A young Gerogery family have been forced to close their Wodonga business because their home address doesn't fall within the border zone.
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Matt and Mel Grice, who own Gricey's Workshop in Trafalgar Street, Wodonga, are now without an income due to the new border restrictions banning them from coming back into NSW.
While neighbouring Jindera is included in the border zone, Gerogery was left out of the mix, which Mrs Grice said will also impact their two-year-old daughter Iveigh.
"We won't have an income as the business would have to close as we are unable to work," she said.
"Or if we were to stay open Matt would have to find a place in Wodonga to live and be away from his daughter for however long.
"Why can't they keep the distance the same but just become a lot stricter."
While businesses are forced to close, couples are also being separated by the tougher restrictions.
For Wodonga man Paul Buckley the added stress of not knowing whether he can visit his partner Kate in Thurgoona has been causing headaches for the pair.
"It is really affecting my mental health, after losing my job in June due to COVID this is just another thing," he told The Border Mail.
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Visiting partners doesn't fall within either of the three reasons to enter NSW and Mr Buckley wants that to change.
"Kate may as well be living in WA - it seems like it is so far away.
"It is about 15 minutes from door to door and now I don't know when we will see each other again.
"There has to be some sort of compassion here."