CENTRAL Victorian families are struggling to access work and schooling as they face frequently changing rules about the NSW border.
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Several Campaspe residents told the Bendigo Advertiser their permits to travel into NSW would not be renewed, after changes to rules late last week.
It's put education and business in jeopardy for many residents of the Campaspe Shire, with close connections over the border.
Nanneella resident Claira Whipp fears her family will be unable to access farmlands leased in NSW, and school and kindergarten in Moama.
The family lives just outside the border bubble, sharing a postcode with Rochester further south.
They would normally be in Echuca-Moama nearly every weekday for school, kinder, supplies or farming, Mrs Whipp said.
Mrs Whipp's husband's permit has already expired, leaving him unable to work on land leased in NSW.
It's meant Mrs Whipp is also the only person able to do school drop offs and pick ups, leaving her unable to do her own work.
Her daughter's will expire in 10 days. This means she will be the only one in her class learning from home, as all others live within the border bubble, Mrs Whipp said.
Mrs Whipp said the border restrictions had been stressful for the family.
"It just changes weekly, it's so exhausting. Each time I go over the bridge I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to let through," she said.
"We rely on Echuca Moama for everything. We're in town every single day nearly during the week, to pick up supplies, or farming, or schooling or kinder."
It comes as NSW tightened its restrictions for entry on Friday, in response to growing COVID-19 cases in Victoria.
Border zone residents and critical service providers are the only people allowed cross into NSW, with some exceptions such as for parliamentarians who self-isolate.
Those living in the border zone can apply for a permit on the grounds of education, medical care and caring for others.
But for many central Victorians Echuca-Moama is a central hub for education, shopping and work.
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Portwine Joinery co-director Cindy Portwine said the business was likely to lose some of their work for a while, as the new rules meant appeared to mean the business could no longer get a permit.
About 30 per cent of the Bamawm cabinet-making business's current work was in NSW, Mrs Portwine said.
She said a lot of Victorian tradespeople would be in the same position, given the amount of housing being built in Moama.
Mrs Portwine was unsure what the change would mean for an employee who lived in Moama.
She said constantly changing permit conditions were tricky.
Lockington resident Celia Hobbs said it had been tricky accessing services for the farm that came from NSW.
The family's property falls just outside of the border bubble.
She said many Lockington residents worked every day in Moama, in professions such as farming, hospitality, and teaching.
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