By Mitchell Clarke
A passionate Parliament plea to release Cardinia Shire’s rural towns from the metropolitan grip has been “ignored” by Premier Daniel Andrews.
State Liberal Narracan MP Gary Blackwood called on the State Government to apply postcode based restrictions in Sunday’s announcement.
But despite the Premier opting to release the border town of Little River, near Geelong, the Cardinia Shire’s restrictions remain.
“The most disappointing and frustrating thing for me is the way that Little River – in the same situation as the towns east of Nar Nar Goon – is given a reprieve,” Mr Blackwood said.
“It’s proven now, with the changes at Little River, that it can be done here. Those restrictions are based on postcodes and that’s all we’ve asked for here.”
The Liberal MP said it was “disappointing” that the so-called “ring of steel” border separating Bunyip and Longwarry remained in place.
Mr Blackwood said he would continue to call for the release of Cardinia’s rural communities, even though it’s resulted in him being labelled as “divisive” and “offering false hope”.
“The Premier has failed to respond once to the requests I’ve put forward, but I’ll continue to use my voice in Parliament, in the media, and in the community to call for common sense and the data to win here because it is the right thing to do,” he said.
“Everyday we are receiving heartfelt pleas from families and individuals living in rural areas really struggling with the Stage 2 metro restrictions.
“I can understand that it is difficult to manipulate the local government boundaries but with the impact these restrictions are having on the people in these areas, I believe we have to look at options.”
Those options, Mr Blackwood say, include releasing the towns east, south and north of Nar Nar Goon from the metropolitan title, or to instead impose postcode relevant restrictions.
“We have the checkpoints in place and they can continue to manage the movement of people,” he said.
But both the Premier and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton have repeatedly shut down the idea of splitting up local government areas.
“Achieving a boundary that is ideal for those on both sides wherever it falls is complex and there will always be a community seen as being on the ‘wrong’ side of this boundary,” Mr Sutton said.
Unless the boundary is re-drawn, Mr Blackwood argued complex issues would remain for rural residents needing to travel into Baw Baw for school, sport or shopping.
“We cannot keep communities and businesses that have had no infections in lockdown for one minute longer than is absolutely necessary,” he said.
“For every unnecessary minute of lockdown, a country business could close forever, it could bring the economy of a country town to breaking down, and worse still, the mental wellbeing of so many good people could be damaged permanently.”
