The revised Public Health Order, signed off by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, caused further confusion for border communities.
While many believed the border zone had been expanded, it remains unchanged and instead a border region has been created.
This border region allows residents of identified Victorian and NSW postcodes to travel within the border region to provide critical services.
Berrigan Shire Council took to Facebook on Friday to alleviate the confusion.
“The new Public Health Order released this morning by the NSW Government has created a new ‘border region’ separate from the ‘border (blue) zone’,” the post read.
“This ‘border region’ does include Berrigan and Finley, however this mainly relates to the provision of critical services in these areas from Victoria.
“It does not change the limitations placed on residents from Finley and Berrigan crossing the border and returning.”
These critical services include:
● Commonwealth defence and security services;
● maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure;
● medical, hospital, dental or veterinary care;
● COVID-19 environmental cleaning on a commercial basis that is not available locally; and
● mining, energy, agriculture, construction or manufacturing (only frontline workers who are undertaking direct and essential operational activities to ensure major infrastructure and essential services are maintained and not interrupted).
Cobram, Katunga, Strathmerton, Ulupna, Bearii, Tungamah, Nathalia and Yarrawonga are among Victorian towns included in the border region, while the NSW towns of Tocumwal, Finley, Berrigan, Mulwala, Mathoura and Deniliquin also qualify.
When the Courier used the Service NSW website to apply for a critical service permit with border region addresses in both states, the application included a declaration stating "I will self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival in New South Wales except for when providing this critical service'.”
When applying with an address outside of the border region the website was unable to progress the application.
“From 4 pm on Monday August 10 2020, the CEO of your business can apply to endorse your request for a border entry permit and certify that you will be providing a highly specialised service that is not available in NSW in the same or substantially the same form and is not available to be provided remotely,” the Service NSW website stated.
Residents are being urged to direct their queries and questions to Service NSW on 137 788 or via the website.
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