ALL NSW is now designated an extreme risk zone under Victoria's travel permit system – a new level with even stronger restrictions than a red zone.
No one travelling from extreme risk zones can enter Victoria unless they have an exemption, exception, transit permit or specified worker permit. Exemptions will only be granted under exceptional circumstances.
The decision was made public late on Friday night and the new rules apply to anyone who has been in NSW since July 9.
The rule change also has implications for border residents, who are now subject to a stricter 5km limit when entering Victoria.
A 5km limit for exercise and obtaining necessary goods and services now applies to cross-border residents.
Under the new system, someone living 2km from the border on the NSW side can now travel only 3km into Victoria, except for authorised work or study, or to access health care -- unless the 5km limit would make it impractical to access necessary goods and services.
The same applies to Victorians travelling to the NSW side of the border bubble.
Only one person from each household may travel into Victoria to for shopping or services each day, except if accompanying a child.
Mildura police Superintendent Rebecca Olsen confirmed the 5km border zone was "pretty much as the crow flies" and would operate similarly to the 100km bubble that was previously in place along the South Australian border, where residents could enter at any point, so long as they remained within the specified distance of the border when travelling on the other side.
Wentworth residents who live 1km from the Murray River can travel the 30km to cross the George Chaffey Bridge, but once in Victoria must stay within 4km of the river.
However, Supt Olsen reiterated that people should travel across the border in either direction only for necessary and permitted reasons – accessing essential goods or services, care and caregiving, exercise, authorised work or study, or to get vaccinated.
"The circumstances haven't changed, and we're still working on a locked border," she said.
"(Residents) have to abide by the bubble conditions in the state in which they live.
"Victorian residents can't be travelling into New South Wales if it's not one of the five reasons and it's more than 5km."
For more information on Victoria's border restrictions visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victorian-travel-permit-system.
For advice for cross-border communities visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/information-cross-border-communities.
