By Stephen Coulter, Point Lonsdale Resident and Micromobility Leader
Covid has seen a massive increase in government control, lockdowns and regulations. It has highlighted the focus on artificial bureaucratic and administrative boundaries that lack empathy or relevance for communities.
We all belong to many communities- local, social, family, sport, occupational and more.
Geographic communities are amongst our most common — defined by proximity and sometimes limited by significant geographic features.
Unfortunately, few communities are defined by administrative boundaries determined by politicians and bureaucrats. Government borders are determined to have equal numbers of people in an artificially enclosed area on a map — or by gerrymander, where electoral boundaries are adjusted to favour one party. These artificial boundaries have nothing to do with community.
Communities are defined by the common interest, movement and activities of people. Government boundaries are purely invisible lines on maps and shouldn’t get in the way of communities engaging with each other in everyday life.
But governments are dividing communities by invisible artificial boundaries, without regard to people and the communities which define their lives. COVID lockdowns are resulting in communities being split for no good reason.
I live in a small coastal village, Point Lonsdale. Lonnie and our neighbouring village, Queenscliff, are at the very tip of the Bellarine Peninsula — the entrance to Port Phillip Bay, around 100km from Melbourne. With a total population of less than 4,000, the villages’ three lighthouses, which guide ships safely through “The Rip”, are now shining a light on the backroom bureaucrats locking down broad areas without looking at a map or the communities affected.
The Western side of Point Lonsdale went into lockdown at midnight on Sunday, while the Eastern side and Queenscliff are open — or more correctly now, locked in!
This crazy situation occurs due to a historic quirk where part of Point Lonsdale is zoned to Greater Geelong rather than Queenscliffe. Surrounded by oceans, bays and farmland, most of these areas are COVID free. Point Lonsdale & Queenscliff have only had 3 cases in 21 months, with the last case more than a year ago.
The Queenscliffe Council has the highest rate of vaccination in Australia — over 95% with one dose and more than 80% fully vaccinated.
The social and local economic impacts are significant:
- Local businesses in the “open zone” have their patronage restricted.
- Builders are banned from constructing in the “closed zone” or working in the “open zone.”
- Lonsdale Golf club is in the “closed zone”, yet most of its members are in the open zone and can’t play.
- “Closed zone” residents can’t join their “open zone” friends at local cafes and restaurants.
- Many tourism businesses in both zones remain closed due to the difficulty in operating under such conditions.
- Open zone businesses are affected but don't qualify for government support because they are in an “open zone”!
While this is a micro example, similar issues are happening around Australia, wherever there are border communities — borders defined by invisible government boundaries which pay no attention to the communities they serve.
The borders between South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland have been particularly affected. State leaders from opposing political parties have made their own rules protecting their “fiefdom states” on a pure state boundary basis, without considering the border communities otherwise unaffected by the invisible dividing lines.
There is a simple solution in Point Lonsdale — use the postcode shared by all of Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff — this will keep communities together and provide a buffer to other areas which may or may not remain in lockdown.
State borders are more complex, but everyday economic and social activity areas could easily be identified and kept intact when lockdowns are required.
My day-to-day business life is in transport — specifically micromobility and active transportation — bikes, scooters, cargo bikes, etc. We focus on supporting local communities with sustainable transport solutions for their short and first/last mile journeys and deliveries.
“Heat maps” show local activities and can readily be applied to defining communities without relying on invisible bureaucratic boundaries. Google has the data globally.
Leveraging available data such as heat maps on local activity can help governments serve and support the communities they serve. Better use of data will preserve communities, have positive mental health benefits and help local economic activity.
In this new era of unpredictable pandemics, we need to focus and protect people and communities.
UPDATE
Significant community feedback on social media, and to elected members of parliament, has seen this poor decision reversed. It was announced on 22 September that Point Lonsdale will be reunited from 23 September and treated as a single community for COVID rules.
The Chief Health Officer has advised that at 11.59pm tonight, those areas of Point Lonsdale located within in the City of Greater Geelong will be able to follow the same rules that apply to the Borough of Queenscliffe.
