More freedom at the border, but fears for NSW pubs as 50km bubble remains

THE peak cross-border tourism organisation for the Murray region is demanding the NSW Government immediately repen the border to regional Victorians to ensure the survival of small to medium businesses.

Victorian residents are no longer restricted on travelling to NSW’s 50km border zone or entering NSW for a permitted purpose.

The border zone has also been extended. 

NSW health minister Brad Hazzard said the changes followed an easing of restrictions in regional Victoria announced by the Victorian Government.

“I want to thank the border communities for their patience — we are able to ease restrictions on the border given the reduced risk of COVID-19 transmission in regional Victoria,” Mr Hazzard said. 

“Any person with an existing border region permit will be able to take advantage of these changes, which we hope will make day to day life a lot easier for border communities.

“NSW/Victoria border communities have been extremely resilient during this one-in-100 year pandemic as we continue to fight the challenges of COVID-19.”

However, Murray Regional Tourism (MRT) said the latest update to the NSW Public Health Order meant regional Victorian residents living outside the 50km border region couldn’t enter NSW including being on the Murray River which is NSW water.

Regional Victoria accounts for approximately 40 per cent of total visitation to the Murray region in NSW and Victoria. 

“Without visitors from regional Victoria, many NSW and water-based Victorian businesses will be forced to close and thousands of jobs will be lost,” MRT said in a statement. 

“Representing the 2500 tourism businesses in the cross-border river communities of interest, MRT is calling for the NSW Government to immediately remove the current restrictions on access to the Murray River for regional Victorian visitors; and, allow regional Victorian visitors to apply for a border region permit to travel within the border region providing much needed visitation and expenditure into the NSW Murray region business community.”

MRT said tourism was the Murray region’s second largest employer accounting for approximately 18,000 jobs and contributing over $2 billion in direct expenditure into the local economy.

MRT chair Wendy Greiner warned under the current conditions, over a thousand tourism businesses remained largely closed as they cannot welcome regional Victorian visitors to experience a golf holiday, accommodation stay, pub visit, retail experience, paddle steamer cruise or houseboat holiday.

“The Murray region’s tourism industry has been decimated by the border closure and reopening the NSW/Victoria border to regional

Victorian residents plays a crucial role in ensuring regional jobs and economic recovery,” she said. 

“Our communities of interest in both NSW and Victoria have implored us to advocate for the reopening of the NSW/Victoria border in a COVID-Safe manner to ensure their long term future.”

Licensed venues in Murray Downs — the Federal Hotel and Murray Downs Golf and Country Club — also welcomed the easing of restrictions on the reasons Victorians could enter NSW.

Their venues welcomed back Victorians who live in the border bubble. 

Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said changes to restrictions on the borders was a weight off the shoulders of border community residents.

NSW Police Force media confirmed with The Guardian that no changes would be made to the NSW border checkpoints.

At a media conference on Wednesday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said changes on the NSW side of the border would be implemented in the next week or so.

But, later that evening, Member for Albury Justin Clancy said the changes would be made in line with Victoria.

Mr Walsh said border community residents have been to hell and back being separated from family, friends, school, work, farms and daily essential services.

“With few — if any — cases of COVID-19 in many border communities, it’s been, a frustrating waiting to have these restrictions on our daily life lifted,” Mr Walsh said.

“I’m optimistic these latest changes will now set us firmly and safely on the path to (the) COVID normal.”

Service NSW said current border region resident permits would now be subject to the amended permit conditions and remained valid until its date of expiry.

To view the updated border region map and changes and apply for a permit, visit service.nsw.gov.au.