Businesses operating near Ballarat's only drive-through testing clinic are hitting breaking point, as lengthy queues continue to block access and agitated people in line raise tensions.
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The Creswick Road site was closed again on Wednesday as Ballarat Health Services rallies to get through a backlog of testing - police were called in the morning amid traffic safety concerns.
With Omicron continuing to surge - 195 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Ballarat on Wednesday - even with the new definition of close contacts, lines for the testing centre have repeatedly reached past the rail line on Creswick Road.
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Every morning, people have tried to get in line earlier and earlier, at times blocking access to service roads and side streets near businesses.
This has been devastating for the businesses attempting to stay open - among them, RSEA Safety and Leef Independent Living Solutions, who say behaviour from people in line, and even people coming into their shops, is becoming concerning.
RSEA Safety's Emma Jones said the business had taken a massive hit since queues began growing longer and other testing sites in Ballarat closed down or hit capacity.
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"It's starting to frustrate us as a business, because we're sticking to the rules," she said.
"I understand they've got to do it, but I'm not sure they thought about the location, we've got a whole strip here that is really struggling."
She said some workers were choosing to come to work early to avoid being blocked from accessing staff parking.
Leef Independent Living Solutions branch manager Amba Walker said the business' delivery van, with essential goods for hospitals, nursing homes, and people with disabilities, was unable to leave the car park.
"It's hindering our business, it's just so poorly organised," she said.
"People needing the testing are becoming agitated and rude, it's just overwhelming everybody and it's horrible - coming into 2022 it's hurting everyone instead of making it better for everyone.
"Why would you put a testing site in such a central place when there's literally hundreds of cars banked up?
"Everyone's being affected and something's got to happen, and it has to happen really quickly."
Previously, Ballarat had other drive-through testing centres staffed by BHS, including in Sebastopol and at BSEC in Wendouree - these have since closed, replaced by the Creswick Road site in October.
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BHS was emailed for comment - in a tweet on Wednesday morning, it stated "(t)he Creswick Road testing clinic will continue to temporarily close when we experience high demand for the safety of our staff and those attending".
"Please be aware that if you do not meet the requirements for a PCR test, you will not be tested."
The City of Ballarat, which owns the car park, urged people to be patient.
"The City of Ballarat has provided the central Creswick Road site for use as a COVID-19 testing centre, with Ballarat Health Services now managing the site, including traffic management," acting chief executive Matthew Wilson said in a statement.
"Any decisions about the opening of further testing sites will also be made by the Grampians Public Health Unit as a public health management issue."
"Ballarat's sense of community is second to none, and now is the time for people to come together and show everyone what our great city is made of as we meet the challenges in this next wave of the pandemic."
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