WELCOME TO QUEENSLAND
100-MIN WAITS FOR BORDER CROSSING HOW I BEAT THE BOREDOM TATE: LET’S MOVE NSW SOUTH 288 NEW CASES IN VICTORIA
QUEENSLAND’S border reopening has left travellers facing the highway from hell on Friday, with some passengers allegedly dodging checkpoints to beat the wait.
Thousands of interstaters flooded across the state border when it opened for the first time in months at 12.01pm, causing waits of up to two hours on the roads and breathing life into airports.
Eager holiday-makers were already lined up and waiting throughout Tweed hours before the official opening.
It took the Bulletin one hour and 40 minutes to travel 5.3km and pass the border on the M1 during peak traffic between 4pm and 5.40pm on Friday.
Motorists and passengers could be heard cheering in delight as they made it through the Coolangatta border blockage.
But some reported spotting passengers leaving vehicles before the border, only hopping back in their cars once they had crossed police checkpoints.
A member of the public told the Bulletin: “Well that didn’t take long.
“(I) watched two people rejoin their car 20 metres past the Coolangatta border checkpoint at 10 minutes past the noon opening.”
Delays of up to 90 minutes were reported as police intercepted vehicles at checkpoints at Coolangatta, Bilinga and Tugun, scrutinising border passes to ensure banned Victorians were not trying to sneak across.
One Victorian was turned back at Coolangatta, as were other travellers who tried to cross the border before it reopened.
They included NSW Central Coast retirees Dave and Kim Johnson, who left their Port Frederick home six weeks ago to travel to Cairns with their caravan, only to be turned around at Coolangatta about 11am.
“We thought we’d give it a go and try to jump the queue but we weren’t really confident of getting through,” Mr Johnson said. “The cops were pretty good about it – they’re only doing their job.”
The Johnsons waited it out in a Tweed Heads backstreet until just before noon before crossing the border successfully.
“We’re pretty happy the border’s reopened – we were sweating it out for three or four weeks hoping that July 10 would be the date.”
Traffic had backed up almost 2km through Coolangatta less than an hour after the border reopened, and was moving at a snail’s pace along the Gold Coast Hwy.
The road from Tugun to the M1 was also flooded with traffic as drivers tried to avoid the highway checkpoint.
But anticipated queues of up to 20km at the Gold CoastTweed border failed to eventuate at peak hour, with commuters giving both the M1 and Griffith St options the swerve following Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s warning there would be significant delays.
“So please, if you’re thinking about coming today, maybe think about changing your plans,” she said on Friday morning.
“You could be sitting in traffic for hours. I’m letting everybody know that, I’ve been saying it all week.”
A Wallangarra resident said traffic banked up about 1km on the New England Hwy at the border crossing at the small town south of Stanthorpe.
The first official flight into the Gold Coast since the border closure officially touched down at 11.55am, with passengers greeted with a traditional water cannon salute.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said it was an “emotional” yet “very exciting” moment.
“It’s a really emotional day for people at the airport,” he said.
“It’s been a long, tough road for the past three-and-a-half months.
“During the next few weeks and months there will be a lot of discussion with airlines about additional routes coming into the Gold Coast and really getting the local economy firing again.”
Gold Coast accommodation providers were ready to welcome the first wave of interstate travellers.
Trilogy Surfers Paradise manager Olwyn Money said she was breathing easier after a tough few months.
“It has been a really hard time but things are starting to pick up on the weekends,” she said.
“It would be nice if people came for longer or during the week.
WELL THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG. (I) WATCHED TWO PEOPLE REJOIN THEIR CAR 20 METRES PAST THE COOLANGATTA BORDER CHECKPOINT AT 10 MINUTES PAST THE NOON OPENING.
BULLETIN READER
“After this weekend, it looks like we will have some more interstate guests, mainly staying for a bit longer to see their family.
“You could really let all of this get to you and it’s all been overwhelming with people cancelling and rescheduling bookings.
“Because of the excitement and positivity of more bookings, it’s easy now to breathe and just take one day at a time.”