Border closure will see road barricades return to Goondiwindi region

Goondiwindi Regional Council is working to reinstate road barricades and self-access gates at all unmanned border crossings in the Goondiwindi region, following Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s announcement that Queensland will reimpose tougher border restrictions to travellers from New South Wales from 6 am tomorrow.

Council will re-install the same electronically locked gates that were used during the previous border closure. The Queensland Police Service has confirmed that all residents who were previously approved for access codes as at 1 December 2020 will have that approval automatically reinstated, as long as they are eligible to obtain a current Queensland border pass.

Council urges all approved users of the self-access gates to ensure they have their border pass along with the required app on their phone ready from 6 am Tuesday, 22 December. For border pass applications, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/border-pass

Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said Council was working quickly to meet the Queensland Government’s border closure requirements.

“The health and safety of the community is Council’s first concern,” Cr Springborg said.

“Council is working quickly to make sure its border crossings meet the expectations of the Queensland Government. As the Goondiwindi region services thousands of people from across both sides of the border, we want to make the process as smooth as possible as we transition back to tougher restrictions.

“Ours is a border region, and it’s home to cross-border communities who absolutely need to be able to cross to run their businesses, do their shopping, collect mail and access medical and essential services. We are certainly expecting the State Government to reimburse Council for its incurred costs of this closure, as it would not be fair to expect Goondiwindi region ratepayers to bear the expense of its border restrictions.”

For more information about current Queensland border restrictions, please visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/border-restrictions