Goondiwindi Regional Council – COVID-19 Border Pass and vaccination update

Texas Pfizer Super Clinic – updated advice for NSW Border Zone Residents:

Darling Downs Health will hold a Pfizer-only vaccination clinic at the Texas Memorial Hall on Thursday 19 August and Friday 20 August from 8.30 am – 5.30 pm for ages 16+.

Residents from both sides of the border will be able to attend the clinic. New South Wales (NSW) Border Zone residents may enter Queensland to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, provided they have not been in a COVID-19 hotspot outside the Border Zone.

UPDATE: NSW Border Zone residents may need to provide evidence of a vaccine appointment in order to get across the border. To address this, Darling Downs Health will be offering appointment times to NSW Border Zone residents only. Please call 07 4699 8384 between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm to make an appointment. Queensland residents are only able to access the clinic as a walk-in service.

NSW Border Zone residents are reminded that they will need to ensure they have their Queensland Border Declaration Pass - Border Zone Travel (X Pass) to enter Queensland to receive their vaccine. For more information or to apply for an X Pass, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/border-pass/border-zone-resident.

Entry into Queensland – Border Passes:

Goondiwindi Regional Council is advocating for more clarification around the Queensland Border closure and ‘Border Zone’ as many residents have been left confused by the new Border Restrictions Direction. Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said the information needs to be simpler and easier to access.

“Council is in total support of keeping Queensland communities safe and will do everything we can to ensure compliance with directives and requirements,” Cr Springborg said. “But in order that we and our residents can do that, we need information to be clear and concise, with more definitive explanations around what comprises ‘essential workers’ in particular.

“I do currently understand that improvements to the online system are under way, and I want to thank residents for their patience and commitment to doing the right thing by our community.”

There are two main passes our border communities are currently accessing:

1. Persons in the Border Zone who wish to enter Queensland under the current Border Restrictions Direction (No. 35) as an essential worker or for permitted purposes should apply for a Queensland Border Declaration Pass - Border Zone Travel (X Pass): https://www.qld.gov.au/border-pass/border-zone-resident

2. Those who wish to be exempted from the Health Directive (e.g. for Specialist Activities such as farm/agribusiness workers) must apply for a Queensland Border Declaration Pass - class exemption (Z Pass): https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/coronavirus-support/border-restrictions-agriculture

Entry into Queensland – for more information:

Residents should contact the local Queensland Police Service in the first instance for information regarding individual circumstances:

• Goondiwindi Police: (07) 4671 7777
• Inglewood Police: (07) 4667 6800
• Texas Police: (07) 4667 6811

Where else to get your COVID-19 vaccine:

The vaccine is available locally at the Goondiwindi Medical Centre, the Inglewood Medical Centre and the Texas Family Medical Centre, as well as numerous local pharmacies in the region.

Darling Downs Health will also be holding a vaccination clinic at the Warwick Showgrounds from Tuesday 24 August to Friday 27 August 8.30 am - 3.50 pm, and Saturday 28 August 8.30 am - 1 pm. Walk-in appointments are also available for both Astra Zeneca and Pfizer at the Toowoomba Baillie Henderson Hospital Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 4 pm. For more information, visit: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns/coronavirus

Residents should contact their GP with any questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccination.