NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement on Wednesday, November 4, that the border between the two states would re-open from 12.01am on November 23.
Campaspe Shire chief executive Declan Moore said re-opening the border would have many benefits for the Echuca-Moama community.
“Opening the border will assist many residents and businesses who have faced significant restraints due to the combination of restrictions in place on both sides of the river,” he said.
“It will also greatly assist our tourism, hospitality and accommodation sectors in the lead-up to Christmas, which is traditionally a busy time for us all, giving them the ability to take bookings with confidence.
“In other words, it gives us all a chance to transition back to our pre-COVID arrangements whenever and wherever possible.”
Murray River Council Mayor Chris Bilkey agreed and said removing the checkpoint would relieve a lot of residents.
“This is great news for our local communities who can now move about their days without the added stress of getting across the border,” he said.
“More so, this is a welcome step for our business community, who rely heavily on the tourist trade from Victoria.
“The impacts of the border closures on visitor economy for hospitality and tourism businesses have been huge, so the opening of the border is the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle needed to get Victorians back into NSW.
“Our businesses can now get their full services running and people back to work.”
Mr Moore said it was still important to stay vigilant despite the easing of travel restrictions.
“As with each step in the road to recovery, we understand that people may remain hesitant about the lifting of travel restrictions, so we must remain vigilant about washing our hands, wearing masks, adhering to social distancing and seeking medical attention for any symptoms,” he said.
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