Essential bus services still impacted after Queensland’s border blockade dismantled

Elderly residents are being left high and dry at bus stops after the latest border bungle, warns a Gold Coast MP.

Elderly residents are being left stranded at bus stops after the latest border bungle, warns Currumbin MP Laura Gerber.

The LNP MP has been contacted by older residents asking when cross-border public transport services will return.

Ms Gerber, after writing on her Facebook page about the return on the weekend of international visitors to the Gold Coast Airport, was alerted by a resident about bus timetabling.

The woman in a post wrote: “Does that mean Surfside buses will be able to go to the Tweed Heads NSW shop then”.

Queensland Police stop and check buses trying to enter Queensland from NSW through Tweed Heads in late December. Picture: Scott Powick

Ms Gerber said the Queensland Government’s reopening plan was “on struggle street when it comes to our buses because essential bus routes across the border had yet to resume”.

“What annoys me the most is that this state government is always so underprepared,” she said.

“The Queensland Government has supposedly spent the past few months planning for the border reopening, and yet buses are still not able to cross the border.

“Yet again, our community has been forgotten by the Queensland Government.”

Surfside Buslines in an update said the 777 bus service was temporarily suspended and all other urban and school bus trips operated on selected routes to avoid cross-border travel, Surfside Buslines said.

School services would start on Monday with schools being open for students of essential workers, the bustlines added.

Laura Gerber says the state government is delaying the return of essential services. Picture: Attila Csaszar

“We will not be operating any cross-border school services during this time and will provide an update once cross-border school services resume,” Surfside Buslines said.

Ms Gerber said she had written to Transport Minister Mark Bailey seeking answers but he had yet to reply.

Mr Bailey told the Bulletin cross border bus services on the southern Coast were temporarily halted when Queensland’s border closed to New South Wales.

“We understand the impact this has had on locals in Coolangatta, Tweed Heads and the surrounding suburbs who relied on these services, but it was a necessary step to keep Queenslanders safe,” he said.

“With the border now open, Surfside buses will stagger the resumption of school and urban services on the southern Gold Coast as its workforce manages the impacts of COVID-19.”

Mr Bailey confirmed school services had resumed on Monday for the children of essential workers who need to safely travel to school.

Cross border urban bus services were planned to resume from January 31.

“We’ve seen the current COVID-19 surge impact the transport sector across the country and I appreciate the patience of Gold Coasters as we worked to get these services back up and running as quickly and safely as possible,” he said.

But Ms Gerber believes the service should be “up and running”.

“Leaving residents without their normal bus services is simply not good enough by a long shot,” she said.

Buses in late December being stopped at the border due to Covid-19. Picture: Scott Powick

“If government bureaucracy has delayed the return of these essential services, the Palaszczuk Labor government should be ashamed.”

Follow @PaulWestonGC