The Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour areas were plunged into a two-week lockdown from 6pm Saturday night, with compulsory mask-wearing and four square metre rules reintroduced for indoor and concentrated outdoor areas in all other parts of NSW.

In addition, people who had been in the now locked-downs areas on or after June 21 have been advised to follow the same stay-at-home rules as those in lockdown for 14 days from the date they left the area.

READ MORE: New look for Bathurst Winter Festival as COVID-19 restrictions come into effect

Bathurst mayor Bobby Bourke is one of what is sure to be many locals following the stay-at-home rules, as he visited Penrith last week, and missed the opening night of the Winter Festival as a result.

"It's very disappointing. The Bathurst Regional Council events staff and workers did a lot of hard work leading up to the festival, only for it to be reorganised in hours," Cr Bourke said.

"We were expecting a massive event this year, with over 50 per cent of ice rink tickets sold to residents outside of Bathurst, and now we're faced with the reality many of those people won't be able to make it; we're back to square one."

READ ALSO: Paul Toole MP to spend two weeks in isolation in hotel due to COVID-19

The public health orders now mean face masks are compulsory while attending the festival and capacity for the ice rink and the Winter Playground in Kings Parade will be limited to the one person per four square metre rule.

Cr Bourke said council staff will work throughout the week to develop further alternate arrangements, with this weekend's Brew and Bite showcase likely to undergo significant changes.

"It's early days yet, and council staff will spend the next few days deciding the best cause of action," he said.

With a more decentralised organisation of Winter Festival attractions this year, Cr Bourke hopes the community will enjoy the event safely and follow public health advice accordingly.

READ ALSO: Bathurst Winter Festival 2021: Street art to come alive at Keystone

"The event is mostly outdoors, and is fully operational within NSW Health's COVID-safe guidelines and restrictions [QR sign-in, four square metre limits], so as long as everyone masks up and follows social distancing requirements, we'll still be able to enjoy the festival in some form," he said.

"But if you've been to a locked-down area over the past week, the message is simple: stay home and follow the public health advice."

Council will continue to monitor the situation and make further announcements regarding the Winter Festival in due course.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: