The creation of a tourism bubble in Yarrawonga Mulwala is being pushed by local business leaders who fear if the NSW Victorian border closure was to remain in place in the coming months millions of potential tourism dollars will be missed.
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The suggested bubble, which would require the border checkpoint to be shifted a further 2.5km north to the Mulwala Canal crossing (as illustrated on page 2), would allow unrestricted visitors from all parts of Victoria to move freely into Mulwala.
The tourism bubble would also require the Romney Street canal crossing to be closed which is the only other access point in and out of Mulwala on the NSW side.
The bubble would complement Monday’s announcement by the NSW Government, which allows Victorians from unrestricted areas to access Lake Mulwala and the Murray River without a permit.
A shift of the checkpoint to the canal bridge would also allow the weir bridge to re-open relieving traffic congestion, which is already building up down Belmore Street. This would be good timing just before the busy tourism season and the region’s biggest harvest for many years which will see large farm machinery and grain trucks passing over the bridge.
Mulwala Water Ski Club CEO Peter Duncan said the simple shift of the border checkpoint to the Mulwala Canal bridge would bring with it a major and much needed economic boost to the community and more certainty for businesses and tourism bookings.
“While we welcomed the border resident permit change back to daily living recently and now the allowance of people to be on the lake and river permit free, we need to now look forward to the upcoming busy tourism season,” Mr Duncan said.
“The community could potentially lose millions in tourism dollars if we can’t offer our visitors our complete tourism product which includes the attractions of the clubs, parks, golf, the museum and a choice of more accommodation and hospitality in Mulwala.”
Mr Duncan also highlighted the need to relieve traffic congestion caused by the border closure checkpoint.
“It is already banking up down Belmore Street. People will avoid crossing into Mulwala if it becomes worse and this will hurt businesses.
“With the expected busier warmer months ahead and the upcoming big harvest we need both bridges open as soon as possible to cope with the traffic and to better handle emergencies.”
Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort CEO Peter Savy echoed Mr Duncan’s comments agreeing the local economy would benefit greatly from a checkpoint move to the canal bridge.
“It would be great to see a lot more customers at our club,” Mr Savy said.
“It would save a lot of congestion on the bridge too.”
Mr Savy has welcomed the return of Yarrawonga-based golfers since the easing of some COVID-19 restrictions and the consequential increase in members inside the clubhouse. But of course, numbers are well down on pre COVID-19 patronage.
Moving the checkpoint would also please ClubMulwala CEO Alan Rowe.
“Any move to allow more people to be in Mulwala, and more quickly, would be welcomed and very much appreciated by would-be patrons and club management,” he said.
Yarrawonga Mulwala Tourism and Business Executive Noel Wright said with around 70% of holiday letting accommodation located in Mulwala which are normally filled by over 70 per cent from Victorians a checkpoint shift makes common sense.
“Yarrawonga-Mulwala is the same economic entity so with border closure you reduce the economic viability of the community,” Mr Wright said.
“It’s not the same visitor experience if you can’t go into Mulwala.”
Tunzafun Manager Phil Bott said the extension of the border to the canal would be a great move but went further, saying the border should be “open and left open”.
“A lot of people can’t be bothered getting the permits for entry,” he said.
“It affects ClubMulwala, the ski club, the golf club, the pioneer museum, all the business shops and accommodation outlets.”
Yarrawonga Holiday Park Manager Michelle Driscoll said the tourism bubble would have a major positive impact on current and perspective bookings.
“Seventy-five per cent of our current bookings are people who can’t access a permit to cross into Mulwala,” Michelle said.
“We need to be able to offer the attractions in Mulwala for people wanting to book and those that are already staying here.
“We are one community and that’s what people come here for.”
Local Member for Albury Justin Clancy said he welcomed feedback from the community on how the government can best handle the border closure.
“I will continue to push for the relaxation of the border closure and happy to endorse any proposal on its merits,” Mr Clancy said.
“We are looking at traffic movements and looking at ways to reduce the level of trauma from the border closure.
“The health minister (Brad Hazzard) is continuing to monitor the situation particularly around people’s movement during the current school holiday period.
“If the numbers (COVID-19 cases) remain low we hope to see more relaxation of restrictions.”
As of Tuesday, September 29 both Federation Council and Moira Shire local government areas remain COVID-19 free with zero active cases recorded since before Easter.