The Mayors of Indigo and Federation Councils are calling on the NSW Government to immediately re-think the latest border restrictions, saying the situation is grossly unfair and will cripple local businesses and force many people into unemployment.
Indigo Mayor, Jenny O'Connor, said there are many residents who work or own a business in places like Albury and Corowa who fear that will have to close down as they will no longer be allowed to cross the border.
"Our shire has been locked out of NSW under the latest restrictions, which means hundreds of workers and business owners face being out of work from midnight tonight."
"The situation is ludicrous and is causing a huge amount of stress and anxiety and I am pleading with the government to immediately reverse the decision," Cr O'Connor said.
Federation Mayor, Patrick Bourke said businesses in the shire, which is in NSW, will also be seriously impacted with many employing Victorian staff who live outside the new border zones.
He said the situation is completely inequitable with NSW residents permitted to work in Victoria, providing they self-isolate on return to NSW, but the same rule does not apply to Victorians living outside the zone who cannot pass into NSW.
An example of this is workers who reside in Rutherglen, which is about 14kms from the border at Corowa, will no longer be able to cross into NSW to go to work.
The two Mayors say while they understand the need to take necessary steps to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, these latest restrictions have gone too far, especially when there has been such low infection numbers across the border region.
Impacted residents are encouraged to provide their feedback by completing this form. The information will then be collated and provided to the relevant government authorities.
