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Murray River region residents have voiced frustration at the permit system being reinstated for the border bubble area.
Key points:
- People living in Victoria's border communities will now need to apply for permits to use the border bubble with NSW
- Police will not set up checkpoints but will continue its heavy presence for spot checks
- Border residents have a mixed response to the reinstatement of the permit system
Permits are required for all cross-border residents from Friday night.
It comes after the Victorian Government announced last week residents can only cross the border for essential reasons including necessary goods and services, medical care, care or compassionate reasons, work, education and community sport.
It has seen residents unable to visit friends or hospitality venues across the Murray.
Over the past week, the police presence has surged near border bridges on the Victorian side with spot checks ramping up.
However, the Victorian Government has said it will not make any changes to the border enforcement model from police.
It will be a case of residents making sure they have a permit on them in case they are stopped.
Supplied
)Barmah Bridge Caravan Park owner Jenni Panos said the permit system will be a nightmare for her business and for her children.
"There are numerous times the kids are late to school because we never know what that traffic is going to be like on the bridge at Echuca.
"From a business point of view, we aren't getting anywhere near as many bookings because people don't want to go the long way around to get to us."
Delivery drivers lose out
Supplied: Mark Sanders
)Wodonga delivery food driver Mark Sanders fears his main source of income could be slashed as he usually crosses the border several times a day.
He is now hoping the Victorian government sticks to its current plan and does not reinstate police checkpoints.
"I get paid on distance, so if I'm sitting in the car for an hour I'm not making anything."
Mr Sanders said as a contractor he has failed to get government support as his income is varied.
"I'm only earning $400 a week if I'm lucky," he said.
"I'm so far behind in bills and there's just nothing out there for us. There's no support. Nothing for our industry. It's just like you're just on your own."
Some say restrictions 'understandable'
The Victorian government has pointed out the permit's aim is to improve traceability along the border and allow the government to better monitor compliance.
Moama business owner Emma Naughton-Starkey said she was happy for the Victorian government to do whatever it felt necessary to protect its residents.
"I don't blame Victoria. They went through it last year with this. So for them to try to protect themselves it is completely understandable," she said.
"I'm more angry at Gladys and her just letting it run wild in Sydney, not worrying about the rest of the regions."
Ms Naughton-Starkey said she would like to see a "ring of steel" around Sydney.
ABC News: Jennifer Douglas
)Border mayors speak out
On the NSW side of the border, Albury Mayor Kevin Mack called on the Victorian government to provide solid evidence the permit system was necessary.
"Where is the evidence from the police to say that they're pulling up x, y, z amount of people from Sydney trying to cross the border?" he said.
"There isn't any.
On the other side of the Murray in Victoria, Wodonga's Mayor Kevin Poulton said a police presence was not expected to increase much along the border, despite the permit announcement.
"So we cross our fingers and hope this holds up because we've been through this before with either state," he said.