'Please don't come here': Peel residents voice concerns over potential Perth visitors

City of Mandurah mayor and Peel Alliance chairman Rhys Williams has written to WA Premier Mark McGowan requesting reassurance that all measures will be put in place to halt unnecessary travel to the Peel region.

Mayor Williams outlined in particular the danger the Peel region faces due to its high population of elderly citizens.

"As an alliance of Peel local governments and key regional stakeholders, we'e seeking reassurance from you that appropriate measures are in place to restrict all non-essential travel between the metropolitan area and Peel region during the Covid-19 pandemic," he wrote.

"Given that Perth and Peel, both at Mandurah and Byford, are connected by urban populations, we acknowledge that a separate arrangement for travel between these regions, as distinct to other regional border arrangements, is appropriate.

"With that being said, given the age demographic of the Peel, we have significant concern regarding the potential impacts of increased visitation to the region, particularly over the Easter period."

While acknowledging the reasoning behind the decision, Canning MP Andrew Hastie and Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup also outlined concerns in their own letter addressed to the Premier.

"We are gravely concerned the impending travel restrictions will not legally limit non-essential visitors from Perth," the letter read.

"The district of Dawesville, within the Peel region, has the oldest population per-capita in Western Australia and would be particularly vulnerable if a COVID outbreak were to occur."

EARLIER: Residents voice concerns over potential Perth visitors

Peel region locals have raised concerns as to whether people from Perth should be able to visit their neck of the woods during the coronavirus pandemic.

The state government announced on Friday that unprecedented restrictions would be brought in to keep people from travelling across regions, but the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region would be grouped as one.

"Due to their close proximity, the Perth and Peel regions will be combined into one region, allowing people from Mandurah to travel into the metropolitan area," WA Premier Mark McGowan said at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

But the move to pair the neighbouring regions was met with mixed responses from Peel region locals, as many took to the Mandurah Mail Facebook page to express their frustration at the decision.

Some commenters outlined fears that many Perth visitors would still make the trip to Mandurah for an Easter getaway, given hot spots like Yallingup and Dunsborough were now completely unavailable to them.

"Oh and Perth residents able to travel to Mandurah. For Easter," Jacqueline Cannon wrote.

"Please don't come here. Ridiculous to say we are part of Perth," Bianca Utting added.

"Stay home people. Cancel any ideas of getting away for Easter. Even if it's a trip to Mandurah from Perth and vice versa. It's the only way we are going to unite and beat this virus," concluded Joshua Duncan-Brown.

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But not all comments critiqued the decision, as many people who depend on daily or weekly trips between the region applauded the move.

"Good, I live in the Cockburn area, am disabled and my main family supports live in Mandurah," Sarah Gwaze wrote.

"My husband will be working away for 4 weeks at a time so I will need to still be able to receive support from my sister.

"In addition to this my sister has a child with special needs who I help to support."

With fines of up to $50,000 now in play, Mr McGowan stressed no West Australian should be undertaking any non-essential travel between regions.

"My message to West Australians is this: Do not travel around WA," he said.

"Police have the power to enforce these restrictions if necessary.

"Our advice has been clear for days now: avoid all non-essential travel around our state."

WA's regional travel restrictions will come into effect as of midnight on Tuesday, March 31.