BORDER controls are set to be bolstered in the Limestone Coast following the State Government announcing a satellite COVID-19 command centre will be established in Mount Gambier.
The new cross-agency management framework was announced by South Australian Premier Steven Marshall yesterday during a visit to the Victorian border checkpoint on the Princes Highway.
While the proposal is in its infancy, it is being rolled out to enable a coordinated effort between agencies across all Limestone Coast border checkpoints.
Speaking at the Princes Highway checkpoint yesterday, Police Commissioner and Emergency Director Grant Stevens said the decision to establish the centre was necessary in the current circumstances.
“It gives us the ability to operate more closely and in a more coordinated way with health staff, the ADF and police and we are rolling that out as we speak,” he said.
“By building the satellite capability … it will enhance our approach and make sure the people on the border checkpoints are well-supported.”
Limestone Coast Police acting officer in charge Inspector Campbell Hill said the announcement should fill the community with confidence.
“The visit by the state’s primary decision makers and this announcement should fill the community with confidence that we are on the forefront of their mind,” Insp Hill said.
“They are leading the response and it is great they came to have a look at what is happening on the ground here in the Limestone Coast.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Insp Hill said communication with metropolitan Adelaide was happening around the clock to address community concern.
“Local concerns have routinely been briefed up and there has been a really open level of communication,” he said.
“The establishment of a control centre is recognition of the position we are in here in the Limestone Coast as the closest built up area to Victoria.”
Health Minister Stephen Wade said the new centre would help with the assessment of requests for exemptions to enter the state, particularly in relation to medical matters.
“People are concerned some of the medical exemptions across the border are not actually within the rules – not actually urgent cases.
“We are continuing to maintain emergency services, we do not want people to not get the care they need, but if it can be done within Victoria, we are trying to minimise the risk of cross-border transmission.
“One of the ongoing concerns is when people are going beyond their emergency and have medical treatment here when they should actually be getting it in Victoria.”
