THE New South Wales Government needs to include the Sturt Highway on the NSW side of the border from Mildura to Robinvale in its new border zones to ensure commuters can use daily.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper on Tuesday said she would continue to lobby the NSW Government to allow commuters to travel along the NSW side of the border for work reasons as a matter of public safety.
Although the government had not announced details of its tighter restrictions and permit needs as of lunchtime Tuesday, all indications are commuters will be banned from using the Sturt Highway to commute from Mildura to Robinvale.
The new restrictions come into place at midnight on Tuesday and everyone will need to apply for a new permit.
“I have said all along that the Hattah-Robinvale Road is not up to the standard needed for a high level of commuter traffic,” Ms Cupper said.
“Looking at the border zone map released by the NSW Government, it seems logical and practical to include the entirety of the Sturt Highway to allow those commuters to use that route.
“There is absolutely no way people travelling that route could be considered a risk to the public health of people in NSW. Commuters aren’t stopping in NSW at any time.
“As for growers whose farms are along that road, what are they supposed to do?”
Ms Cupper on Monday wrote to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to outline concern about the proposed changes and asked him to raise the issue of border closures to both NSW and South Australia at the next National Cabinet meeting.
“These restrictions are more than just an inconvenience, they have the potential to really impact our communities and there is no timeframe on how long they will be in place,” she said.
Ms Cupper is also aware of a number of towns that had been “cut in half” by the border zones and others which are not included.
“I will continue to make the NSW Government aware of the impact of these new stricter rules, which I honestly believe go too far and will not actually make people safer,” she said.
The new rules mean only people who live within designated border zone will be able to apply for a permit, and will then only be able to travel for the purposes of work, education or health care.
“The advice I have been given is that things like your daily shopping, sport and children’s activities like scouts or music will not be allowed,” Ms Cupper said.
