NSW will reopen on Monday 11 October having reached the magical first milestone of 70 per cent of double vaccinations averaged across the state.

This initial reopening will allow regional travel between regions only. Greater Sydney residents including Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour are not permitted to travel to regions for holidays, they can only travel within Greater Sydney. Regional residents still cannot visit Greater Sydney. 

The Deputy Premier Paul Toole said on October 8, "You can't go from Greater Sydney into the regions and you cannot go from a regional community into Greater Sydney." 

Once the next milestone of 80 per cent double vaccinations is reached Greater Sydney and Regional NSW can travel anywhere within the state. This next milestone is expected to be reached soon.

What does this mean for Snowy Mountains businesses, residents and visitors?

As a tourist area our focus is often centred around tourism, but travel will remain slow until the Canberra market can start travelling again and Greater Sydney opens. Canberra will commence easing of their restrictions on October 15, but this may not involve opening the ACT borders. That is yet to be determined. Canberrans currently have a high first dose vaccination rate of 96 per cent of population.

For now we can expect regional visitors only until the NSW 80% target is reached.

Currently the Snowy Monaro region is in extended lockdown until Monday 11 October due to a high number of COVID-19 cases (60 cases on October 8) through multiple exposure sites in Jindabyne, Cooma and Thredbo. There have been no updates to notify otherwise, so for now, assume Snowy Monaro will open on October 11 unless otherwise notified.

Residents in these Snowy Monaro towns have been undertaking extensive testing and many residents are currently isolating awaiting test results or are isolating having contracted the virus.

See full update of venues of concern here. As of earlier this week Snowy Monaro had 88% single dose vaccination and 61% double vaccination.

The Snowy Valleys region on the western side of the Snowy Mountains have no current restrictions and will be open for region to region travel on October 11.

The wider region has been heavily affected in the past 18 months through bushfires and COVID-19 lockdowns. The recent winter snow season has seen businesses suffer severely in what is usually the busiest months of the year. The Sydney lockdown prevented the majority of regular visitors from enjoying their snow holiday, then the Canberra lockdown reduced visitation further before the Snowy Monaro itself went into lockdown.

In Jindabyne and Thredbo, businesses are desperate for tourists to return once allowed as the population is not big enough to sustain the town's businesses. In the main street of Cooma, businesses also rely on tourist trade, so the reopening can not come soon enough for the region. It would be fair to say some businesses are at breaking point having had no decent income for months.

While residents are certainly concerned with the current COVID-19 cases, we hope this should have well and truly resolved itself in coming weeks before Greater Sydney are allowed to travel again for holidays. 

The mountains are an ideal getaway with an abundance of fresh alpine air ideal for hiking, relaxing, exploring and fishing. The lakes and waterways are looking pristine and events are now appearing on the calendar again.

The new Drops and Hoods cycling event in early December will welcome visitors back in what will be the first major event of the summer and the Snowy Trout Challenge has just started with 500 large rainbow trout released into the waterways and cash prize draws if you catch a tagged fish.

The next printed edition of Snowy Mountains Magazine is out on October 29 and will have a full Snowy Mountains road map of all the great areas and attractions to visit.

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Full details of all the NEW regulations can be found via the NSW Government links at bottom of story.

The NSW Government have been urging people to be double vaccinated as they move away from lockdown situations. One of the key points going forward is more restrictions will apply to unvaccinated people from October 11 than present restrictions.

Reopening is only for the vaccinated people as we still contend with the COVID-19 virus in a safe manner.

People need to be mindful that regulations are set by the NSW State Government, NOT by the businesses themselves, so be kind to staff and businesses who are only doing their job and complying with regulations to avoid hefty fines themselves.

COVID-safe check-ins and proof of vaccination will be required for staff and customers in most settings.

In a joint announcement by the NSW Government on Thursday they stated, “all roadmap freedoms at 70 and 80 per cent will continue to be for fully vaccinated people only”.

The new Premier Dominic Perrottet is urging people to continue to be vaccinated as they announced minor changes to the roadmap this morning.

“Vaccinations are the key to life returning to normal and the changes today will help family and friends reconnect, get kids back to school and get businesses back up and running sooner,” Mr Perrottet said.

“NSW is putting in the hard yards and it’s important people continue to turn out in droves to be vaccinated.”

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said workers in regional areas who have received one vaccination dose will be permitted to return to their workplace from October 11 and will be given a grace period until November 1 to receive their second dose.

“This move ensures we get businesses in the regions re-open and local economies buzzing again. It's about ensuring we make this a roadmap that works for everyone,” Mr Toole said.

Key Points 70% Reopening Roadmap

• Premises operating at 1 person per 4sqm indoors and 1 person per 2sqm outdoors.
• Masks required for all staff and customers in all indoor settings including on public transport, planes and in airports (except children under the age of 12).
• Mask no longer required in outdoor settings (except for front-of-house hospitality staff).
• COVID safe check-ins and proof of vaccination required for staff and customers.
• Drinking indoors must be seated but drinking outdoors may be seated or standing.
• Group bookings of up to 20 people in hospitality settings.
• Community sport not permitted.
• 10 visitors limit in your home (not counting children 12 and under).
• Gatherings up to 30 people outdoors.
• Cap of 100 people attending weddings and funerals.
• Staff in regional areas with one vaccination does can return to work (require 2nd dose by Nov 1).
• No distance limits apply for exercise and recreation.
• Caravan parks and camping grounds reopen.

All details 70% Stage 1 NSW road map information here

All details 80% Stage 2 NSW road map information

Read NSW Government reopening information slides

Roadmap for easing COVID-19 Restrictions

Which settings will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination?

Anyone aged 16 or over will need to be fully vaccinated (or have an exemption) to enter most venues including:

• hospitality venues
• non-critical retail stores
• personal services
• sporting, recreation and entertainment facilities and events.

Critical retail such as supermarkets or pharmacies will still be accessible for people who are not fully vaccinated.

More hear about how to prove your vaccination

There is a fair amount to understand and it is best to read our links for the most up to date information.