MILDURA Regional Development (MRD) says forecasts that regional Victoria could “open up” as early as late next week should prompt the New South Wales Government to reconsider its strict border closures.
MRD chief executive Brett Millington said the organisation was concerned there had been little talk about the border restrictions even though regional Victoria continued to meet stringent low COVID-19 case thresholds.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews this week indicated regional Victoria could open “a whole lot of different businesses” by the end of next week if case numbers continued to remain lower than an average of five new daily cases over the previous 14 days.
Mr Millington said that while reopening would be a huge benefit to local businesses, the border closure with NSW was continuing to affect residents in the Mildura and Wentworth municipalities, both financially and mentally.
“A key component of our region’s economy relies on our cross-border relationship with Wentworth Shire Council residents,” Mr Millington said.
“For them to not be able to travel freely for day-to-day interactions is having a significant impact on our community, not only financially, but it is now beginning to take a mental toll on people’s livelihoods,” he said.
The Mildura region has had no reported COVID active cases in more than 150 days — more than 10 times the required under Victorian protocols required when evaluating the easing of restrictions and moving along its “roadmap”.
Mr Millington said that while tourism had been one of the hardest-hit industries during the coronavirus pandemic, the border closure had forced a range of river users such as paddleboat and houseboat operators to close their doors to suit bureaucracy.
“It’s not just businesses who are losing out on this closure, as the warmer months approach and with the possibility of regional Victoria opening up, people will want to be out and about enjoying our wonderful stretch of river, albeit by skiing, fishing and swimming,” he said.
“To not be able to do that without a permit and legitimate reason for travelling is beyond ridiculous.
“Common sense should prevail and it’s about time NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian acted on location and the data coming out of these regions alone, rather than assuming we should sit alongside city outcomes.”
MRD chair Geoff Thomson, who also owns and operates Thomson Linen Company, said the state border closure within a cross-border region was adding additional pressures to local businesses transporting goods and services to and from the region.
Mr Thomson said those businesses were already suffering from implications of Victorian industry restrictions.
“As an organisation that represents regional development, growth and support for business, it’s very important for MRD to push back on government in the hope of easing these restrictions and having a plan for reopening,” he said.
