- NSW plans to ease restrictions at 80% double dose vaccination rate
- Property Council welcomes safe reopening of CBD
- Call for businesses to follow health advice to avoid shutdowns
Earlier this week, the New South Wales Government revealed plans to ease Covid restrictions once the state hits the 80% vaccination target.
The target stipulates that 80% of NSW residents, aged 16 and over, must have received two doses of Covid vaccines.
The eased restrictions will see fully vaccinated residents enjoying further freedoms, such as access to hospitality venues and the ability to travel regionally.
While the 80% plan has great implications for personal freedoms, the state’s business sector is also feeling optimistic.
A win for the economy
The Property Council of Australia (PCA) has welcomed the roadmap with open arms, according to Executive Director Luke Achterstraat.
The statement comes a few weeks after the Property Council expressed it was cautiously welcoming the roadmap to recovery, after the state surpassed the 70% vaccination rate.
Mr Achterstraat said the further freedoms the roadmap provides will be a vital reboot to the economy.
“Our CBDs cannot be reactivated until workers are going back to offices to breathe life into our cities.
“With Sydney’s most recent office occupancy data detailing just four per cent of workers are in our offices in August, we need a concerted effort from business, people and government to come together to ensure our public spaces and central districts can bounce back”
Luke Achterstraat, NSW Property Council
Mr Achterstraat said he expects the eased restrictions to revitalise confidence in the market and Sydney’s CBD.
“Investment in attracting people back to the city and to public spaces is critical to ensuring Sydney and our other CBDs, the economic powerhouses of the state, are able to once again thrive so we welcome any decision that demonstrates this.”
The Property Council also embraced the news that as of December 1, mask wearing will no longer be required in offices and employers will be able to determine their own working from home policies.
Mr Achterstraat noted the importance of vaccination in allowing the safe return to business, and emphasised the necessity of following health advice to avoid any future shutdowns.
“Businesses and industry implore the need for a smooth and permanent reopening to ensure confidence and jobs, and we welcome the Premier’s confidence that lockdowns of this nature will not be required in future,” Mr Achterstraat concluded.
