Council collaborates on revised border bubble

Goondiwindi Regional Council continues to work collaboratively with Queensland Health, with a revised ‘border bubble’ confirmed.

“We acknowledge the outstanding job Queensland’s Chief Health Officer (CHO), Dr Jeannette Young continues to do in keeping Queenslanders safe during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg, AM said.

“Goondiwindi Regional Council also acknowledges that a postcode boundary system assists the police in being able to definitively protect Queenslanders interests during the pandemic by knowing the primary address of those crossing the border.

“Dr Young understands the anomalies with the current postcode boundaries and was happy to address them,” Cr Springborg stated.

It was agreed that Queensland residents with a primary residence postcode within the Goondiwindi Regional Council boundary would now be included within the bubble, this includes Weengallon and Daymar (4497),  Limevale (4384), Inglewood (4387), Gore and Cement Mills (4352).

“Many NSW residents also form part of our community and we have secured an agreement that residents in Croppa Creek [postcode 2411], North Star [postcode 2408], Deepwater and Emmaville [postcode 2371] will also now be in the bubble,” Cr Springborg said. 

These border bubble changes will be effective from 1am Thursday 20 August 2020.

“I am also happy to confirm that NSW residents in the border bubble with children in a Queensland boarding school will also be able to take them to school without quarantine and will be able to visit them, including if they board outside the bubble zone in Queensland,” Cr Springborg said.

Cr Springborg said “I understand that we may still have other northern NSW residents who could benefit from being in the bubble, such as Moree postcode residents.  The CHO has indicated that further discussions about these areas will occur once the community transmission throughout NSW is brought under control.”

The CHO has also advised Council that additional clarity and a streamlined process for border exemptions such as medical and specialist agriculture exemptions, are being developed by the Queensland Government to make it easier and seamless for people.

Goondiwindi Regional Council thanks Queensland’s CHO, for listening and recognising the unique nature and needs of our border community.