Bunnings is BACK as beloved hardware store reopens TODAY for thousands stuck in lockdown NSW - so is your local opening its doors?
- Hardware stores have been closed to the public in NSW Covid hotspot areas
- Rules eased at hardware stores, nurseries, and timber yards including Bunnings
- Some other harsh restrictions for the 12 LGAs of concern were lifted last week
Bunnings and other hardware stores are welcoming back home improvement hobbyists across New South Wales from Monday after many were shut to the public for months.
Plant nurseries and hardware stores, up until now shut to everyone but tradies in NSW hotspot areas, will be allowed to open their doors again to all customers.
The rules for retail businesses have been made consistent across all areas in lockdown, resulting in an easing of the rules in the 12 local government areas of concern in Sydney.
Bunnings stores in NSW Covid hotspot areas can open their doors to the general public again from Monday
Residents in the 12 LGAs of concern have been stuck at home for weeks but unable to go to Bunnings to get around to all those household jobs that need doing
Under the previous rules for those regions only professionals were allowed to visit hardware stores, timber yards, and garden centres.
While some other rules were eased for the 12 hotspot councils last week, the restriction preventing non-tradespeople from shopping at Bunnings remained.
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The loophole in the public health order was amended on Saturday night to allow the public in Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith back into hardware stores.
Other rules to have eased last week for those areas include the removal of exercise limits.
Residents can gather in groups of five fully-vaccinated adults and a 'bubble buddy' can now live anywhere in Sydney.
Masks are also no longer required when exercising in the 12 LGAs, where previously they had to be worn unless the exercise was strenuous.
NSW has reported 961 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.
'We are seeing case numbers in southwest and western Sydney continue to have a downward trend but unfortunately in the Illawarra and Central Coast we are seeing more case numbers than we would like,' Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.
Greater Sydney has now been in lockdown for more than three month
Meanwhile Bunnings owner Wesfarmers looks like it may have sealed a takeover of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries after an increased offer for all shares.
The two companies have agreed for Wesfarmers to buy all API shares for more than $736 million after the former raised its offer from $1.38 per share to $1.55 per share.
Wesfarmers owns retail chains such as Coles and Officeworks and wants to strengthen API-owned pharmacies.
These include Priceline Pharmacy, Soul Pattinson and Pharmacist Advice.
Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott said he saw opportunities to expand the product range, improve online shopping and the supply chain.
API would form the basis of a healthcare division in Wesfarmers, he said.
The proposed takeover must still be approved by shareholders as well as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Previously only tradies were allowed to set foot in hardware stores in the 12 LGAs but the restriction was changed on Saturday night
