‘Frustrated’ Gold Coast residents blocked from main NSW-Queensland border motorway

Fourth generation farmer David Freeman works 85 hours a week and has a pass to enter NSW. Yet he, and hundreds of others, are wasting hours of their lives every day.

FARMER David Freeman has a pass to enter NSW for essential work, but because of the controversial Queensland border closure the main thoroughfare he normally uses has been completely blocked off.

It means he and hundreds of others in the Currumbin Valley are having to drive for hours extra to find a border access point because of the hard closure of Tomewin Mountain Road.

“For 105 years we’ve done all our commerce and trade in Murwillumbah,” said the retired Lieutenant Colonel, a fourth generation family farmer at Freeman’s Organic Farm.

Mount Tomewin resident and organic farmer Lt Col David Freeman. Photo Scott Powick Newscorp

“We can’t get through (the border) so we have to drive around. It’s a whole lot of extra driving, fuel, (and) time taken away from being on the farm.

“I’m working 85 hours a week.

“It’s a real economic embuggerance. I’m pretty frustrated.

“Everyone across the border (at Tomewin) can’t buy from us.”

Mr Freeman was one of a dozen residents who protested at the closed Tomewin border yesterday alongside Currumbin MP Laura Gerber.

Queensland borders have been closed since April 3.

OTHER NEWS

Minister won’t be ‘bullied’ on borders

Residents slam ‘ridiculous’ Coomera Connector delays

‘Four hours a day in car’: Community’s border nightmare

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last month said it would be “highly unlikely” the state would be open before July and September was a more “realistic” date.

Currumbin MP Laura Gerber said she had written to the Premier, asking for residents to be allowed to cross at Tomewin.

“The residents of Currumbin Valley have been cut off from hospitals, schools and essential services for far too long,” Mrs Gerber said.

Mount Tomewin residents protest alongside local State member for Currumbin Laura Gerber. Photo Scott Powick Newscorp

“At the moment this border is a hard closure, which means even if you have a permit or pass to cross the border, you cannot.

“The residents have to drive around to access the (John Flynn) hospital (at Tugun) which is (usually) only 15 minutes away. But because they have to drive around, it takes them 40 minutes.

“Police need to be manning this border. Even if it’s only between the hours of 7am and 7pm.”