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NSW Police have fined a travel company owner $5000 for breaching COVID-19 public health orders after taking three busloads of tourists to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo - despite being aware that more than 70 people onboard were prohibited from travelling outside Greater Sydney.

Defying Sydney’s current lockdown, the tour group of 128 people, including staff and guests, arrived at the western NSW zoo on Monday where they were denied entry, with staff alerting authorities.

State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said the company owner told NSW Police he was aware of the public health orders but decided to continue the tour as planned anyway.

However, Deputy Commissioner Worboys advised “the staff at the zoo did exactly the right thing – they isolated the risk and alerted police. They did a great job to protect the local community."

Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District attended and spoke to tour operators, establishing that the group had left Sydney on Friday 25th June - before Sydney’s lockdown.

The group had continued to travel throughout regional NSW after the public health orders were updated on Saturday, which plunged greater Sydney into a stay-at-home order from 6pm that day.

The guests, none of whom were fined, were directed to return home immediately and the tour company was fined.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo Director Steve Hinks said staff refused entry to the groups and asked them to remain on the buses while police were notified.

Hinks advised “we have very stringent COVID safety protocols in place here.

"All correspondence with the company gave us the confidence that this group was fine to travel throughout regional NSW - of course, on arrival that turned out not to be the case."

The travel company was among more than 30 public infringement notices handed out by NSW Police across the state this week.

As investigations into further possible breaches continue, NSW Police Minister, David Elliott said it was disappointing a large number of breaches of the public health orders occurred on Monday, noting “I would appeal to everyone to not only follow the rules but use your common sense and do your bit to help NSW beat this virus.”

Image: Lions at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

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