THE majority of central Victorian residents have been excluded from the restriction ease for NSW border community bubbles.
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Bendigo residents who travel to NSW must follow stay-at-home orders while in the state and are only allowed to travel for medical reasons.
The NSW Health and Medical Research Minister Brad Hazzard signed off on an exemption to clause 11 of the state's public health order to allow residents from as close as Elmore to travel freely to NSW.
However, residents in Goornong and further afield are strongly advised to "avoid non-essential travel".
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Stay-at-home restrictions for Victorian residents living inside the bubble eased from noon on Monday.
Victorian border bubble residents will be able to travel to NSW's border region for any reason, so long as they have not travelled outside of the border region in the past 14 days.
Victorian border residents must not travel further beyond the NSW border bubble communities.
Echuca Moama Tourism chief executive Kathryn Mackenzie said the river and Echuca was open for business for Bendigo residents.
"Any regional Victorian can come to Echuca as per the state government coronavirus restrictions," she said. "But only those in the border region can come across the region.
"It's disappointing as we know Bendigo residents love coming to Echuca-Moama but they can't seek accommodation or anything in Moama.
"While regional Victoria is open for business, the NSW government has essentially locked us in a bubble.
"I'd love to see all of regional Victoria be able to travel within the border bubble as it would allow people to explore the region and not travel too far into NSW."
Ms Mackenzie said the announcement was a double-edged sword ahead of the Queen's Birthday long weekend.
"We were relieved when we heard the bubble had opened up this morning ahead of the long weekend but we would've loved to have Bendigo extended in that bubble," she said.
"It's just challenging for us as destination as we have to market Echuca and Moama separately.
"We're lucky that in Echuca the paddlesteamer attractions are open but indoor ones like Holden Museum are not.
"We're hoping the Victorian government will relax restrictions for indoor attractions in time for the long weekend."
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