The Albury-Wodonga construction industry has been sent into a world of uncertainty after the NSW government announced tighter border restrictions with Victoria.
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With major projects and employees living on both sides of the Murray River, building businesses were left "confused" and scrambling for answers on Monday after the health minister Brad Hazzard dropped the new health order on Sunday night.
For large building companies like Southern Vale Homes the new rules will mean some employees who live in Albury, including supervisors, won't be able to access jobs in areas such as Shepparton.
"The restrictions mean if they travel to those areas and then try and return home to Albury, they will have to self-isolate for 14 days," general manager John Fraser told The Border Mail.
"There is a lot of uncertainty with all the rules with who can and can't cross and with that set to change again.
"For us being on the Wodonga side, it could impact the ability to make sales in the short term.
"This is because we are seeing a lot of interest from NSW buyers because of the land availability.
"There is a lot of land available in that Thurgoona area so there is that unknown as to whether a Victorian buyer could look at those lots of land that are available."
Mr Fraser said there is also confusion around whether people can travel across to their Killara display homes.
"There is that unknown as to whether we can actually have people out at our display home due to a shopping permit - it does only say for work, education and health," he said.
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"And the other thing is if we do sign someone up from the NSW side are they allowed to attend colour appointments and other things to keep the job moving.
"There are a lot of things we need to think about in the short term."
While building companies have been navigating the border closure for the past fortnight, the tightening of restrictions is going to make it more difficult.
Southern Vale Homes build in Albury and Wodonga and Shepparton as well as the surrounding areas and has 50 per cent of their employee base living on the Victorian side.
Navigating the border checkpoint meant start times had to be altered for Mr Fraser's workers.
"There has been a lot of communication about whether the causeway or freeway was quicker," he said.
"But it has been ok, I think this will add some extra time though but we will just have to wait and see."
While the construction industry will be allowed to cross for work under the new permit system, confusion still hangs around other areas including seeing a partner and children's sport such as dancing classes.