The current arrangement of crossing the NSW/Victorian borders could last at least six weeks, which will be to at least mid to late August, according to NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller of Sydney.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
“The Victorian lockdown looks like it will be a minimum of six weeks so I imagine we would be staying the course for at least that,” he said in Albury last Thursday.
As from the lockdown on Wednesday, July 8, six police officers have been supervising the one border crossing into Corowa which is on Federation Way at the Federation Bridge, on the town’s saleyards end.
Five police officers are from the Sydney area. The remaining police officer is from Corowa Police Station.
Their 10-hour shifts oversee about 1,000 vehicle movements into NSW according to the officer in charge, Sergeant Brett Barnes.
He praised drivers and passengers. “Everyone has been understanding,” Sgt. Barnes said. “Things have been going smoothly. There are a lot of nice country people.”
The smoothness of passage has largely been due to motorists having a permit. Motorists who are required to cross the border regularly for employment, health, education or ‘essential services’ should, by now, have obtained a 14 day permit – together with personal identification such as driver’s licence - to cross the border into NSW.
The permit-stated reasons for entering NSW are work, education or daily life which excludes social reasons.
The Federation Bridge crossover is also the route for Wahgunyah motorists and any other mode of entry into Corowa as the John Foord Bridge separating Corowa and Wahgunyah is closed, which has caused angst among Wahgunyah residents and business owners (see separate stories).
Indigo Shire Mayor, Jenny O’Connor says council is acutely aware of the concerns expressed by Wahgunyah residents over the closure of the John Foord Bridge and the impact this is having on the community.
Mayor O’Connor has spoken directly with NSW authorities requesting the government reopen the bridge. As have state politicians.