A travel company has been issued a $5000 PIN for breaching a public health order after taking three busloads of tourists to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, police say.
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About 9.30am on Monday, three buses arrived at the zoo on Obley Road at Dubbo.
On board were 128 staff and guests - at least 76 of whom were not permitted to travel outside Greater Sydney under the current public health order, police said.
Staff at the zoo refused to allow the travellers off the buses and police were called.
Orana Mid-Western Police District officers attended and spoke to tour operators, establishing the group had left Sydney on Friday June 25 and had continued to travel throughout regional NSW after the public health orders were updated on Saturday.
The guests were directed to return home immediately and the tour company has been issued a $5000 PIN.
State emergency operations controller Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said the company owner told police he was aware of the public health orders but decided to continue the tour as planned anyway.
"But the staff at the zoo did exactly the right thing - they isolated the risk and alerted police," Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
"They did a great job to protect the local community."
Investigations into further possible breaches are continuing.
...the staff at the zoo did exactly the right thing...
- Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys
The zoo confirmed it called police on Monday when a concern arose at the arrival of the group.
The zoo reports that during COVID check-in at the coach bay, the group disclosed they had visited the Greater Sydney area on or after June 21.
In discussions prior to their arrival, Taronga had received assurances from the group that it was compliant with NSW Public Health Orders, however at the point of check-in it was revealed that the group had in fact visited the Greater Sydney area, the said in a statement.
The group was not permitted to enter the zoo and NSW Police were called to manage the situation from that point onwards, the zoo said.
"Across the board, Taronga Western Plains Zoo has seen the majority of guests respect staff and the measures in place from NSW Health," the zoo said.
"The health and safety of our animals, guests, staff and volunteers are our top priority and we are committed to maintaining these measures for as long as public safety requires us to.
"Taronga Western Plains Zoo has very stringent COVID compliance measures in place to ensure we can continue operating in a safe manner at this challenging time.
"We ask that all guests comply with the NSW Health public order so that we can continue to be open for business."
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