Who can cross the border?
From 12.01am Friday, all border region residents can now apply for a cross-border resident permit.
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The border region has been expanded to include all towns shaded blue in the above map, including areas such as Wangaratta, Henty and Culcairn which were previously excluded.
However, there are still restrictions in place and border region residents will only be permitted to cross the border for specific reasons.
I live in the blue zone, can I cross the border to visit friends, eat out or for 'daily life' purposes?
During her visit to Albury on Tuesday NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new permit system would allow border region residents to cross interstate for 'daily life' reasons.
However, the government has since retracted that idea.
Under the new permits, residents will not be able to cross the border to visit friends, eat out or do non-essential shopping.
The NSW government has clarified there will be only four acceptable reasons for border residents to travel across the border.
- to obtain necessary good or services
- for care of compassionate reasons
- to attend work or obtain educational services (where it is not practicable for the person to work or obtain educational services from their place of residence)
- to move to a new place of residence
Member for Albury Justin Clancy said the government had received 'strong legal advice' that the wording 'daily life' should not be included in the new permit to ensure the permit does not exceed what Victorians in stage three can leave home for.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Do Victoria's stage-three restrictions apply to residents when they cross into NSW?
Yes, under the NSW public health order, border region residents from Victoria who cross the border must continue to obey stage-three Stay at Home restrictions and all other COVID-19 restrictions currently in place in regional Victoria.
What do I need to do to get a border pass?
To obtain a permit, residents will need to log onto Service NSW and apply for a border resident permit.
However, it is not known when the site will be updated with the new permit information to allow residents to apply for the permit.
I already have a permit, do I need a new one?
No. Any existing permits will continue to be valid until it naturally expires.
Mr Clancy clarified "for example if you're travelling on a border zone permit currently you will still be able to travel on it on Friday."
You will need to apply for a new permit once your existing permit expires.
If I live in the blue zone can I travel outside the blue zone in my own state?
Yes, border region residents who live inside the blue zone are able to travel to non-blue zone areas in their state.
For example, Wangaratta residents who reside inside the blue zone can travel to Benalla, which is not included in the zone.
Similarly, Henty residents in the blue zone can travel to Wagga.
If I live in the blue zone can I travel outside the blue zone in the other state?
No. If you live in the blue zone in Victoria you are only permitted to travel within the blue zone in NSW.
You cannot, for example, travel from Wodonga to Wagga.
By the same token, NSW border region residents cannot travel beyond the blue zone in Victoria to excluded towns like Benalla.
I live in the blue zone but have travelled outside it in the past 14 days, can I still cross the border?
NSW border region residents will not be allowed to enter NSW if they have been in parts of Victoria outside the border region or a COVID-19 area of concern.
However, residents who have travelled beyond the blue zone within their own state are still able to cross the border unless they have been to a restricted area i.e. Greater Melbourne.
If I cross the border do I need to isolate?
If a NSW border zone resident travels beyond the blue zone in Victoria, they are still required to isolate for 14 days and travel back into NSW via Sydney airport.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
