PERMITS to cross from Victoria into New South Wales will be available to “anyone who feels they will be impacted too much” in border communities, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says.
The border will shut from Tuesday night, taking effect at 11.59pm.
As Victoria continues to add cases of the coronavirus, the decision was said to have followed discussions between premiers Daniel Andrews and Ms Berejiklian and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Ms Berejiklian said Service NSW would implement the permit system to allow for travel between border communities.
The permits would be available online, but delays were expected initially as the closure is rolled out.
“Anyone who feels they will be impacted too much by this border closure … they are able to go to Service NSW, get a permit, and with that one bit of paper they will have access during the closure,” Ms Berejiklian.
It was also warned that the first 72 hours of the closure would likely mean delays for travel at border crossings.
Other emergency services were likely to assist police in monitoring border crossings.
Ms Berejiklian said in a press conference regional Victoria was not immune from the community spread of the coronavirus in Melbourne.
The closure will be enforced on the NSW side, allowing for Victorian resources to be directed towards the outbreak.
Victoria recorded 127 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said it was imperative the state governments ensured “unrestricted access” for Sunraysia communities on both sides of the border between New South Wales and Victoria as soon as possible.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton said the border closure will be difficult for border communities, but the government was erring on the side of caution.
