NSW border zone residents are free to travel to Melbourne, provided they have not been in their state's COVID hotspots, and Albury-Wodonga cyclists have also had a travel win.
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After days of uncertainty, following the adoption of a hard border closure, the Victorian government specified the rules for those in Albury and other places across the NSW bubble that extends to Hay, Wagga and Tumut.
Victoria's deputy chief health officer Clare Looker listed regulations for cross border travel in an order signed on Sunday and now on the Department of Health and Human Services website.
In reference to "cross border community members", Dr Looker states they may enter Victoria without a border permit and if they have not been in a NSW COVID hotspot, been in the Blue Mountains or Wollongong or outside the border bubble since December 31.
That means southern Riverina residents need to show their driver's licence to be allowed through border checkpoints for travel to Melbourne for whatever purpose.
Those who lie about their past movements and effectively invalidate their permit, the licence card for NSW border bubble residents, face an on-the-spot fine of $1652 or up to $20,000 if the matter goes to court.
Clarity around the rules for NSW residents brought relief on Monday after Victorian border politicians were contacted by concerned citizens.
A Thurgoona daughter feared she could not travel to Melbourne to see her dying mother and was able to reach the Victorian capital on Monday afternoon, similarly a NSW family was able to travel to the Royal Children's Hospital.
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Meanwhile, the Victorian cross border commissioner Luke Wilson has completed a review of the border bubble and deemed there is no need for change.
There were fears its size would be cut.
Victoria's chief health officer will monitor the zone and changes it if necessary.
The state's Nationals leader Peter Walsh, who represents the seat of Murray Plains which runs along the NSW border from Swan Hill to Echuca, said it was logical to maintain the existing bubble.
"If you look at the current situation, there's no COVID cases reported on either side of the bubble, so it would make sense to leave it the same," Mr Walsh said.
He said he had received calls from Moama residents concerned they would not be able to attend medical appointments in Melbourne because of their NSW address.
Member for Albury Justin Clancy welcomed his constituents being allowed to travel across greater Victoria.
"I'm appreciative of the work the Victorian cross border commissioner has been doing," Mr Clancy said.
"My understanding is ... NSW residents from Border communities, so long as they haven't travelled north into NSW, could travel across the border and there was no definition of how far south they could go.
"We would hope that given there are no cases known in our area, that there would be understanding and our residents would be allowed to travel."
Wodonga-based Victorian Upper House MP Tim Quilty supported NSW residents within the cross border bubble being able to travel freely in Victoria.
In related news, a bid to stop pedestrians and cyclists entering Wodonga by blocking the footpath on the Union Bridge from Albury has been abandoned.
Large plastic barriers were placed at each end of the span over the Murray River on Saturday and signs stating 'Footpath closed'.
By Monday afternoon though, Victorian police had set up a checkpoint at the end of the bridge's footpath and cyclists, walkers and joggers were free to cross the border with suitable identification.
Victoria Police Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Corrigan said he could not speak to The Border Mail and directed inquiries to the force's media department.
It failed to respond to questions about why there was a move to shut-off the footpath.
The barriers had been shifted and the footpath continued to be used from Saturday.
West Wodonga retirees Lynton and Lynne Pietzsch who ride up to three times a week from their home to Albury's River Deck Cafe were unimpressed to see the barriers on Monday morning.
"They just don't want to pay the wages for someone to sit on the bridge to check licences, that's what it comes down to," Mrs Pietzsch said.
Wodonga mayor Kev Poulton acted on complaints and was pleased to see it remain open.
"Credit where it's due, they listened and responded but we keep saying 'why can't you contact us before changes are made?'" Cr Poulton said.