South East reacts as SA-Victoria border reopening date set for December 1

South East families, tourism and agriculture – severely impacted by the SA-Victoria border closure – have let out a sigh of relief with months of confusion and frustration set to end.

The closed South Australia-Victoria border is monitored by police at the Princes Hwy, Mount Gambier. Picture: Tait Schmaal

The South Australian-Victoria border closure will be lifted in time for Christmas, provided no mystery COVID-19 cases emerge.

The announcement was made on Friday with the SA’s Transition Committee advising the borders would reopen from December 1, allowing for unrestricted travel and with no requirement to quarantine when entering the state.

After months of confusion and frustration, the border community shared its reaction to the highly anticipated news.

FAMILIES

When they relocated to Mount Gambier four years ago, Darian and Nicholas Brett left all of their family behind in Victoria.

Since then the Bretts have welcomed children Isabella, 26 months and Lachlan, 16 months with a third on the way.

While glad the border reopening is within reach, it will not come in time for family support during the birth.

Nicholas, Lachlan, Darian and Isabella Brett from Mount Gambier. Picture: Supplied

“Because it’s a high risk pregnancy we have been told to relocate to Adelaide for anywhere from three to four weeks,” Mrs Brett said.

Instead, as children under 16 are not allowed in the hospital, they have been forced to leave their children with friends when they head the city on Thursday.

But after the first week Mr Brett will have to return home.

“I don’t want to go through it alone,” Mrs Brett said.

“I go into spontaneous labour, he’s going miss it. I’m devastated, it’s petrifying.

“I’m just trying to stay positive and hope that they induce us while my husband’s with me.”

If the border closure lifted a week earlier, Mrs Brett’s mother-in-law could come from Myrtleford – a regional Victorian town that has never recorded a case of COVID-19 – to look after the children and the couple could be together.

“I understand 18 days in general society is barely anything, but at the same time, why are we waiting?” she said.

TOURISM

Di Giorgio Family Wines principal Frank Di Giorgio was ecstatic when he heard the news of the border reopening.

Normally thriving on Victorian visitors, Mr Di Giorgio said the Coonawarra wine region would welcome them back with open arms.

“It’s going to make a huge difference to our regional tourism,” he said.

Di Giorgio Family Wines principal Frank Di Giorgio was ecstatic to hear the SA-Victorian border would open. Picture: Di Giorgio Family Wines

“Something in the order of 75 per cent of our visitation in Coonawarra is generally from Victoria

“Opening the borders will be fantastic because as you can imagine every household is probably suffering from cabin fever at the moment and itching to get out.

“We’re pretty confident they’ll want to head this way.”

Mr Di Giorgio said increased support from regional and metropolitan South Australia had kept cellar doors open but the wineries were working with the Coonawarra Vignerons to entice visitors to consider it as their next holiday destination.

“International travel is something that we’re not likely to see for a little while so we’re asking everybody to plan to come to Coonawarra rather than California,” he said.

“It’s absolutely magnificent in the summer. People can sit there, spend some time relaxing and enjoy nice food and beautiful wines.”

AGRICULTURE

For South East Shearing’s Richard Rees the lifting of the border roadblocks does not come soon enough.

In the midst of the region’s peak season, the Mount Gambier based business is struggling with a shearer shortage caused by international and domestic border closures.

“If it could be a bit earlier it would probably help in the shearing industry,” Mr Rees said.

“We’ve got through it but it’s had a big impact, there’s a lot of people out there looking for shearing to be done.

International and domestic border closures have caused a shearer shortage. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“I’ve had four or five farmers ringing up from Victoria that should have had their shearing done in October and they’re still looking for shearers now.”

Twenty of South East Shearing’s 70 to 80 workers can currently travel to sheds within the 70km border bubble when it would normally service Victorian towns as far afield as Mortlake.

For an industry that goes wherever the work is, Mr Rees said it had been difficult and he never had to consider the border when looking to fill a last minute job in Casterton until 2020.

“It is good news, it’s got to happen,” he said.

“My wife is going to be happy, she’s not going to have to do permits anymore.”

While the opening of the SA-Victoria border will help, Mr Rees said the shortage will continue to plague the season due to a lack of New Zealander shearers who normally come over in October and until Christmas.