Regional mayors along the Murray River are pleading for the New South Wales government to keep its border open with Victoria despite the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the southern state.
As it stands, the border is open and NSW residents who live along the river are able to cross state lines freely, provided they have not been further south of the 'border bubble region'.
Victorians along the border are bound by the state's snap lockdown.
Wodonga Mayor Kevin Poulton said while there were no checkpoints in place, there was a level of anxiety within the community.
"There are all sorts of different feelings. Every time they announce some sort of circuit breaker or lockdown we go 'What does it mean at the worst extreme?'," Mr Poulton said.
He hoped no changes would be made but said it was a fluid situation.
"Our first priority is obviously to try to avoid [border closures] … We're constantly assured that may not be required but you just never know. We were told that once before."
On the other side of the river, Albury Mayor Kevin Mack said both communities were preparing for any possible changes.
"We understand numbers. We understand what happens next if it gets out of control and we're preparing for that as two cities," he said.
Better communication
NSW closed its border with Victoria in July last year when the state recorded a spike in case numbers.
It remained closed for around four months. However, one month after reopening, Victoria closed the border to NSW.
Local governments have said there was a lack of communication during both closures.
Mayors of the impacted communities were not given any notice about the decision.
Mr Poulton said the main message to the government was to communicate with local councils first.
"We'd like to think we've learnt from the way it's been rolled out in the past," he said.
Mr Mack agreed communication was the key but said the impacts of another closure would be devastating.
"We don't know, as a local community, what to expect next but keep us in the loop so we're across it and we're informed," he said.
A briefing was held this morning with both cross-border commissioners, local authorities, and mayors on either side of the border.
"They understand what they have to prepare for. They're making preparations and they're monitoring the situation in Victoria," Mr Mack said.
