Coronavirus Backlog of trucks waved through at SA/Vic border as new COVID-19 border restrictions kick in
A large backlog of trucks were waved through at the SA-Victorian border in the early hours of this morning – shocking one truckie – but police have an explanation.
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A long queue of trucks were waved through the South Australian border without being checked in the early hours of this morning, police have confirmed, as new border restrictions kicked in.
One truck driver rang multiple talkback radio programs on Wednesday morning to say “200 trucks” were let through the border on Dukes Highway without checks. Some people waited more than two hours to reach the front, the truck driver said.
“At about 2.30am this morning (the border officer) just opened the flood gates and said ‘right, we’re letting you all through’ and after that no one was checked at all,” he told FIVEaa.
SA Police Border Commander Superintendent Scott Denny said officers were stopping as many trucks as possible to educate drivers on the new restrictions that came into effect at midnight.
“As a result of that, the police on the borders decided that they would stop more trucks than usual in an attempt to provide as much information and education as they could,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
“Once we realised that it was causing a lengthy line-up of trucks, we quickly modified our duties and processes to allow trucks to actually pass through without causing any unnecessary delays.”
Supt Denny said there was no protocol that requires officers to stop every single vehicle crossing the border.
He did not know exactly how many trucks were waved through at the time.
“I must point out that all travellers entering the state must have pre-approval process or at least apply online and we certainly have ways of actually checking people do,” he said.
Premier Stephen Marshall defended the decision to allow trucks across the border without checks.
He said SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens had assured him the trucking industry has been extremely responsible.
“ I think we have got the balance right,” he said, despite concerns the move may have allowed stowaways in.
Last-minute border dash as new measures kick in
South Australian residents still in Victoria made a last-minute dash across the border, before tough new coronavirus restrictions were imposed at midnight.
As of 12.01am on Wednesday, South Australian residents were no longer allowed to return from Victoria.
Only essential travellers will now be able to travel into SA from Victoria.
More than 500 coronavirus cases and six deaths were recorded in Victoria on Monday – the worst day of the pandemic so far for the state. A further 384 cases were detected on Tuesday.
Two Jetstar flights from Melbourne landed at Adelaide Airport on Tuesday – the first just before 10am, and the second about 1.40pm.
There were long queues at Victorian border checkpoints as South Australians rushed to re-enter the state ahead of the midnight deadline.
On-board the 10am flight was the Smith Family.
Barry Smith arrived in Adelaide at the end of June to start a new job at the Osborne Shipyard. His wife, Sarah, and their two kids, Henry, 5 and Sienna, 10 months, remained in Melbourne to pack their belongings in preparation to join Mr Smith.
Set to arrive in Adelaide on August 3, the recent announcement to tighten border restrictions meant they had to come back early. Mr Smith said he would isolate again for 14 days with his family in their new Henley Beach South home.
He said it was a relief the family made it over before the borders hardened.
“We were unsure when we would be able to get the family over again,” Mr Smith said.
The family will keep busy watching movies and playing in the backyard for the two weeks, he said.
SA’s Police Commissioner said SA residents would be “treated exactly the same as anyone who resides in Victoria who wants to come across”.
“They will have to meet the essential traveller requirements or they won’t be allowed in,” Mr Stevens told ABC Radio Adelaide, ahead of a Transition Committee meeting at 8.30am on Tuesday.
“The essential travellers criteria hasn’t changed, so we’re generally talking about people involved in the freight and logistics industry, having to move freight in and out of our state to sustain our community.”
There was a steady flow of returning South Australians through the Bordertown checkpoint, before the borders were closed off even to SA residents.
Karyn Kennedy, who usually resides at Bacchus Marsh in Victoria, was returning to SA with her two dogs Macey and Huey on Tuesday afternoon.
Despite her partner running a business in the Victorian town, Ms Kennedy was keen to return to her home state.
She was planning to stay with her parents in Adelaide, to ensure she wasn’t separated from her four children and grandchild for too long.
“The hardest part is the unknown – not knowing when I can head back,” she said.
“I used to spend two weeks in SA and two weeks in Victoria, but that’s unlikely to happen again this side of Christmas.”
Tatiara District Council Mayor Graham Excell said there was plenty of community concern about potential cases coming across the border from Victoria.
“Everybody’s been on edge – we’re relying on the government, SAPOL and the ADF to stop people getting through but a few idiots are still trying,” he said.
“We’re hoping everyone will do the right thing but there are still those jeopardising not only our health and lives, but also our wellbeing and mental health.”
Bordertown livestock agent Graeme Hampel said upcoming off-shears sheep sales and the region’s ram auctions were likely to be affected.
“We do have a fair few buyers usually come over, particularly for ram sales, but those buyers are still likely to bid remotely,” he said.
“I have clients from Edenhope in Victoria who regularly bid at local ram sales and they’ve been coming over for so many years, they’re not likely to stop buying.”
Mr Hampel said livestock agents would be looking at options such as online selling to keep bids flowing through the busy spring season.
Coronavirus has had an effect on local farmers, especially with abattoir closures in Victoria due to outbreaks among workers.
Mr Hampel said mutton prices had come back by between $30 to $40 a head in recent weeks.
Victorian cross-border community members will be able to travel within a 40km radius of SA for work, education, receiving care or support and obtaining food and supplies.
People are only eligible for Cross Border Community status if they reside within 40km of the Victorian/South Australian border.
SA Police said this change will affect many Victorians and South Australians.
“For example, Cross Border Community Members will no longer be allowed to travel between Portland and South Australia,” a news release said.
An SA cross border community member who travels more than 40km into Victoria must complete 14 days of quarantine upon their return.
“We’re simply saying now that … returning South Australians won’t be able to enter South Australia unless they have an essential traveller requirement,” Mr Stevens said.
More than 15,000 people have crossed South Australia’s hard border with Victoria in the past two weeks, but Mr Stevens said that “overwhelmingly, people are doing the right thing and they are abiding by their quarantine obligations”
The commissioner said more than 78,000 applications to enter SA from all states had been received since taking online submissions on July 1.
“We never anticipated that level of desire to enter South Australia, whether it be for business purposes or people just wanting to come to or return to South Australia,” Mr Stevens said.
“Probably about 50 per cent (of applications) have been allowed to enter and quarantine and the other half would meet the essential traveller status.”
Mr Stevens said about 200 people had been turned away at the SA-Victoria checkpoints since the hard border was imposed on July 9.
SA Health figures show 21 expiation notices were issued to people flouting coronavirus rules on Monday, which is the largest total in a single day since June 18.