![Canberrans returning from the Victorian border being stopped in Hall. Picture: Elesa Kurtz Canberrans returning from the Victorian border being stopped in Hall. Picture: Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc7bv5e8y99dzkwn8e9bl.jpg/r0_0_5326_2994_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
ACT residents who find themselves on the southern side of the NSW-Victorian border will no longer be able to drive back to Canberra, after a border crossing arrangement between the NSW and ACT governments came to an end.
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Monday was the last day Canberrans could drive up the Hume Highway from Wodonga and back into the ACT, only allowing for one stop at a rest area north of Gundagai.
A total of 23 Canberra residents were the last people to be able to drive back to the ACT from Victoria, before the arrangement came to an end.
Figures have shown 120 stranded Canberrans made the three-hour journey during the five days the border crossing arrangement was in place.
ACT residents in Victoria who want to make it back to Canberra can now only re-enter the capital via plane.
An ACT Health spokesman said Canberrans who return on a flight will still need to notify ACT Health of their intention to return.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote to the premiers of NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland on Sunday over the issues on the border.
The Canberra Times understands his letter urged premiers to consider how the closures were impacting access to essential medical care, but also the movement of the "essential economic workforce" such as farmers in border communities.
However, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Monday she would rather be accused of being "too harsh than too soft" on the borders.
"The last thing we want is for the disease to get into regional NSW. That won't help anybody," Ms Berejiklian said.
"Having said, that, if there are safe ways in which we can do things, of course, we will, but I will take the health advice on that."
She said allowing people into NSW on humanitarian grounds and in exceptional cases was important, but also drained resources.
"Wherever we can, we try to be as black and white as possible in relation to the borders," she said.
"Once you start going into grey, it becomes very difficult to monitor and have compliance. It is a balancing act and a difficult balancing act."
However, the premier said they would look to see if there were opportunities to ease pressure on border communities such as Albury.
As part of the border crossing arrangement that was struck last week, returning Canberrans were able to cross the NSW-Victorian border between 9am and 11.30am and had to arrive in Canberra by 3pm.
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Drivers had to start the journey with a full tank of petrol with no refuelling stops allowed along the journey.
The ACT Health spokesman said those who had returned to Canberra were required to quarantine for 14 days upon their return.
"Residents are contacted daily during their quarantine to assess their health and any potential support requirements throughout the 14 days," the spokesman said.
"Compliance checks are also made by ACT Policing during the quarantine period."