Buronga, Gol Gol supermarket opens days before Vic-NSW border closes – NEWS.com.au

Buronga and Gol Gols first official supermarket could not have opened at a more convenient time. Midway Market Place IGA services about 3000 residents living in the two NSW border communities who can now avoid hour-long queues just to source groceries from Mildura.
“The next closest NSW supermarket is 20km away in Coomealla, but it’s easier to just hop across the border and shop in Mildura,” supermarket director Steve Saunders said.
“But these queues to get across the border right now are just extraordinary, and what’s more extraordinary is the timing of our community’s first real supermarket.”
The border with NSW was closed from Wednesday after Victoria recorded its largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.
Since its closure traffic has been “horrendous” with kilometre-long queues of vehicles waiting to cross border entry points as police check motorists for valid travel permits.
Mr Saunders operated a small IGA express in the town for about 15 years and planned this expansion for the past six years.
“The locals have been asking for something like this for years,” he told NCA NewsWire.
“Everyone would go into Mildura to shop – it wouldn’t be an issue. Now there’s a 45-minute wait just to get across. It’s a one-hour wait or longer just by 8am.”
The Midway Market Place IGA also has a new cafe, specialist store and drive-through bottle shop in addition to the supermarket.
It was expected to open before Easter, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed construction.
The Mildura father-of-three said the supermarket had “exploded” in its first week, with the store’s budget running 25 per cent ahead of predictions.
“The community support has been really touching, especially in today’s climate,” Mr Saunders said.
“Everyone’s glad to see each other inside here, everyone’s happy and they’re all pleased they’ve got a supermarket and don’t have to wait in those traffic queues.”

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