Fines no deterrent
Despite facing on-the-spot fines for coming to the regions locals said people from Melbourne were openly flouting the rules.
Before the latest lockdown was announced on the weekend, anxiety levels over Melburnians coming to the island were skyrocketing.
Despite facing potential on-the-spot fines of up to $1800 for visiting regional Victoria, locals said people from Melbourne were openly flouting the rules.
Many residents said holiday homeowners had arrived over the past few weeks, with some repeatedly travelling between their homes on the island and the city.
“The police know they’re here, but say they don’t have the resources to do anything about it,” said one frustrated resident.
“It’s not even worth reporting.”
Craig Edmonds, President of the San Remo Tourism Business Association said although 90 per cent of people had done the right thing, it was frustrating that a small handful continued to visit the area and tried to go into local businesses.
“I’m not sure what the answer is, but I can see this type of problem continuing once we get to a point that it is made compulsory to have been vaccinated to go to many places.
“One thing I have been told a couple of times is the answer from people they are questioned about being here is ‘we only get a slap on the wrist, so who really cares’,” he said.
“The messaging from authorities is bad and the threat of fines is just seen as a joke.
“The top is where it needs to come from, to make people think twice before they actually do the wrong thing.
“Let’s start making an example of some doing the wrong thing to get the point across to others.”
