Aslan Shand
As Queensland puts a hard close on its borders to NSW, Victoria and the ACT at 1am Saturday morning (8 August) they have agreed to exemptions for border towns.
Border towns like the Tweed Heads will be able to access towns like the Gold Coast across the border under the updated arrangements put in place to ease the impact of the border closure on these towns. The border pass for people who live in these areas allows them to travel between NSW and Queensland for any reason. However, there are a number of restrictions around how far you can travel in either state to remain eligible.
In a press briefing this morning the Queensland Health chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young clarified that residents can’t go further north or south than those LGAs included in arrangement in either Queensland or NSW
Residents crossing the border will be limited to travel in the area that is also identified as being part of the border zone in the opposite state. That is Queenslanders coming to NSW will not be able to travel beyond the 2483 postcode in NSW, that is, Brunswick Heads and Billinudgel areas. Similarly NSW residents will not be able to travel further than the 4207, 4208, 4275 and 4285 postcodes in Queensland.
Residents in the NSW post codes that can cross the border are also required to stay within that border zone if they wish to travel to Queensland without the 14 day quarantine. For example, if you live in Brunsick Heads or Ocean Shores (2483) then you can travel with a border pass to Queensland for any reason. But only if you haven’t travelled outside that designated area. If you have gone to Mullumbimby (2482) to visit your local bank, shops, or council chambers you will forfeit your right to cross the border and will be subject to the 14 day quarantine requirements. This is because any area in NSW not in the border zone is classified as a hotspot by the Queensland government.
Byron Shire split
During this mornings press conference Dr Young referred specifically to LGAs being the basis for inclusion or exclusion from the border zone. Echonetdaily is currently waiting for clarification on why the Byron Shire LGA was split in half in regards to the application of the border zone mapping.
Byron Shire councillor Cate Coorey has told Echonetdaily that from the information we have so far the problems she see’s are around the border zones are how this will be monitored in NSW.
‘I am totally supportive of an approach for elimination of the virus. But you either have to include the whole Byron LGA or exclude it – otherwise because it becomes too difficult to make it work.’
For more information on the border restrictions and to apply for a border pass go to the Queensland Governments Border Restrictions page.
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