Police have charged four arborists after they allegedly returned to Lake Macquarie in breach of Public Health Order for the second time this month.
They were charged after police received information on Thursday afternoon that a group of six arborists were door knocking homes at Cardiff. It is alleged the men were operating under a different business name and had removed all company identification from their vehicles.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and spoke with the group before four of the men were arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station.
They were issued Court Attendance Notices for not comply with noticed direction and not ensure true and accurate information provided to Service NSW.
Police will allege a 41-year-old from Kingswood, 25-year-old from Leumeah, 57-year-old from Colyton and 37-year-old from Whalan had previously been issued with PINs for breaching the Public Health Order. They are due to appear at Toronto Local Court in November.
A fifth man - a 33-year-old from Ropes Crossing - was issued with Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) totalling $6000 for breaching the Public Health Order and providing inaccurate information in his permit application.
Investigations remain ongoing into the sixth man.
It comes after seven men were fined following reports to police last Wednesday about a group of arborists who had been canvassing the Lake Macquarie area for work.
Police spoke to the men the next day, who told police they'd been working in the region on weekdays and returning to Greater Sydney on weekends, including to LGAs of concern.
Further inquiries revealed one of the men had provided inaccurate information to obtain a Service NSW permit to leave Greater Sydney and enter Regional NSW, another man did not have a permit at all, and other employees hadn't had a COVID-19 test prior to leaving Greater Sydney as required under the Public Health Order.
Seven men were subsequently issued with PINs totalling $33,000 and directed to return to their homes in Greater Sydney.
