Covid lockdown regional Victoria: Exposure sites grow as economy takes hit

Regional Victoria’s hopes of getting out of lockdown have been crushed. From border-bubble changes to business impact, this is your guide to coronavirus in the country.

Victoria’s five-day lockdown is expected to cost the regional visitor economy about $150 million, according to the state’s peak body for business.

And it has now been confirmed the lockdown — due to end at 11.59pm Tuesday — will be extended.

Hopes areas in regional Victoria would get out of lockdown early, as flagged by Premier Daniel Andrews last week, have been crushed.

“We will not be ready to lift this lockdown at midnight tomorrow night,” Mr Andrews said on Monday.

“I know it’s frustrating I can’t stand here now and tell you exactly what rules and what time frame will apply beyond midnight tomorrow night,” he added, saying he hoped to make the announcement early Tuesday morning.

It comes as the number of regional exposure sites continues to grow.

The line for a drive through Covid-19 testing site in Mildura on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Darren Seiler

Drive through Covid-19 testing site in Mildura on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Darren Seiler

There are now multiple exposure sites on and around Phillip Island and in Mildura, as well as sites at Wycheproof, Ravenswood, Bacchus Marsh, Barwon Heads, Waurn Ponds, Kalkallo and Ballan.

Mildura, which hadn’t had a Covid-19 case since March last year, has two positive cases.

“There are now more than 250 exposure sites from this outbreak stretching from Phillip Island to the Mallee. This is one end of the state to the other, literally,” Mr Andrews said.

Viewing this article on a Google AMP page? Click here to see the updated exposure site list.

South Australia has reduced the size of its border bubbles with NSW and Victoria in response to the situation.

The Cross Border Corridor between Victoria and SA is now reduced to 40km on either side of the border.

People who have travelled from the Mildura Local Government Area since July 11 will be required to quarantine for 14 days since arrival in SA and will be required to be tested for Covid-19 on days one, five and 13.

The complete rules — which came into effect at 12.01am on Monday — are published on SA Police’s website.

IMPACT ON REGIONAL BUSINESS

Big agriculture events have been cancelled across the state and the ski season has come to a halt.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates the lockdown will cost regional Victoria $150 million, including lost visitation, perished food and cancelled trips and events.

“Businesses across regional Victoria, where there are no signs of the virus, need certainty that this lockdown will end after the five-day timeline, if not sooner, and we must be able to snap right back to last Wednesday’s trading conditions,” VCCI chief executive Paul Guerra told The Weekly Times on Friday.

The Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo is one of the major events that has been forced to cancel for a second year due to Covid-19.

Greater Bendigo mayor Jennifer Alden said the three-day event, due to start on Friday, was approved to welcome 7500 people a day.

“There will be an economic loss from a lack of day trippers and people staying overnight to attend,” Dr Alden said.

“It is hard to compare what would have been lost this year to previous years as this would have been a Covid-safe event with capped numbers, but we do know a day tripper spends about $140 in our community and those who stay overnight spend about $250, so that will be money missing from our local economy.”

However, Dr Alden did say the town had benefited from stallholders staying this week in the lead up to the event.

She said in general the community was “incredibly frustrated” to be back in lockdown, especially those in business who rely on foot traffic and people being able to travel freely, and the lockdown was a reminder of the importance of vaccination.

Mr Guerra agreed, saying it was “the best weapon” and that we needed “a vaccination sprint out instead of the current vaccination strollout”.

“Let’s stop talking about lockdowns and start putting more money and effort into the vaccination program – because that’s the way we are going to get back to working and living normally,” he said.

The Weekly Timesrevealed last week just over 6 per cent of regional Victorians had been fully vaccinated against the virus via state-run vaccination centres.

The lockdown has also bought another blow to ski operators, relying on a good year after last year’s devastating snow season.

The state’s biggest ski resort, Buller Ski Lifts, was open for four uninterrupted days of trade last year.

“Our tourism sector takes yet another hit, and with the snow falling and bookings high, our ski field operators lose a precious weekend.” Mr Guerra said.

“The financial hit will be significant and there is a real risk of losing more businesses and jobs.”

The VCCI estimated Victoria’s statewide seven-day lockdown just last month, cost the regional economy between $100-$150 million.