CROSS-BORDER communities are urging the South Australian Government to implement a Green Triangle travel bubble, with a Nelson business owner saying it was a necessity to combat an increase of harassment of Victorian residents in South Australia.
Nelson Kiosk and Post Office owner Paul Singleton said a travel bubble, which would allow cross-border community members to freely travel across state lines without needing to quarantine upon entry to South Australia, would help alleviate current tensions between the two communities.
Despite being less than 10km from the South Australian border, Mr Singleton said Nelson’s community members did not feel safe in Mount Gambier amid a rise of verbal attacks and motor vehicle damage targeted at Victorian travellers.
Under current rules, non-essential travellers into South Australia are required to quarantine for 14 days but exemptions are granted for those considered essential travellers.
However, Mr Singleton said the situation was difficult to navigate and was breeding a lot of animosity in the community.
“With the current rules, there is a lot of ambiguity – some people get waved through and some people get turned back,” he said.
“There have been several instances of people who live in Nelson and shop in Mount Gambier being abused because they have Victorian number plates.
“People have had their cars egged and all sorts of other things.
“One resident who lives in Nelson but works in Mount Gambier was told back to go to her town state.
“If we were part of a travel bubble everyone would understand we can travel to South Australia and it would provide the community with piece of mind.”
Mr Singleton, who lives at Donovans and crosses the border six to seven times a day, said he was dependent on Mount Gambier businesses to stock the Nelson general store.
“All my money is spent in Mount Gambier, everything from cigarettes to coffee cups to napkins,” he said.
“If it gets too difficult I might have to go to Portland to get my supplies, which means money is taken out of the region.
“There is a border but we do not see it because we are one economy in this area.”
While acknowledging the importance of keeping the region free of COVID-19, Mr Singleton said South Australian and Victorian governments needed to collaborate and deliver a solution for cross-border communities.
“I certainly understand South Australia’s concern and the fact Melbourne is getting out of control, but for the community’s piece of mind the two states need to work it out.
“We do not want to go to South Australia for a holiday – we want to go to Mount Gambier to shop.
“Nelson and Glenelg Shire has been Mount Gambier’s playground for 150 years and we need to work out a way forward and make sure both sides are heard.”
Dartmoor General Store manager Brooke Ropitini said the establishment of a travel bubble would support businesses on both sides of the border.
“A travel bubble would be fantastic as we rely on Mount Gambier for everything we have at the store,” she said.
“In Dartmoor, we are 10 minutes from the border and half an hour from Mount Gambier, while Portland is 45 minutes away and might not have the things we need.”
Ms Ropitini said residents were confused with the lack of clarity about South Australia’s border crossings and the list of exemptions.
“No one knows what is going on at the border and any information we do receive is hearsay,” she said.
“We have been travelling as normal, but there is something that will come into effect next week and we do not know what that will look like.”
The proposal, which was floated by Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell earlier this week, has gained the support of the region’s civic leaders, with Liberal MP Nick McBride and Mount Gambier mayor Lynette Martin backing the move.
Limestone Coast Local Government Association chair Erika Vickery supported an investigation by health authorities into a freedom of movement zone.
“The recent developments with new COVID-19 cases being detected is sending out the strong message of caution and maintaining restrictions, but the Victorian hot spots are mostly in the greater Melbourne region,” Ms Vickery said.
“We need to be able to work again across our communities in the Green Triangle, which we have been doing quite well before the pandemic.
“We certainly need the health department to look at it and make a decision because western Victoria has such a big play on the economy in our region.”
