Five years have passed since the lifting of COVID-19 lockdowns in western Sydney, Australia, prompting reflection on whether conditions have improved for residents. The article questions the lasting impact of restrictions particularly felt in the western districts of Sydney. During the pandemic, areas of western Sydney faced stricter measures, including helicopter surveillance, military-style door-to-door checks, and 9pm curfews, leading some to describe the situation as dystopian. The report seeks to examine if the inequalities exposed by the pandemic response have been addressed in the intervening years. It asks whether the residents of western Sydney continue to experience disproportionate hardship or if tangible improvements have been made in social and economic conditions. Ultimately, the article aims to assess the long-term consequences of the lockdown experience on this region of Sydney.