South Australia has amended restrictions on travellers arriving in South Australia from the Greater Melbourne region.

Note: This COVID-19 update has been amended as of Friday 12 February to clarify information for people arriving from Western Australia

The changed restrictions are available on the South Australian Government’s Cross-Border Directions web page as Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 36) (COVID-19) Direction 2021, which came into effect from 12 midnight Thursday 11 February 2021.

The updated cross-border directions include conditions on entry for travellers from restricted regions in Western Australia and New South Wales.

Victoria

Anyone travelling from Greater Melbourne who has been in Greater Melbourne on or after 12.01 am 4 February 2021, or who has visited the Holiday Inn at 10/14 Centre Road, Melbourne Airport on or after 12.01 am Wednesday 27 January, or has been in close contact with someone who has visited that location is prohibited from entering South Australia.

Anyone in South Australia who has been at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport from that time must contact SA Health immediately.

Greater Melbourne comprises the local government areas of Hume, Moreland, Bayside, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Boroondara, Know, Nillumbik, Brimbank, Manningham, Port Phillip, Cardinia, Maribyrnong, Stonnington, Casey, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Darebin, Melbourne, Whittlesea, Frankston, Melton, Wyndham, Glen Eira, Monash, Yarra, Greater Dandenong, Moonee Valley, Yarra Ranges, Sunbury and Hobsons Bay.

Road border controls have been reinstated and people can only travel into South Australia from Victoria on particular roads. For a full list of Permitted Roads see Schedule 5 of the Cross Border Direction.

Transiting passengers

People are permitted to enter South Australia if they have transited through Melbourne, Sydney or Perth Airport as long as they have been in a Low Community Transmission Zone for 14 days, have been in the airport for two hours or less and have worn a face mask for the entire time they are in transit, including during the flight.

Low community transmission zones comprise the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales outside of the restricted locations, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria except for Greater Melbourne, and Western Australia other than the prohibited zones.

Exempt travellers

Exemptions to the border closures remain in place for essential workers in the mining, oil, gas and energy sector. Essential workers who have arrived from the prohibited zones in Greater Melbourne, Western Australia and New South Wales must undertake COVID-19 tests on day one, five and 12 of their entry into South Australia.

These workers must also wear a facemask when in contact with the public for the first 14 days, must maintain a record of close contacts, and must so far as is reasonably practicable self-quarantine when not working.

Self-isolation before the receipt of a negative result from the day one test is not mandated, but employers may choose to adopt this as a risk reduction strategy.

Western Australia

People arriving from Perth, Peel and South West restricted zones are able to enter South Australia, and are subject to day one, day five and day 12 testing, including self-quarantine until receipt of a negative result to the day one test. Exemptions for essential travellers remain, consistent with previous advice.  

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has indicated testing requirements for Western Australia and New South Wales are likely to be lifted this coming weekend, returning those jurisdictions to Low Community Transmission Zones.

New South Wales

Cross-border travel conditions imposed on people entering South Australia from Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the New South Wales Central Coast remain in force.

Future changes to cross-border travel arrangements

DEM will continue to monitor announcements from the Transition Team for any future changes to the cross-border travel arrangements and provide industry with any necessary updates.

Due to the ongoing dynamic border conditions, where companies have not already done so, companies are strongly encouraged to complete and submit Risk Mitigation Plans for all workers travelling to and from interstate locations to reduce potential impact on operations from sudden changes to border arrangements. Evidence of an approved Risk Mitigation Plan should be submitted with all cross border travel applications for essential travellers.

Should you have any questions, please contact Martin.Reid@sa.gov.au at the Department for Energy and Mining.

Stay well,

Paul Heithersay
Chief Executive
Department for Energy and Mining

Thursday 11 February 2021

The information contained in this resources and energy industry update has been verified by the South Australian Government COVID-19 Public Information Function Support Group coordinated by SA Police.