Regional council leaders grappling with a rising number of COVID cases and lagging vaccination rates said they were disappointed when NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet declined to meet them ahead of the reopening to Sydneysiders tomorrow.
Local Government NSW president Linda Scott said mayors from the Hunter and mid-north coast sent an email to Mr Perrottet a fortnight ago, shortly after he was sworn in, requesting a meeting to discuss their concerns.
On Friday, they received an email from the Premier's office informing them that their request had been rejected.
"It is unfortunate the meeting was declined by the Premier," Ms Scott said.
"These local government leaders continue to have concerns about the relatively low vaccination rates in their communities and they are eager to work with the state government on a more nuanced strategy for reopening Sydney to these regions."
She said mayors from many regional areas were apprehensive about the weeks ahead.
"Of course communities across the state are welcoming that health orders are being lifted and communities are able to have more freedom. However, there are a patchwork of different COVID vaccination rates across the state," Mr Scott said.
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the rejection hit hard given that the Hunter was grappling with a surge in COVID cases ahead of reopening.
"The Hunter region had a quarter of the reported COVID cases across the state yesterday," he said.
The Premier today said the rejection was the result of an administrative error.
"It was clearly an admin issue in my office," he said.
"The request came through, I approved it, unfortunately that hasn't come through but that's been rectified.
"They wanted to discuss some of the vaccination issues they are having and I said yes. So I will meet with them and hear their concerns."
Ms Scott welcomed the news.
Lord Mayor of Newcastle Nuatali Nelmes said she was "glad they have changed their mind".
She said a similar request had been made earlier in the Delta outbreak to the previous premier by the 12 local governments of concern in Western Sydney. In that case too, she said, it took time for the then premier to agree to a meeting.
"I think it is really important, particularly as a new premier, that he [Mr Perrottet] understands that New South Wales is bigger than metropolitan Sydney," Ms Nelmes said.
"Sometimes it is difficult in regional NSW to get the attention of Macquarie Street."
The Newcastle area currently accounts for a third of current COVID cases in NSW.
"Everything will change as of tomorrow in terms of regional travel," Ms Nelmes said. "We are likely to see more increases [in COVID cases]."
