SUNDAY’s announcement regarding changes to the VIC/SA border bubble is the latest devastating blow to the people of Murrayville.

The border bubble has shrunk to 30 kilometres on the Victorian side, after a case emerged in Mount Gambier.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said this is an outrageous imposition on the Murrayville community.

“The South Australian Government’s reaction to the new case in Mount Gambier is heavy handed and unfair,” she said.

“Instead of reacting in a proportionate way, they’ve locked out a bunch of Victorian communities near the border, and the ones left within the bubble are now incredibly inconvenienced.”

One problem which emerges from the new arrangements is that Murrayville doesn’t have its own permanently staffed fuel depot.

The nearest fuel outlet to Murrayville on the Victorian side of the border is in Underbool, which is close to 60 kilometres away.

Residents either go there and relinquish the option of crossing into South Australia, or follow the new guidelines, access fuel in Pinnaroo, SA and rule out travelling into Victoria for the next fortnight.

“The South Australian Government has not remotely considered the unique complications locking out Murrayville causes,” Ms Cupper said.

“Instead, these poor people in Murrayville are once again forced to make a Sophie’s choice about things like fuel, work and healthcare.

“The Victorian Government should be making more of a stir about this, otherwise they’re abandoning the needs of small towns that’ve had enough of unproportionate border rules.”

Ms Cupper has been in discussions with cross border commissioners and border brokers in an attempt to come to a short-term solution to Murrayville’s fuel crisis.