Taxi and rideshare companies face fines of up to half a million dollars if they take passengers into the Sydney CBD on Saturday, as NSW Police desperately try to prevent a sequel to last weekend’s anti-lockdown protest. 

AAP understands that NSW Police will set up an exclusion zone around the city to last from 9am to 3pm on Saturday.

Police have issued a prohibition notice to seven taxi and rideshare services banning them from taking passengers to the CBD over the six-hour period.

Companies who fail to comply with the notice risk a maximum penalty of $500,000, and individuals could be fined up to $100,000, NSW Police say.

The large zone stretches from the Bradfield Highway at Milsons Point north of the Harbour Bridge, to the City West Link at Lilyfield, to South Dowling St near Todman Ave at Zetland, and east to New South Head Rd near Ocean Ave at Edgecliff.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Friday warned would-be protesters they would be met by a police force up to 1000 strong.

Police expect a protest after monitoring online activity, but believe it will not be in the same numbers as the one that shook Sydney last weekend.

Some 60 protesters have been charged and 200 people fined over a protest that police estimate had 3500 attendees. 

AAP

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