Thousands of tourists flood Sydney's scenic Blue Mountains after being cleared to travel – with cops called in to disperse crowds smashing through barricades in weekend of 'bedlam'
- Blue Mountains' tourists pushed down barriers and had to be dispersed by police
- The mayor has called on the state government to help control flow of tourists
- With travel rules set to relax in June local government has asked for strategy
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
The Blue Mountains mayor is calling on the New South Wales government for help as visitors return to the tourist hotspot following a weekend of 'bedlam'.
Mark Greenhill says the local city council doesn't have the power or resources to enforce coronavirus social distancing rules after crowds had to be dispersed.
Mr Greenhill has pleaded with the coalition government to come up with a strategy.
Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill (pictured) has called on the government to form a tourism strategy for the easing of restrictions after 'bedlam' in the area saw police called in to disperse crowds on the weekend
NSW will relax travel rules in June meaning people will be able to once again visit their favourite regional destinations.
Cr Greenhill has written to the premier and health minister requesting assistance because, he says, even now 'there's no social distancing happening up here'.
'We're classed as Sydney so we've had visitors coming for weeks,' the Labor mayor told AAP on Wednesday.
A number of areas including Echo Point and Lincoln's Rock are closed due to COVID-19 but, as people have returned to the mountains, directions have been ignored and streets have become crowded.
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'We've had people actually pushing barricades down, we've had police sort of dispersing crowds. It's been bedlam,' the mayor said.
'What we saw last weekend in the Blue Mountains was not safe.'
Cr Greenhill stresses the region needs visitors to return but they also need tourists to follow social distancing measures.
Too many people thought it was now 'open slather', he said.
The Blue Mountains have an older demographic and some residents are scared to go out on the weekend.
'We welcome the visitors but there's got to be a strategy in place to ensure that happens in a way that doesn't endanger people who are vulnerable,' the mayor said.
A number of areas including Echo Point and Lincoln's Rock are closed due to COVID-19 but, as people have returned to the mountains, directions have been ignored and streets have become crowded (Echo Point lookout is pictured)
'Local councils don't have the powers under the health order or the resources necessary to ensure social distancing.'
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday confirmed intra-state travel restrictions are to be lifted from June 1.
Across bushfire-affected communities, there's been a mixed response to the prospect of tourists returning after what's been a devastating 12 months.
Bega Valley Shire Council mayor Sharon Tapscott said it was a 'double-edged sword' given tourism is a huge part of the region's economy.
'At the same time, we have a very high cohort of self-funded retirees who fall into that high-risk category for COVID-19 adverse outcomes,' she told AAP.
'It's a very individual kind of perspective, but as a region, our economy really does need to have the tourists here otherwise we're just flat, we don't go anywhere.'
Shoalhaven City Council mayor Amanda Findley said businesses were cautiously optimistic.
Meanwhile in the community there was a 'cautious sort of fear' that COVID-19 risks will increase.
'It's not that our people look at everybody as disease-carrying people, but they're just concerned there is that opportunity for the disease to travel now,' Ms Findley told AAP.
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