While the end of lockdown 3.0 will be celebrated at midnight, the damage has already been done to North East businesses, according to the local business body.
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While the cost of the snap lockdown is still being tallied, North East hospitality, building and floral industries were the worst hit with many left thousands of dollars out of pocket.
And Business Wodonga chairman Graham Jenkin believes some small traders won't survive until the promised government financial support comes through. "Some traders were throwing out $20,000 worth of food," Mr Jenkin told The Border Mail.
"That needs to be repaid to the businesses from the government plus some more financial support to help them get back on their feet.
"The reality is, while it was only five days, this is the third time Wodonga business owners have had to shutdown during this pandemic and for some it will be the final straw. Not all of them will survive."
Master Builders Victoria chief executive Rebecca Casson said it was still difficult to say how much the lockdown cost Wodonga-based trade businesses, but it could be in the thousands, if not millions.
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"Its great news that Victorian builders in the Border region will be back at work and the confusion around cross-border travel for work will also end," she said. "But we understand that frustration remains about the past five days.
"It is difficult to say the financial impacts are for local Border builders, but Victoria-wide the projections were in the millions each day.
"The projections were $63 million in wages and $455 million in industry revenue lost every day.
"What we do know is that every worker on the Victorian side of the border, and every Victorian worksite was out of action and that is a significant impact on the local economy.
"And it's not as simple as flicking a switch when we go back to work.
"Project plans, scheduling of supplies and trades will have to be reconfigured. It's also another knock to the confidence of businesses and potential clients.
"Clearly, the action of shutting down a site in Wodonga with the closest COVID-19 case more than 300 kilometres away is not proportionate. And we have made that strong case to the government."
