Albury mayor Kevin Mack has likened the reopening of the NSW Victorian border to "an early Christmas present."
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Cr Mack welcomed the announcement from NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian that the border will be opened on November 23.
"To say that this is an early Christmas present would be labouring on the rights of freedom in this country, but it is," Cr Mack said.
"To be free finally to do what we need to do to cross that border and go where we need to go to see our loved ones and seek the services and things we need.
"The last six months has felt like six years for a lot of people and I think we've all suffered.
"We've just got to do what we can do now to give our business community and our communities in general some certainty moving into Christmas."
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While Cr Mack admitted he would like to see the Border opened again next week, he said he's accepted the date set by the premier.
"While some of us may agree or disagree with that position, it is what it is and we have to accept it, and I'm accepting it," he said.
"I just want people to look forward to something from this time forward.
"I suppose it's taught us not to take things for granted, but this has been a little bit too far."
Cr Mack said the next step for the Border will be recovering from the closure, which has taken a toll on the region's economy, as well as the mental health of residents.
"We don't need hand outs, we don't need hand ups, we just need the border open," he said.
"We need the premier to stick to her word and maintain the dignity and integrity of that offering, and it would appear in the conference that there was no ifs, buts or maybes, which is something that is very comforting."
Cr Mack also acknowledged and thanked the hard work of frontline workers throughout the pandemic and border closure.
