Police warn the Qld-NSW border reopening will see three hour traffic delays

Senior police have warned the state government to expect traffic delays of up to three hours once the Qld-NSW border opens, with officers stretched to the limit.

Senior police are warning of three-hour traffic delays once the Queensland border opens, with officers stretched to the limit doing vaccine checks, venue callouts and hotel duty.

Police no longer have the support of armed forces at the border gates where this coming Monday they will need to check vaccine status of arrivals.

From December 17 they will also have to attend to complaints about unvaccinated people trying to enter licensed venues along with the Christmas-New Year holiday season rush of partying complaints.

Queensland border — traffic on the Gold Coast Highway at the police checkpoint in Coolangatta. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT.

A police source said: “The Premier was told (by a senior officer) it could take up to three hours to get across the border. It’s unworkable.

“Where will these staff be coming from? They are supervising hotel quarantine. There is increased servicing for holidays, and your DV cases. There’s only so much we can do.”

State Coast MPs predict fed-up motorists will rat run through Gold Coast hinterland check points as they try to escape the congestion at the Coolangatta border.

They are calling for a dedicated “locals lane” so Coolangatta-Tweed residents can avoid the caravan rush north for holidaymakers.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has advised travellers to “plan ahead and pack their patience” as extensive delays are expected.

Police stop motorists for questioning at the border. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“Travel out of that very, very difficult period, the peak hours, and that should obviously assist you,” Commissioner Carroll said.

“Be patient. Work with us, and obviously we always find, when we move the border declarations a little bit, it does take us a couple of days to get things moving smoothly.”

Experienced Coast MP Ros Bates said: “I’ve had complaints from police about being stuck on the border and not going their general duties like DV which is such a problem here on the Coast.

“I’ve got some concerns about our border gate at Natural Bridge. It only has two police on it.

“People will give up in frustration at Coolangatta and try Natural Bridge. We have to make sure it is properly resourced. There will be rat runners. “

Residents responding to a post by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on her Facebook page have called for a dedicated lane on the M1 for locals passing through the border. They predict the traffic will be “horrendous”.

Currumbin MP Laura Gerber — community is bracing itself for traffic delays. Photo: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled.

Currumbin MP Laura Gerber told the Bulletin: “The whole community is on tenterhooks about it. They know is will be astronomical in terms of waiting times.

“The border community will still have school traffic (from NSW). They needed to have planned better for this, the State Government, and thrown resources at it.

“Why can’t we have a checkpoint and a lane so locals can be waved through. “

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