Qld borders: Grey nomads sent packing ahead of reopening as first visitors arrive
Travellers are cheering and waving as they cross into Queensland after the border finally reopened, but some who tried to get across before the noon deadline learned the hard way that the tight checks put in place will be enforced.
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TRAVELLERS are cheering and waving as they cross into Queensland after the border finally reopened, but some who tried to get across before the noon deadline learned the hard way that the tight checks put in place will be enforced.
Large numbers of caravans and motorhomes with interstate plates are flooding across the five Gold Coast border checkpoints after they reopened to all but Victorian travellers at noon.
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They include NSW Central Coast couple Dave and Kim Johnson, who left their Port Frederick home six weeks ago to travel to Cairns with their caravan.
The Johnsons tried to get through the Tweed Heads-Coolangatta checkpoint about 11am in a bid to beat the rush but were turned around by police.
“We thought we’d give it a go and jump the queue but we weren’t really confident of getting through,” said Mr Johnson, who retired in March.
“The cops were pretty good about it - they’re only doing their job.”
The couple waited it out in a Tweed Heads back street before crossing the border successfully.
“We’re pretty happy the border’s reopened - we were sweating it out for three or four weeks hoping that July 10 would be the date,” Mr Johnson said.
But for some, Queensland remains off limits.
Visiting the border checkpoint at Coolangatta, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said a ‘quite substantial’ number of vehicles had been turned around before noon.
They include grey nomads towing caravans in vehicles with NSW plates.
“Some are trying to get through before midday,” Ms Carroll said.
“Unfortunately sorry that cannot happen. They are being turned around and really everyone has to abide by the rules.”
Ms Carroll said 700 vehicles had been turned around at the border up until late Thursday.
She said some motorists had failed to download the new border declaration passes and police and SES volunteers were assisting them at the checkpoints.
