The Victorian Government has spared border towns the heartache of hard restrictions with New South Wales in the wake of escalating COVID-19 outbreaks in multiple states and territories.
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Victoria ramped up its border restrictions on Monday and labelled Sydney and Darwin as 'red zones' while the majority of NSW, Perth and Brisbane were labelled as 'orange zones'.
Echuca Moama Tourism chief executive Kathryn Mackenzie was relieved local government areas along the Victorian and NSW border were excluded from the new restrictions and remained in the 'green zone'.
"We're virtually open for business," she said. "People just need to get a permit if they're from outside the bubble.
"I think the government heard our community loud and clear and no know putting in a hard border impacts the town and puts people off travelling over the bridge. I heard stories of tradies not doing jobs over the border as it cost them money.
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"If the border is fixed, it's hard for the community, hard for businesses and hard for our visiting community.
We're one destination.
- Kathryn Mackenzie
"It's only early days, so it's hard to tell whether this will have an effect on the holiday period.
"A number of our operators have said they've had very few cancellations which is great."
Health minister Martin Foley urged Victorians to remain vigilant despite no local cases have been detected in the state since Friday.
"This is the first time Victoria has had orange and red zones in most Australian states," Mr Foley said.
Those living in Victoria and NSW border communities will continue to be able to access the 'border bubble' by using their driver licence to prove their residential address.
Border residents do not need to apply for a travel permit.
Despite the interstate restrictions, Ms Mackenzie said the twin towns were thriving with school holiday tourism.
"The traffic is flowing really freely," she said. "Without a blockade it's much better for locals.
"We don't notice NSW or Victoria, we just live in the town. We hope for those who have to fill out a permit that it doesn't deter them from enjoying the whole destination as they're great things over the river."
Mr Foley said Victoria Police are front and centre in enforcing the public health response to the coronavirus outbreaks and a request has been put forward to the Australian Defence Force to work alongside police and authorised workers at the borders and in the quarantine household verification.
Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton said police were doing everything they can to ensure there was no unauthorised access from NSW.
Ms Mackenzie said when NSW police were monitoring the border, the additional corporate tourism helped keep operators afloat.
"The more corporates and visitors we have, the better it is for accommodation providers and all those people need to eat," she said.
"When NSW police came last time, not many had been here before and they fell in love with it and I think they will visit in a leisure capacity."
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