RESIDENTS of a Victorian border community just east of the Riverland have been given a lifeline, after the State Government decided yesterday that Lindsay Point would be exempt from tighter border restrictions set to come into effect on Friday.
The 31 residents of Lindsay Point, located about 25km east of Paringa, were left anxious last week when the tougher restrictions on the South Australia-Victoria border were announced.
The new restrictions will limit interstate travel by cross-border community members to essential workers, students in year 11 or year 12, or to undertake agricultural or primary industry work within 40km of the border.
However, Lindsay Point will now be exempt from those changes due to the efforts of locals, workers, and Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone.
Mr Whetstone told the Murray Pioneer yesterday the decision from the cross-border community committee was “a win for the common good and a win for the people”.
“It’s great news for the 31 residents of Lindsay Point and also the Riverland community who commute up that way,” he said.
“I’ve spent a lot of time giving those decision-makers a much clearer and better understanding of the situation at Lindsay Point and the difference between Lindsay Point and other border communities.
“I think common sense has prevailed.”
Although specific details of the exemption have not yet been made public, Mr Whetstone said he expects current cross-border restrictions will continue to be applied to Lindsay Point.
“As I understand it, it will be very much as it is now and the tougher restrictions that were set to come in on Friday night will now be held-off,” he said.
“I’m not privy to all the details… but potentially people may have to sign a statutory declaration and there might be a want for weekly COVID-19 tests.
“I think these are small prices to pay to keep Lindsay Point as part of the Riverland bubble.”
Lindsay Point is cut off from the rest of Victoria, with the localities only road to Mildura – an old mail road – currently inaccessible due to damage caused by rain.
The community also falls within the Riverland Fruit Fly Pest Free area.
Mr Whetstone said Lindsay Point had been considered part of the Riverland “forever”.
“We’ve either got people in Lindsay Point relying on the Riverland or we’ve got people who live in the Riverland reliant on working up at Lindsay Point,” he said.
“I’ve had a couple of people (from Lindsay Point) contact me, and they were very, very happy. I think it is a sense of relief for them.
“I commend Lindsay Point residents and the Riverland.
“I think we’ve been able to demonstrate common sense, we’ve been able to demonstrate a clear message and it has been a message that has been consistent.
“I’ve been working with SAPOL and I’ve made sure that the Premier is across this unique situation at Lindsay Point.
“I think it’s just a great achievement for a small community dealing with a global pandemic.”