Border frustration after shops destroyed in overnight blaze

Queensland residents of a border town that lost its only supermarket overnight have to quarantine if they travel to the next closest store.

Residents of an outback town devastated by an overnight blaze that destroyed shops are not able to travel to their next closest grocery store because it is outside the border bubble.

Mungindi, 500km west of Brisbane, straddles the Queensland/New South Wales border and is home to less than 1000 people. On Tuesday night the butcher, supermarket and clothing store were all destroyed by a fire.

Those who live on the northern part of town are Queensland residents, and those living across the river belong to New South Wales.

Mungindi sits within the Palaszczuk Government’s COVID bubble, but residents who live north of the river aren’t able to travel to the closest town, Moree, without needing to quarantine on return, as Moree is outside the bubble.

The next closest supermarket is in St George, which all Mungindi residents can travel to.

What’s left of the Muningdi shops. Picture: NSW Rural Fire Service

Mungindi residents living on the northern side of town are unable to travel to the next nearest supermarket in Moree because of border restrictions.

Warrego MP Ann Leahy said it was another blow to the community, which had been struggling under prolonged drought.

“There’s been a lot of confusion over the Government’s border bubble because there was a lack of consultation,” she said.

“They were looking forward to a pretty good harvest in that area after a prolonged drought … and now they’ve lost at least four businesses.

“We had emergency services from both states attend … we need to ensure the recovery is dealt with in a considerate manner.

“The Mungindi community has evolved across the border, we need to streamline and ensure there’s consistency.”

Ms Leahy said the LNP had repeatedly called for a cross-border commissioner to help rural and regional residents struggling with confusing border restrictions.

It’s understood both the Balonne Shire (Queensland) and Moree Plains Shire (NSW) mayors are working together to advocate for Mungindi residents living in the Queensland part of the small town to be able to travel to Moree for essential services without needing to quarantine.