Mayors of communities hit by tougher border closure restrictions have pleaded for NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to act on their concerns.
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Ms Berejiklian has rejected similar overtures to see first hand the impacts of shutting the border, but a fresh invitation was made by Greater Hume Shire mayor Heather Wilton during a forum with NSW Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock on Monday..
Mayors departed the meeting believing Ms Hancock had a better awareness of the impacts of the border closure and now wanted them relayed to the Premier as a matter of urgency.
"I don't think she doubted what we had been saying, but she has now got a greater understanding of the complexities of what is going on," Cr Wilton said.
"We didn't go into the meeting with a siege mentality, but we were measured and calm and want problems resolved.
"We would also like for the Premier to meet us at some point and the minister said she would pass on that invitation."
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Federation Council highlighted the issue of 24 workers at one of Corowa's biggest employers, Rivalea, unable to cross the border because they lived in postcode areas outside the border region.
"It is going to critically impact that business," Federation mayor Pat Bourke said.
"When you line all that up with what is happening with abattoirs and people panic buying too much meat it is going to be a disaster.
"We've been able to create a bigger awareness in Sydney as to what is happening down here.
"I don't think it had existed at a ministerial level."
Ms Hancock said she was pleased to bring together the mayors and general managers from 13 councils on or near the border to discuss community impacts from the temporary border closure.
"While the closure of the border is crucial to protecting our communities from the escalating COVID-19 situation in Victoria, we know border communities are at the frontline of protecting our state," she said.
"I have heard loud and clear the diverse and complex concerns of mayors about the economic and social impacts on their communities and committed to elevate these issues to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and my cabinet colleagues."
Member for Albury Justin Clancy confirmed a NSW Health senior bureaucrat had also taken part in the meeting.
"It was good to have the minister involved, but equally important was to have someone from the health ministry there because the public health order is a health instrument and they need to be hearing the feedback from the ground also," he said.
"A number of things were brought to the minister's attention she hadn't been previously aware of or conscious of.
"The proof will be in the pudding, but I would like to think there would be some improvements in certain areas."
Albury Council chief executive Frank Zaknich said the minister was "clearly struck" by the extent of the impact of the border restrictions.
"She strongly committed to relaying to the NSW Premier our region's very real concerns around the serious social and economic impacts on our border community and businesses," he said..
"The key issues raised by Albury Council included the clear lack of communication or collaboration by the NSW Government with local government on the regular public health order changes.
"Given a lack of appetite for changing the border restrictions, the minister was advised of the need for financial assistance to border businesses and residents.
"We look forward to a constructive and timely response from the NSW Government to the crucial issues raised on behalf of our community."
Albury-Wodonga hasn't had no fresh coronavirus case for nearly a month.
