Covid-19: Gold Coast and Tweed motorists face long wait at border after all of NSW goes into lockdown

Motorists trying to enter Queensland are facing lengthy delays amid confusion over the tough border restrictions with NSW.

MOTORISTS trying to enter Queensland are facing hour long delays amid confusion over the tough border restrictions with NSW.

Police, SES volunteers and Fire and Emergency Services personnel are at the border checking vehicles entering Queensland from NSW.

Police intercepting vehicles at Coolangatta> Picture: Richard Gosling

Gold Coast police Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman warned motorists of hour-long delays.

He said the delays were not “unexpected” and usually occurred on the first day of new restrictions.

“Every vehicle is being intercepted. Every vehicle is being checked. If somebody doesn’t comply officers will make an operational decision and turn people around people at the border,” Supt Wildman said.

“Our officers are doing the best they can to process vehicles, but once again what we are finding is people aren’t quite across the exemptions and as a result officers are having to ask additional questions of individuals as they try to cross the border and that’s what’s causing the delays.

Gold Coast police Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We may see further delays today. We usually see this in this first day after a new direction is announced, and it’s around the transition for our officers and also members of the public getting across what this means for them.”

NSW border zone residents can now only enter Queensland for obtaining essential goods and services that can’t reasonably be obtained in NSW and for essential work.

Supt Wildman urged motorists to avoid the border, but if they did need to enter Queensland to be across the latest direction.

Police stopping cars at Coolangatta. Picture: Richard Gosling

“Make sure that your particular circumstances meet the exemption requirements and if you can plan ahead and have appropriate endorsed letters or evidence of your exemption to assist in making it easier to cross the border and … have it ready to present police,” he said.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll on Sunday warned motorists to expect delays and urged them to be patient and polite at checkpoints.

“Every vehicle will be intercepted, please be patient, please comply and please work with us,” she said.

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