The NSW government has amended its Public Health orders late on Monday to allow Victorians from outside the border bubble to enter the Murray River without a permit subject to two conditions.
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They are a Victorian resident has not been in a COVID restricted area or area of concern in the last 14 days and doesn't enter an embankment, dock, port or wharf on the northern side of the Murray River.
The decision is a boost for holidaymakers who had been unable to take cruises on the river, fish from a boat, kayak or have a swim because technically they would be in NSW by entering the water.
In amending the order an obligation is place on the operator of a vessel and the business operator to take reasonable steps to ensure that a person who has been in a restricted area or area of concern in the last 14 days doesn't enter the vessel on the Murray nor disembark at an embankment, dock, port of wharf on the norther side of the Murray River.
This obligation does not apply in the event of an emergency.
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Member for Albury Justin Clancy had been lobbying for the move.
"It's been really important for tourism operators on the river and something we've been pushing for over the last few weeks," Mr Clancy said on Monday night following the change.
"It would be nice to have had it sooner but it's good to see it now."
Victorian Regional Development Minister Jaclyn Symes welcomed the move in a tweet on Monday night.
"This is a big win for our paddle steamer and tourism operators; just in time for school holidays," she commented.
