Mid West industries eager for border opening benefits

Mid West industry leaders are eager for WA’s hard border opening to deliver much needed relief to the region after two years of COVID-19 chaos. Fortress WA opened up to interstate and international arrivals on Thursday after almost 700 days of a hard border order, welcoming workers, visitors, supplies and residents back home. It comes as new Level 2 measures were rolled out across the State on Thursday as the State braces for more community transmission of Omicron. However, despite the tightened restrictions, the Mid West’s tourism and construction industries are eager to see the positive effects opening up brings. Over the past two years WA’s tourism industry has been decimated by the lack of travel, cutting business activity down by 62 per cent — the worst result since the beginning of 2020 — according to Tourism WA. Businesses which have managed to pivot and hold on in regional WA have indicated without the border opening, the Mid West tourism sector would crumble. Mid West Adventure Tours operator Cameron Williams said the opening was “needed” for all of the region’s tourism operators. “It’s just been a stalemate for the last two years, even over Christmas when you’d normally see an up-kick, it’s been really quiet so we really need the influx of customers the border opening will bring,” he said. “I personally have had to pick up a second job to supplement my income because things are so bad. “Before the pandemic our peak period was between November and February when the cruise ships came in but obviously that’s been impossible. “With the border opening it’s a step in the right direction of bringing that peak season back whether it be through the return of cruises — even domestic ones — or Eastern States visitors eager to explore WA. “Now that the borders are opening we need to drive numbers back into Geraldton and the Mid West region or we will all face closure.” Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall echoed Mr Williams, welcoming the border opening and urging tourism support across the State. “Tourism operators are ready for visitors to return, but the financial cost and loss of staff will not be quickly or easily overcome,” he said. “Event venues and attractions are still being impacted by Level 2 restrictions and the businesses that are suffering due to these restrictions will require support.” On the flip side of tourism, the Mid West building and construction industry still struggling with the impact of cyclone Seroja and the global pandemic have breathed a sigh of relief at the long-awaited opening. Master Builders Association of WA executive director John Gelavis said the month long delay since February 5’s backflip had significant impacts on an already struggling region. “Having the border open will relieve some of that pressure ... the supply chains have been heavily affected, workers are unable to come into WA and all of that has increased costs exponentially,” he said. “We need to remember we’re still working in the midst of a pandemic. The Mid West is predominantly small mum and dad businesses who work to support the local economy and community and the issues having arisen the last two years have been no fault of the builders. “We’re also seeing the Government invest in social housing and with the combination of communities still rebuilding from cyclone Seroja facing delays from supply chain issues and availability of materials there is added pressure, it’s positive but delays are becoming longer and longer. “We’re expecting to see challenges continue in the next six-12 months, however that’s a far cry from what it would be like if the border hadn’t reopened ... our members are optimistic now.”