrounding areas.

Shire residents who visited the local government area from Thursday last week have been required to follow the NSW government’s stay-at-home order unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave home.

People are also unable to visit the Tamworth area unless they have a valid reason.

In response to the restrictions, Narrabri Shire Council has altered its public operations to protect its staff and the public.

Council’s Maitland Street administration building is closed to the public, as is the Narrabri Region Visitor Information Centre and shire libraries in Narrabri, Wee Waa and Boggabri.

Cinemas at The Crossing Theatre are also closed as a precautionary measure.

The aquatic centre as well as waste facilities and parks and open spaces remain open.

A spokesperson said council is committed to ensuring community service provisions are maintained during this time specifically, water, waste, roads and customer service functions.

“We are closely monitoring the ever-changing developments surrounding COVID-19,” they said.

“Council will endeavour to provide the community updates regarding council service provisions as information becomes available.”

Mayor Ron Campbell said the precautionary changes to council’s service delivery functions are a proactive response to the growing concern relating to increased instances of COVID travelling to surrounding local government areas and are no means an indication of Narrabri Shire ‘going into lockdown’ or any other rumours that may be circulating.

“Reduced contact services have been reintroduced for the interim to ensure council operations are able to be maintained going forward,” Cr Campbell said.

“The reintroduced customer service contactless methods are identical to those council has used throughout the pandemic and first introduced back in March 2020.

“These measures in this instance will be in place for no longer than necessary.”

Council has not been alone in altering its operations in response to the lockdown in nearby Tamworth.

Some local businesses introduced restrictions of their own following the stay-at-home order.

Other local institutions are closely monitoring the rapidly changing COVID situation.

In an update to staff and students, Narrabri High School principal Dinos Charalambous said some staff, students and parents had visited the Tamworth area recently.

“Teachers and staff who work in schools are authorised to leave their home to attend work. Students are also authorised to leave home to attend school,” he said.

“These reasons are listed in the guidelines as a ‘reasonable excuse’ to leave home. Remember that students and staff must not attend work or school if they are unwell, even with mild symptoms of COVID-19.

“Anyone who is unwell with COVID-19 symptoms is strongly encouraged to get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

“Staff or students who have visited the Armidale LGA, Guyra LGA or the Tamworth LGA should get a COVID- 19 test if they feel unwell or have flu-like symptoms. They should isolate until they get a negative result.”

Events continue to fall victim to the pandemic’s wrath with the Wee Waa Show Society deciding to cancel this month’s show.

The Narrabri Clay Target Club’s King of Kaputar Shoot, to be held this weekend, has been postponed.

Other sporting codes affected are rugby union and rugby league.

Central North Rugby Union has announced that this Saturday’s games have been postponed which has pushed the grand final, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 11, back a week at this stage.

Group 4 Rugby League has also postponed its round 14 games this weekend and is discussing how the season will move forward.

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