Queensland border crossing ‘chaos’ as new pass restrictions cause traffic build up
Some have reported delays of well over an hour trying to get over the Queensland border today after changes to the border pass at midday threw travellers into chaos.
Gold Coast
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MAJOR traffic delays have built up at the Queensland NSW border just hours after a new border check program came into effect.
Residents say the border crossing can now take anywhere between 40 minutes to well over an hour as a backlog of travellers from NSW rush to head north.
Confusion over the new rules have also added to the delays with many returning unaware that they required a new border declaration pass from noon today.
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Under the system existing border passes have been made invalid and replaced with a new deceleration form available through an online portal.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski urged motorists earlier today to “please get across this” as the new system came into effect.
“Because this is a new system we expect this to be pretty lumpy and difficult for the first couple of days if not for the first week,” he said.
“Bearing in mind we’re (also) transitioning to a new system next week when the borders open up to all states.
“Really honestly, we know that this is going to be pretty unpleasant for a bit, we understand that.”
Asked how the system would change when borders reopened next week, Mr Gollschewski said: “Next week we move to the regime where everyone from every state and territory (except Victoria) in Australia can come to Queensland.
“They will still need their Border Declaration Pass but that will distinguish where they’ve been and that they haven’t been in Victoria.
“The declaration is about ‘I have been in Victoria’ or ‘I have not been in Victoria’.
“Everyone that comes through will need that declaration.”
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Cherilyn Evans a Cabarita resident said it took her 40 minutes to travel through the crossing into the Gold Coast at lunchtime today.
“It took me 40 minutes. It normally takes about 10 minutes but the last couple of days it has been really bad,” Ms Evans said.
“Today they changed the border pass so there were a lot of people going through who didn’t have the border pass, I had no idea but I was able to be waved through at just after 12pm.
“I also think there are a whole heap of people waiting parking at the south end of the border to get across.
“A lot of people itching to get up there and it has been building up over the past couple of days.
“It has been an inconvenience I have been happy to accommodate, but at this stage I am no longer feeling as amenable.”
Member for Mudgeeraba Ros Bates said a she has heard from constituents who cannot get out of their driveway because of the standstill.
“Police are pulling up everyone and insisting they have the new 12pm pass printed – and of course most don’t.”
The Bulletin understands individual are being asked to complete the new declaration on the spot, which has added to the delays.
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