Council welcomes green zone classification

Published on 18 January 2021

As of 6pm tonight, the New South Wales border zone area will move to a green zone, ensuring easier movement for people on either side of the border.

This includes Federation Council, Albury City, Balranald Shire, Bega Valley Shire, Berrigan Shire, City of Broken Hill, Edward River Council, Greater Hume Shire, Hay Shire, Lockhart Shire, Murray River Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, City of Wagga Wagga and Wentworth Shire.

Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said the green zone change was an issue that Council had been advocating heavily on and welcomed the announcement.

“This change will go a long way in ensuring that our region is more accessible to our Victorian visitors who we know, make up the majority of visitors to our Council area,” he said.

“It is fantastic to see that finally common sense decisions are being made in respect to our border communities. Our tourism industry will still require longer term support and this is something we will actively keep pursuing to ensure our businesses receive the help they so desperately need so they are able to recover from the continued economic losses that border restrictions create.”

Cross-border communities do not need to apply for a travel permit, as long as they carry a valid form of ID with their address – like a driver licence – and have not been in a current orange or red zone area in the last 14 days.

Orange zone areas include: the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and all Greater Sydney LGAs except for Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield City, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality.

Anyone who has been in the LGAs of Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield City, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality in the last 14 days (other than for transit), are still not permitted to travel to Victoria without an exemption, exception or essential worker permit.

Anyone living in a cross-border community who has been in an orange zone in the last 14 days (other than for transit) – such as the Greater Sydney area, must apply for an Orange Zone Permit and agree to the conditions including the requirement to get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain in self-quarantine until they receive a negative result.

Anyone living in a cross-border community who has been in one of the 10 LGAs currently in the red zone in the last 14 days also cannot travel to Victoria without an exemption, exception or essential worker permit.

Exemption applications will no longer be required for those LGAs being downgraded to an orange zone – unless people have also been in a red zone in the last 14 days – and will not be considered. People can apply for an Orange Zone Permit via the Service Victoria website at service.vic.gov.au.

For more information call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.