Plan to move QLD border was rejected by NSW months ago

Despite making “logical sense”, calls to have the Queensland border moved 7km south to follow the Tweed River have reportedly been rejected.

The proposed border move to the Tweed River was rejected by the NSW government.

Calls to have the Queensland border moved 7km south to follow the Tweed River has been rejected for some time, according to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Earlier this week, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate renewed calls to move the border to stop a repeat of the financial stress border-side businesses have endured during the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Tate said the changes to border passes in recent weeks – especially now that 77 NSW suburbs would be considered hot spots, resulting in further inspections to be taken at the border – would only increase massive traffic jams and frustration among visitors.

But addressing the proposed move on Channel 9’s Today show, Ms Palaszczuk said the idea had been “rejected” by the NSW government several months ago.

“I put that to NSW and they rejected it,” she told Today.

“This was right from the very beginning, to make the Tweed River the border, so those border communities could go backwards and forwards, and that was rejected.”

News.com.au has contacted the NSW Premier’s office for comment.

Last week, Mr Tate said the moving of the border to the Tweed River would make “logical sense”.

RELATED: Calls to move border south 7km to ease COVID-19 traffic

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reportedly rejected the idea of moving the Queensland border 7km south into NSW. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claims the NSW government rejected the border move. Picture: Tara Croser

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“The city’s northern border goes all the way to the Logan River. Why not have the southern one go to the Tweed River,” he argued.

“But because it makes sense, the state politicians will not do it.

“Mother nature has the Tweed River there and all I am saying is have the border line there.

“To Tweed council I say talk to your residents, they would love to be part of the Gold Coast.

“I will be taking this further … I’ll be sending council’s endorsement to the Premier and she can talk Gladys (Berejiklian) around.”

The Queensland-NSW border reopening has caused locals fury, with many facing lengthy delays due to mandatory checks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Locals have vented their frustration over long delays heading into Queensland from NSW. Picture: Scott Powick Newscorp

Today, Queensland police were forced to erect a 700m “border wall” with NSW in a bid to stop southerners from avoiding police checks.

It’s claimed dozens of people have been driving over median strips or around plastic fencing to avoid the usual coronavirus checks at the border. Others, according to police, simply parked on one side of Dixon St, which sits in NSW, and simply walking across the road to Queensland.

The bright orange barricades, filled with water to stop them being moved, are expected to line the entirety of Dixon St until NSW’s community transmission is brought under control again.

– with Natalie Wolfe