Displaced Victorians isolating in Albury tent city

A tent city has sprung up near the “problematic” Albury-Wodonga border as displaced Victorians desperately try to return home.

Sisters Wendy Squires and Denise Garbutt are trying to get to Victoria to see their terminally ill brother in Geelong. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Displaced Victorians desperate to return home from New South Wales are starting to congregate in a pop-up camp in Albury.

Dozens of travellers in caravans and tents are completing their 14-day quarantine at the Albury Showgrounds, next door to a Covid testing centre.

The Showgrounds have cancelled their usual five-day limit for campers.

As NSW recorded an all-time daily high of 466 new cases on Saturday, Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley reinforced the state’s tough border restrictions.

Mr Foley said there were currently over 12,000 applications for people from NSW wanting to enter Victoria and only 6-7 per cent had been approved.

“As tough and personally disturbing as it is to see some of the really heartbreaking cases being declined, it’s sadly for a good reason — we do not want to be where New South Wales is,” he said.

People queue for Covid tests at the Albury Showgrounds drive-in site. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Dozens of displaced Victorians are gathering at the Albury Showgrounds in caravans and tents. NCA NewsWire / Simon Dallinger

Sisters Wendy Squires, 64, and Denise Garbutt, 72, are currently camping at the grounds in hope to see their terminally ill brother in Geelong.

The pair, from Western Australia, had been travelling through Queensland and NSW to get to Victoria.

“I’m desperately trying to get across the border to see my brother,” Ms Squires said.

“He has prostate cancer and has just had his last dose of medicine. He could pass at any time now.”

The sisters have been quarantining at the showgrounds since August 4.

“We would have loved to self-isolate in the bush, but we’re required to come here,” she said.

“We’re pensioners — we live week-to-week. The rent for the two weeks at the Showgrounds is $280. It’s breaking me.”

Ms Squires received a pass to cross the border on compassionate grounds, but that was before Melbourne went into lockdown for the sixth time.

“We’re meant to be crossing the border next Thursday after we complete quarantine here, but we have no idea if they will revoke our pass,” she said.

“Lots of people have told us it won’t be valid so we’re very worried.

“We’ve been trying to get a hold of the department of health to confirm for a few days now.

“I’ll be really angry if I can’t get across to see my brother.”

Albury councillor Henk van de Ven described the Albury-Wodonga border as a “problematic area”.

“We’re trying to be as accommodating as possible.

“Although (restrictions) aren’t consistent between states, we respect the rules that are in place and do the right thing for the community.”

Originally published as Displaced Victorians isolating in Albury tent city