Traffic congestion a major roadblock to doing local business
BUSINESS owners on the Tweed and Coolangatta fear long traffic queues to cross the border will worsen because of tighter restrictions for Victorians and turn their customers away.
More Coffee Please owner Felipe Castravechi said his Coolangatta customers had given up on returning to his cafe because it was a “hassle” to cross the border.
Mr Castravechi said last Friday drivers on Wharf St, Tweed Heads, were so frustrated by sitting in the queue to cross the border they decided to stop at his cafe and wait for traffic to ease.
“I’ve been here for 13 years and I’ve never seen traffic like that before, all the streets were lined with cars,” he said.
“Soon enough people are going to stop trying to cross the border.”
Halo Hair & Beauty Salon owner Rachel Hannah said her Queensland clients had given up returning to her Tweed Heads salon until traffic on the border improved.
“I don’t blame them, they’re literally stuck in it for a couple of hours trying to get home,” Ms Hannah said.
“I have some positive hopes with the new Ducat St checkpoint opening and just hope it takes the pressure off Wharf St.”
Cafe Scooterini owner Hollie Mills said she was in “two minds” about the decision to restrict Victorians from entering Queensland.
“If we have to go back to just takeaway, I can’t do that again, there’s only so many kicks we can take,” Ms Mills said.
Choofas Smokehouse & Seafood owner Scott Littler said Coolangatta businesses had been dealt the short of the end stick.
“We’ve got to do the right thing, but let’s plan this and do it sanely,” Mr Littler said.
“They’ve put three crossings in and it’s not adequate, we need more checkpoints.”