South Australia rolls out the red carpet to welcome back Victorians as border closure ends

The Limestone Coast tourism industry has popped the Coonawarra sparkling in a red carpet celebration marking the end of the SA-Victoria border closure.

The Limestone Coast tourism industry, including Heidi Eldridge from Coonawarra Vignerons, Biddie Shearing from Limestone Coast Local Government Association and Grant Council Mayor Richard Sage, rolled out the red carpet to welcome Victorians back on Princess Highway as the South Australian border reopened to Victoria at midnight on Monday. Picture: Jessica Ball

The Limestone Coast tourism industry has rolled out the red carpet to welcome its neighbours back as the South Australian border reopened to Victoria this morning.

To celebrate the occasion people gathered at the Princess Highway border checkpoint near Mount Gambier, popping bottles of Coonawarra sparkling at 12.01am.

Limestone Coast Local Government Association destination development manager Biddie Shearing said while conscious of restrictions on entering Victoria from SA, it did not stop the party.

Biddie Shearing, destination development manager at Limestone Coast Local Government Association. Picture: Supplied

“It is such a significant step for the region, it’s about really acknowledging what the tourism operators and community members have been through while we’ve had that hard border closure,” Ms Shearing said.

“We need some confidence back into the community and also into that tourism sector and hospitality sector.”

For the 750 tourism operators in the Limestone Coast, Victorians make up more than 30 per cent of annual visitors while many international guests enter the state via the Great Ocean Road.

Ms Shearing said the struggling industry was ready to welcome them back to recoup the losses.

“As a region we know our interstate economy was worth about $135 million just prior to COVID so it’s a third of what our economy is virtually,” she said.

“We have really relied on that Melbourne to Adelaide touring and that includes business travel as well as the corporate sector.”

Sue Bell, owner and winemaker at Bellwether in the Coonawarra was excited the day had finally come expecting some to rush across the border while others would tread cautiously.

The glamping and boutique campgrounds already had bookings from Victorians for later in the week.

Sue Bell from Bellwether in the Coonawarra. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Ms Bell said she had heard anecdotally Victorians, who traditionally make up 60 per cent of Coonawarra visitors, were looking to travel regionally rather than to cities.

“The Limestone Coast could be a great place for reunions between people from Melbourne and Adelaide,” she said.

“It will really help make up for the few months earlier this year that we were closed and even the last couple of weeks, the little blip or scare in Adelaide has definitely seen a big drop off in visitation and both to cellar door and the campground.”

The SA border is now open to Victoria but those travelling into the state must complete an online Cross Border Travel Application and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said officers would continue to man the border checkpoints.

Senior constable Gary Olsen enjoys a midnight snack from Mount Gambier's famous ScRoll Queen at the Princess Highway checkpoint the South Australian border reopens to Victoria. Picture: Jessica Ball

“We still require people to do the online pre-approval process and that will be an automatic approval,” he said.

“We’re going to assess traffic volumes and how our border arrangements look over the next days and weeks, we’ll make decisions whether or not we have a police presence there or if we revert to business as usual as Australia should be.”

Entry to Victoria remains restricted under the Victorian Border Crossing Permit system.

The cross-border Community can continue to travel freely using previous SA permits.