But it is not a signal to the community to be complacent.

Access to these areas across the Port Macquarie-Hastings was banned on April 9 as part of a strategy to stop people congregating on or around the area's beaches while maintaining access for continued specific use such as exercise.

It was implemented ahead of the Easter school holiday period.

Roads leading to beach car parks were barricaded with regular police patrols to ensure social distancing and gatherings didn't exceed numbers under the current laws

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council thanks residents for complying with the current social distancing requirements but urges everyone to continue to 'keep moving' when outdoors.

Social distancing and gathering laws remain in place, and vigilance is expected for the health and safety of everyone in the community.

Police will continue to patrol and enforce warnings or fines under the current NSW Public Health Act.

Council's director of infrastructure Dan Bylsma said the lifting of car park closures coincides with the end of the school holiday period.

The closures were co-ordinated in conjunction with the NSW Police Local Area Command and have proven to be an effective measure to limit the number of people congregating in public spaces without imposing on the importance of encouraging people to exercise.

"We will also be relaxing the restrictions in place for the Settlement Point and Hibbard ferries," Mr Bylsma said.

"Over the school holidays we introduced a residents-only travel on ferries in line with the government's communication around unnecessary travel and for people to not travel too far from home; and to support the National Parks closure guidelines.

"We are still encouraging people to only consider necessary travel."

Mr Bylsma said the measures were supported by most of the community.

"The police had some challenges in the lead up to the school holidays so we worked in conjunction with the LAC to implement car park closures.

"We have had fantastic feedback on how much of an impact that has had in terms of the moving and gathering of people in these areas.

"There was certainly a bit more parking in areas around these car parks but people really did understand that if they needed to be in these public spaces it had to be for a specific function.

"We've all still got a role to play to maintain social distancing across our community. Regardless of whether car parks are open or closed, we must still limit the gathering and movement of people in our community."

Playgrounds and exercise stations across the local government area will remain closed under Public Health Order guidelines.

Meanwhile, a new COVID-19 Recovery Working Group has been established to focus on paving the way forward for the community.

The Working Group brings together community leaders and representatives from across the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area.

The group's objectives will focus on how the region can successfully recover from the COVID-19 health crisis - economically, socially and culturally.

Chaired by council's general manager Craig Swift McNair, the group had its first meeting on April 23.

Emerging discussion themes included how bringing forward capital works projects may activate the economy, what role the education sector might play in upskilling and retraining, and how retail and hospitality have adapted.

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