The Queensland border bubble is set to grow to add another New England local government area, despite it not being a border community.
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Glen Innes has been added to the bubble, which already includes Tenterfield Shire.
Meanwhile, Inverell and Gwydir Shires, which do share at least some border, have been left out.
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Today's announcement that the entire Glen Innes local government area will be added to the border bubble from October is set to be a major boost for residents with chronic medical problems, a local agent said.
Residents of Glen Innes, just four hours from Brisbane or Toowoomba, tend to look to the sunshine state for medical care.
Many patients have found themselves trapped on the southern side of the border, local Nutrien Harcourts agent Jim Ritchie said.
"I know a fellow from Deepwater that under the old bubble he couldn't go up there for treatment - that's where all his specialists were," he said.
"A heap of people would be doing their medical requirements up there. It's the closest major area for your medical [treatment]. A lot of people's specialists are up that way. So the border lockdown was a very difficult thing for anybody requiring their regular treatments up there I would have thought."
The entire Glen Innes local government area will be added to the border bubble from 1am on October 1, alongside Byron Shire, Ballina, the city of Lismore and the Richmond Valley.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall was scathing of the Queensland Premier.
"If there is one thing which can be said for the Queensland Premier, she likes creating work for herself," he said.
"I know by the volume of calls to my electorate office already, how frustrated and fed up legitimate border residents are of not being able to conduct their regular business with Queensland.
"Again, I have written to the Queensland Premier and Chief Health Officer appealing for them to include Inverell and Gwydir Shires, bringing into force a border zone which matches what has been called for since the hard border was reestablished in August."
Ordinarily residents of NSW must do a fortnight's quarantine if they travel to Queensland.
But people who live in areas covered by the bubble can apply for a permit to permit them to travel anywhere in the state without going into quarantine.
Queenslanders can also travel south.
Mr Ritchie hopes some Queenslanders will take the opportunity to take a holiday in the New England region.