Coronavirus Victoria: Suburb Little River divided over lockdown restrictions

Victoria is just hours away from becoming a divided state as COVID-19 stage three restrictions come into effect at midnight across Melbourne.

The restrictions are also set to split the suburb of Little River in two, with one half of the Local Government Area (LGA) - the City of Wyndham – to be locked down, while the other - the City of Greater Geelong – escapes the tough new measures.

Resident Colin Cotter has lived in Little River for 53 years and crosses the local town's bridge daily to visit his friends.

But soon he won't even be able to have a beer at his favourite pub, which has to resort to takeaway.

The suburb has the same postcode, but two different municipalities.

"We're one suburb, we are Little River," Mr Cotter said.

A total of 32 LGAs making up Greater Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will go into lockdown from 11.59pm.

READ MORE: Victoria records 137 new coronavirus cases

The division in Little River has also gutted the local footy team.

The juniors at Little River Anakie Football Club had been back together for three weeks and were hopeful to resume its competition by the end of the year.

But half of team now can't train.

"We've put in a lot of effort to play get going a lot of fitness now we can't do anything about it it's out of our hands," a player said.

READ MORE: Melbourne's stage three lockdown - your questions answered

The invisible border between Melbourne and regional Victoria will be patrolled by hundreds of police moving around the perimeter, who say they have no qualms issuing fines of $1652.

"The window of police discretion is closing and I said it was closing and closing and closing, there's only a little crack in that window still open," Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.