Border residents relocating to Queensland left stranded despite opening

People stranded in NSW by Queensland’s border closure have welcome the early reopening, but admit they still fear being locked out of the state.

People stranded in NSW behind Queensland’s closed borders are now preparing to join the expected “scramble” triggered by the state’s early reopening.

Mother-of-two Melanie Moody and her two sons have since June been stuck in Boggabilla, a NSW town just 15 minutes south of Goondiwindi.

While Mrs Moody welcomed the early reopening, she said the timing so close to Christmas had made it impossible to find a home for her family.
She said they would likely have to delay their relocation, a daunting prospect considering their current lease expires on December 20.

“We have been planning to leave before the June/July lockdown,” Ms Moody said.

“In our heads, we thought that by the time my 15-year-old finishes school, we would have had a house in Queensland but it’s ridiculous trying to get a house at the moment.

“It just seems impossible”.

Mrs Moody said she feared the “scramble” into Queensland triggered by the border opening would leave her family with nowhere to go.

Murphy Hook, 15, Adrian Hook, Melanie Moody and Riley Hook have been separated as a result of border closures. Picture: Supplied.

Wendy Riddoch, who has been camping at the Murwillumbah campgrounds with her dog for four and a half months, said she was happy to be given a date to come home, but was worried the borders could be slammed shut again.

“We’re happy while also knowing what (Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk) is like and that she could change her mind any time and then once she opens it she can slam it shut again,” she said.

Ms Riddoch lost two jobs in Canberra due to the pandemic and could no longer afford to live in the ACT.

She packed her bags and attempted to relocate to Townsville in September, but did not make it before the border slammed shut.

“We’re trying to be happy, but we also shouldn’t have to be happy to be going home.”

She said around her Murwillumbah campground, other stranded Queenslanders were happy to have a date to return home but were also worried restrictions would change quickly again.

Ms Riddoch said she would be “lined up waiting to get over” the moment the border opens at 1am, Monday December 13.