Coronavirus: Mum fears for ‘impractical’ Murray River barrier

Parents fear looming state border lockdowns will be ‘completely impractical’.

Emma Reid with daughter Poppy beside the Murray River. Picture: Aaron Francis

As a busy mum of three, Emma Reid has little time to spare as she shuttles between NSW and ­Victoria up to six times a day, ferrying children to school, running ­errands and going to work — and fears looming state border ­lockdowns will be “completely ­impractical”.

While the 38-year-old, who lives in the southern NSW town of Albury, has been assured she will be permitted to cross the state lines to Wodonga where her children attend primary school, she remains worried about the impact the closure will have on the lives of people throughout the community after it comes into effect from 12.01am on Wednesday.

“I work in health so I understand the closure is an important part of looking after those who are vulnerable,” Ms Reid said.

“But we have been left to navigate the closures ourselves and figure out how to get a permit.”

She said she was concerned about the NSW Police Force ­patrolling border crossings, which could be a problem when she has to collect her daughter Poppy, 10, and her two sons, Spencer, 6, and Fletcher, 5, from their father’s house in Wodonga.

“I co-parent. The kids’ dad lives just across the border, but the logistics of co-parenting and school drop-offs, pick-ups as well as sporting commitments are ­really going to affect me,” she said. “I’m still trying to figure out if the permit will allow me to go deeper into Victoria or if I can only cross the border for essential reasons.”

Ms Reid also worried the decision to close the border would keep her from visiting her mother in Victoria who has just completed radiation treatment for her breast cancer.

“I wasn’t able to see her until very recently, but with the outbreaks in Melbourne and now the border lockdown I’m not sure I’ll be able to travel to visit her.”

Victorian state Liberal member for Berrigan Bill Tilley said he was disappointed residents in the area were suffering the consequences because of the “botched” hotel quarantines more than 300km away. “It’s so disappointing that we’re doing so well so far and we’re paying the price for maladministration in Melbourne,” he said.

He assured residents that permits would be available for ­people who needed to cross the border for reasons such as employment, health or education, but warned anyone caught lying about their travel could expect to face “significant” fines.

His comments came as NSW Health confirmed it was investi­gating two cases of COVID-19 in Albury, one of which involved a resident who had recently travelled to Melbourne, prompting calls for anyone with symptoms in the area to be tested.

The decision to close the border has drawn the ire of people from both sides of the state divide.

In NSW, Albury mayor Kevin Mack said regional areas were “being held to ransom because of poor decisions made in ­Melbourne”. Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie said it was imperative the twin communities worked together to battle through the pandemic.