Mayor of the Balonne Shire Council, Samantha O'Toole has called on Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young to change the Mungindi border restrictions imposed on August 8.
Cr O'Toole is seeking for four more postcodes to be included of which three of these additional postcodes are fully contained within the Balonne Shire including St George (4487), Bollon (4488) and Thallon (4497) plus the Moree postcode (2400).
"There is undue economic and social hardships being imposed on our shire with seven small towns all surrounded by agricultural production," she said.
"Due to our shire boundary adjoining the NSW border, the entire shire of Balonne has very strong cross border relationships for employment, medical services, education, grocery store resupply and agricultural supply chains and currently in our shire, only two postcodes have been included in the border zone, covering 4486 and 2406.
"This has resulted in children living on rural properties in adjoining postcodes such as 4497 that would normally travel to Mungindi, for school and cannot. "
"Our shire like the rest of Western Queensland has remained Covid-19 free throughout the pandemic," she said.
"We now have the best opportunity for decent winter crops in nearly eight years and the border closures are strongly disrupting the agricultural supply chain."
Member for Warrego Ann Leahy, who is in Brisbane this week as Parliament is sitting, has requested a meeting with Health Minister Dr Stephen Miles.
"We need to resolve this issue immediately," Ms Leahy said.
"This decision is impacting on local jobs, access to health, and the overall Balonne Shire's economy.
Ms Leahy said the Balonne community has been very cautious and not traveled outside to areas and they have been very responsible.
"This shire has endured almost eight years of unrelenting drought, experienced a flood during February/March and now Covid-19 border restrictions."
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
