Partial border shotdown

THE Victorian Government enacted a hard border lockdown with ‘red zones’ in NSW from 11.59pm last Sunday night as the COVID-19 cluster linked to Sydney ballooned to 70 cases. But residents living in local government areas along both sides of the border, including Indigo Shire, will not need a permit and instead will be able to use their driver’s licence as a passport to travel between Victoria and New South Wales. Beechworth Chamber of Commerce president Rod Devlin said he was hopeful the second border lockdown would not be as bad for local traders as the first. "There was a noticeable lack of NSW visitors during the first lockdown, which would have impacted local Air BNB and accommodation houses," he said. "The so-called border bubble is a bit more relaxed this time around so hopefully it's not going to be as bad as it was. "The lead-up to Christmas so far has been positive but traders really need a good Christmas after such a challenging year. "It is just so important for everyone to do their Christmas shopping locally this year." Premier Andrews said the action was taken based on the most up-to-date information available about the current outbreak in New South Wales. “Just as when other states closed their borders to us, these decisions are not easy, but they are necessary,” Mr Andrews said. “We know keeping families apart is an especially hard ask this close to Christmas but Victorians have given up too much for us not to take this seriously. “Without significant additional action to slow the spread of the virus in New South Wales, we believe these measures are necessary to keeping Victoria safe.” The Greater Sydney area and the Central Coast will be designated as a ‘red zone’ which means people who live in these communities, or have visited these communities since December 11, cannot enter Victoria. Anyone from this zone found trying to enter Victoria in breach of this order will be subject to 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine. Victorians who have recently visited or are currently in Greater Sydney and the Central Coast, other than those in the Northern Beaches area had until 11:59pm Monday night to return. The Northern Beaches area was elevated to a ‘hot zone’ so Victorians in the Northern Beaches area remain subject to the NSW’s Chief Health Officer’s stay at home orders and will not be permitted to enter Victoria. The rest of regional New South Wales remains a green zone, but residents in these areas will still need to apply for and receive a valid permit to enter Victoria. Victoria Police have deployed around 700 members to establish additional checkpoints along the border to ensure only people with permits, residents in border communities or those with eligible exemptions are able to cross. They will be supported by the SES and other emergency services personnel and Victoria has requested support from the Australian Defence Force at the check points. The local government areas in the border zone on the Victorian side are: Alpine, Benalla, Bendigo, Buloke, Campaspe, East Gippsland, Gannawarra, Indigo, Loddon, Mildura, Moira, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Towong, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Yarriambiack. The NSW LGAs are: Albury City, Balranald, Bega Valley, Berrigan, Broken Hill, Edward River, Federation, Greater Hume, Hay, Lockhart, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Wagga Wagga, and Wentworth. Anyone found to have entered Victoria without a valid permit or exemption, may be subject to penalties in excess of $1652 and if you intentionally provide false information on your permit application, you may be issued a fine of $1652 or face a penalty of up to $9913.

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