At a time when Yarrawonga Mulwala normally welcomes thousands of visitors with open arms over the Easter period local authorities are urging people to stay at home.
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Moira Shire Council Mayor Libro Mustica told the Yarrawonga Chronicle they are urging visitors to remain at home and not to travel to the shire.
“Council is working hard to protect all its residents from the spread of COVID-19. We have already closed our recreation and sport centres, swimming pools, playgrounds, public barbecues and exercise equipment,” Cr Mustica said.
“It is vitally important for everyone to follow the Victorian and Federal Government guidelines of only leaving home for four reasons – to purchase food and supplies, to access medical care, to do some safe exercise or to go to work or education.
“The overall clear message from all government departments is; ‘if you can stay home, you must stay home’ and we are urging all potential visitors to our areas to please remain in your own homes and do not travel to Moira Shire at this time.
“We will still be here when this crisis has passed and will welcome you all back with open arms, but for now, please stay home.”
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said in normal circumstances council welcomed an abundance of visitors to the Federation region with open arms, however due to the Federal Government advising Australians to stay home to combat the spread of COVID-19, council is encouraging travellers to stay home this Easter break.
“We have an older demographic and I’m extremely concerned about our people and our community and I want to protect them as best I can,” he said.
“This Easter holiday period please stay home, look after your loved ones, so we can look after ours.”
Mayor Bourke said telling visitors to stay home is “extremely hard” but said the consequences of travellers not adhering to this would be far worse.
“Advice from State and Federal government officials’ detail that even people with no symptoms of COVID-19 can be carriers and spread the virus into local communities,” he said.
“We have no reported cases of community transmission at this point in time and council would like to see it continue to be that way.”
Mayor Bourke said council’s tourism team was working on a number of initiatives to continue to showcase the Federation region during the health pandemic, including encouraging travellers to explore the region virtually online and add key experiences to their ‘travel bucket list’ to undertake when it is safer to do so.
“When we get over this, we will be back out there promoting just how much we want everyone to visit our Federation region,” he said.
“Council understands our local economy relies heavily on our tourism industry and we will continue to work with tourism stakeholders to understand the full impact and advocate on their behalf.”
Yarrawonga Health Chief Executive Officer Elaine Mallows released a statement pleading for people to assist them by staying home.
“The National Cabinet together with the State Government of Victoria and NSW has clearly asked everyone to stay at home unless it is essential,” Ms Mallows said.
“Any non-essential travel to regional Victorian and NSW towns and communities should be cancelled and Easter holidaymakers should indefinitely postpone their visits, in line with the nationwide effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19.
“I understand that the financial impact is severe given that tourism is a primary source of income for our community, but we will get through this.
“Yarrawonga Health employs over 250 healthcare workers, and attends to hundreds of patients, residents and health care clients – I know I speak for all of them when I say right now, the health and safety of our community and indeed everyone is paramount.
“Lives depend on every single one of us doing our part, which includes social distancing and staying at home.
“It is not the time to travel between towns or to relocate, the safest thing you can do right now is stay in your local community.
“Rural and regional health services resources are traditionally stretched under normal circumstances; Coronavirus is further stretching this.
“If you do fall ill, Coronavirus or otherwise now is not the time to be away from your normal health practitioners – health authorities and the police have said they don’t want to see people travelling anywhere – especially right now.
“My message is simple, by staying home and limiting contact with other people, we can all reduce the spread of the virus. Please if you can stay home, you must stay home.
“We must work together to help stop the spread.”
Member for Albury Justin Clancy said National Cabinet has asked all Australians to stay at home unless they are shopping for essentials, are receiving medical care, are undertaking daily exercise or are attending work or school, which is now enforced by law.
“COVID-19 does not discriminate and does not care about borders, so now is not the time to travel between towns or to relocate, the safest thing you can do right now is stay in your local community,” Mr Clancy said.
“It is important everyone understands that COVID-19 isn’t just impacting cities and these measures will help protect the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The Yarrawonga Holiday Park was on the front foot two weeks ago making the unprecedented move to close the park at a time when they are usually bursting with holiday makers, particularly over Easter.
“We’ve had a lot of cancellations and we had closed the park for Easter but now it is closed effective immediately (Tuesday March 24) until further advised,” park manager Sean Driscoll said.
“It’s to protect our tourists obviously and doing what the government wants us to do with all non-essential to be avoided.
“We hope to be able to re-open after the Easter break as previously announced, but this will be reviewed in accordance with the Government advice.“We thank you all for your understanding during this difficult time we are all in.”
Mulwala Water Ski Club CEO Peter Duncan who will be sitting in an empty premises for the foreseeable future said this Easter will be the strangest one yet.
“I have never seen the town so quiet especially during this time of the year,” Mr Duncan said.
“Not in my lifetime have I known an Easter to not be packed with visitors.
“It will be a surreal experience. An Easter unlike we have ever seen before.”
Journalist