Covid-19: Cross border communities at a ‘tipping point’ amid tough new restrictions
Cross border communities say they are at a “tipping point” amid tough new border controls they say will stop some families accessing work or school.
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Cross border community members are again facing their families being split up or having trouble accessing work and school amid tough new travel restrictions.
The border bubble has been reduced to 40km on either side of the state’s boundary with Victoria, and those travelling with permits must be tested weekly.
Paula Gust, who runs the Cross Border Call Out Facebook page and advocates for South Australians and Victorians living close to the state’s boundary, said the introduction of tough new restrictions would be a “tipping point” for people’s mental health.
Mrs Gust and husband Scott Carberry, who have a farm straddling the border at Apsley, bought a home in Naracoorte last year in an attempt to keep their family together.
At the height of social distancing restrictions, it allowed their children to come home from their school and workplaces outside of South Australia’s border bubble.
Mrs Gust said the new, smaller travel bubble – and other accompanying restrictions – meant some families now had to decide which parent went to work.
She said rule makers had forgotten “how much our states intertwine” and believed the restrictions were overblown amid Victoria’s lockdown, which reduced the risk of Covid spreading into SA.
The 40km cross border travel zone was introduced following a positive case in Mildura.
“It’s just torturous,” Mrs Gust said.
“There’s no validation for it. I know Mildura probably triggered this but let’s be honest, we’re 500km from Mildura.”
Cross border community members can only travel up to 40km into Victoria for school, work, to get vaccinated, obtain essential supplies and for care giving, and they must wear masks.
Mrs Gust said there was poor communication about a new requirement for cross border permit holders to get Covid-tested every week.
“They don’t have the infrastructure set up in SA for the testing,” she said.
“All of these people are trying to cross the border this morning and being told we have to have a test. They’ll have to line up for between three and five hours.”
Mrs Gust’s organisation has been flooded with people writing to them about the effects of the tougher restrictions.
“These people are crying out – you can almost hear their tears in their wording,” she said.
MacKillop MP Nick McBride said his office, too, was inundated with people raising concerns whenever new restrictions were introduced.
He said testing resources in Bordertown were “very thin on the ground” and a dedicated facility was needed.
“I’m hearing that people can’t get tests in a timely fashion and won’t get across the border in a timely fashion,” Mr McBride said.
Renmark Paringa Mayor Neil Martinson said calls for people to restrict their movements around the Riverland fortunately missed the school holiday period.
“It will (still) have an impost on our economy for a little while and hopefully the restrictions don’t last long,” he said.
While the tighter border was an inconvenience, Mr Martinson said the community must comply to ensure it did not spread the virus.
An SA Health spokeswoman said the department’s first priority was protecting the health and safety of the South Australian community.
“Restrictions and requirements are in place for cross border communities, and all travellers must complete a Cross Border Travel Registration at least seven days before travel,” she said.
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