RECENT changes have been made to the VIC/NSW border bubble.
The list of permitted reasons the Victorian Government’s provided to cross the Murray River has now expanded from six to ten.
One of the new reasons involves travelling through NSW to get between Victorian towns, but only if it is easier to travel on the NSW side.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said this is a significant win for the Mildura and Robinvale communities.
“I have been in constant contact with Government, making sure they understand the realities for us on the ground and strike a proportionate balance between community safety and liveability on the cross-border,” Ms Cupper said.
“The Sturt Highway is a vital route for people making the daily commute between Mildura and Robinvale.
“Shutting off this corridor would have a devastating effect on our region’s functionality, so having this rule confirmed in writing is a great assurance for those who need to commute between the towns.”
It is a 90km journey between Mildura and Robinvale via the NSW side, and a 134km journey via the Victorian side.
“This isn’t only about saving time and fuel, the road quality is also significantly different,” Ms Cupper said.
“The Sturt is a major highway designed for significant traffic flows, while parts of Hattah-Robinvale Road simply aren’t built with this in mind, and are by their nature more unsafe.
“I’m glad the Government has listened to our communities’ concerns, giving our motorists continued access to the safer and quicker option.”
Other new exemptions included in the changes include
- Visiting an intimate partner
- Moving house, inspecting a property or attending an auction
- Driving someone who cannot drive themselves
“I’ll continue to voice our region’s concerns, and push to make sure fair, proportionate and common-sense exemptions will continue to be considered,” Ms Cupper said.
