Two fined for coming to Hunter from COVID-19 lockdown in Sydney

The Newcastle Herald has received reports of a Sydney couple and their children arriving to stay at a house in Merewether late on Saturday night, seemingly in breach of stay-at-home rules.

Newcastle police said they were responding to numerous reports of pandemic breaches and "people from Sydney shouldn't be up here".

Hunter New England Health confirmed on Sunday that people from Sydney were allowed to stay in their Hunter accommodation if they arrived before the government announced lockdowns.

But anyone from Sydney already on holiday in the region was not allowed to leave their accommodation other than for food and exercise.

A man and woman from Sydney's east who travelled to a Denman horse trial are among those who have been fined for breaching the rules.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District went to a pony club on Bell Street about 3.20pm on Saturday after a Crime Stoppers report by a member of the public.

Police found a 56-year-old man, a 22-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl in the car park not wearing face masks.

Inquiries revealed the man and girl, from Paddington, and the woman, from Maroubra, had travelled to Denman in breach of the stay-at-home order issued for Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick and City of Sydney council areas.

The man and woman were each issued a $1000 fine for travelling outside Sydney and a $200 infringement for failing to wear a fitted face covering.

The girl was given a warning.

Police issued seven $1000 fines on Saturday and eight $200 infringements for failing to wear masks.

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may affect the health and safety of the community.

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