SA border restrictions affecting council and residents

Published on 14 August 2020

West Wimmera Shire Council is seeking further clarification on tough new border restrictions as well as looking for ways to help affected community members.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall announced on Wednesday that the South Australian border will be closed to Victorian cross-border community members from August 21.

Previously, people living within 40 kilometres of the border were able to enter South Australia for medical or educational purposes or to access essential services such as food, machinery parts and fuel.

West Wimmera Shire Council has several towns within 40 kilometres of the border, including Kaniva, Edenhope and Apsley.

West Wimmera Shire chief executive David Leahy met with the Cross-Border Commissioner and other affected council leaders on Thursday.

“We still don’t have a lot of answers unfortunately, but we are doing our best to get them,” he said.

Mr Leahy said council was not immune to the effects of the new border restrictions.

“We have many staff members that live across the border and unfortunately there is no easy fix for them,” he said. “We think many of them won’t be able to cross the border for work purposes.”

Many staff members are now looking for alternative accommodation in Victoria.

Council staff are also required to cross the border regularly for its capital works and maintenance programs.

“We access quarry materials across the border and our equipment is often serviced over in South Australia as well – we have asked if these activities can continue but the answers are still unclear.

“We are also pushing for asymptomatic testing to be available to Victorian residents in cross-border communities.”

Mr Leahy said the border restrictions were causing great distress to many families in West Wimmera Shire.

“Access to medical treatment is a big concern for residents who have previously seen doctors or specialists in South Australia and have done so for many years,” he said.

“There are also issues with children crossing the border to go to school and families receiving infant care in South Australia.

“Farming is another big concern for residents, with many people relying on South Australia for machinery parts, service and labour.”

“Unfortunately, the border restrictions are a political decision and seemed to be made with very little sympathy.”

West Wimmera Shire Council staff are now liaising with other Victorian health and support agencies about this issue.

“We are meeting with Wimmera PCP and health care groups to see what tangible actions we can put in place to help our residents cope with these dramatic changes,” Mr Leahy said.

“We have had a number of multi-agency meetings and we are doing our best to try to find a solution in this very difficult situation.”

Mr Leahy said Council would endeavour to keep the community informed about the border restrictions as more information came to light.