Traffic nightmare as drivers try to cross the QLD-NSW border after hard closure

“We’ve only moved 600m in an hour”: Drivers are facing lengthy delays this morning, with barricades and border control now in place in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Update 11.10am:

A Tweed Shire Councillor is calling on the Queensland Government to establish a “locals lane” after a morning of traffic chaos in Tweed Heads and on the highway.

Following Thursday’s announcement of a hard border closure of the NSW/QLD border by the Queensland Government, for at least the next four weeks, James Owen is renewing his call for a ‘locals’ border pass and either a dedicated lane at suitable checkpoints on the M1 and Gold Coast Highway, or a dedicated ‘locals’ only checkpoint on Ducat or Griffith Street.

“The implementation of this simple measure will greatly reduce the impact of the border closure on Tweed Shire residents going about their day-to-day lives as they transverse the border, for some multiple times a day,” Mr Owen said.

“Whilst I appreciate that Queensland borders are a matter for the Queensland government, I’m asking for a common sense and compassionate approach to border checkpoints for our border community.

“I know one Tweed resident who is currently working on the M1 upgrade at Burleigh, who left home in Kingscliff at 5am this morning and didn’t get to work until 7.15am. A trip that would normally take 25 minutes, took 195 minutes.

“With many Tweed residents needing to travel across the border for essential purposes such as work (including frontline workers), school and medical appointments, now is the time to prioritise a solution to alleviate the issues currently being experienced, and to ensure the safety, health, and wellbeing of our community.

“I implore the Queensland Premier to implement these measures as a matter of urgency.”

Initial story: 

Drivers are being warned to expect lengthy delays if they need to cross the border from NSW into Queensland this morning.

It comes after the Queensland Government officially shut the border to NSW at 1am on Friday.

This morning drivers have reported traffic queues on both the Pacific Motorway and the Gold Coast Highway.

Live Traffic NSW reports heavy traffic conditions between Tugun and Banora Point.

Bethany Mantle was among the people queued on Wharf St this morning.

“I came from the gym at Seagulls and headed to the roundabout at Kennedy Drive, waited about half an hour,” she said.

Deciding to try a different way, she turned around and was still stuck in traffic.

“I reckon it’s taken me about an hour to get to just the Ivory,” she said.

Itaru Nakajrma came out of Queensland but found himself stuck back in traffic on Wharf St near Florence St.

“I’ve been waiting about half an hour,” he said.

He said he had to head back from the Tweed Mall.

Bonnie Donavan left from Banora Point about 9am.

“We’ve been waiting about 20 minutes,” she said while stuck in traffic just past Dry Dock Rd.

Traffic is banked up on Minjungbal Drive past the Dan Murphys.

Others have said there are waits of more than an hour-and-a-half to get over the border.

In a Pottsville community Facebook group, one resident wrote: “It (the traffic on the Pacific Motorway) is hardly moving, it’s been like that for over an hour”.

Another local said it was a “nightmare”.

One the Gold Coast Highway, one resident said they had only moved 600m in an hour.

Residents in the border zone ‒ which extends from Tweed Heads to the Clarence Valley ‒ are only allowed to cross into the Sunshine State for “essential” reasons.

This includes:

– to get food or other goods or services

– access medical or health care or get medical supplies

– get a COVID-19 vaccine

– get a COVID-19 test

– work

– volunteer

– provide assistance, care or support to a family member or to fulfil other caring responsibilities

– attend any court or tribunal of Australia

– attend a childcare facility, school, university, or other educational institution

– take a child attending organised sport

– avoid injury or illness

– escape a risk of harm

– escape an emergency situation.

You cannot cross the border for these reasons:

– weddings and funerals, unless they have an approved exemption which includes a Covid safe plan.

Exemptions can be applied for here.

– exercise unless organised team sport that they would usually participate in

– visit friends or family for reasons not listed above

-holiday

– be a spectator at a professional sporting event

– attend the cinema

– go to a theme park or other tourist experiences.

The advice has been changing rapidly and people are urged to check the Queensland Government website for the latest information before they attempt to cross the border.