Queensland will reintroduce a border bubble with 12 NSW local government areas from Monday.
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Students and essential workers from the LGAs will be able to travel into Queensland from 1am on September 13 after the NSW government said their restrictions would be eased.
"So that's great news for those communities and will ease some of the pressures along our border," Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk said on Friday.
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The 12 LGA's included in the border bubble are Ballina, Byron Bay, City of Lismore, Clarence Valley, Glen Innes Severn, Gwydir, Inverell, Kyogle, Moree Plains, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed.
The Queensland government says it is returning to previous border settings, where people were permitted to travel into the state for a wide range of essential reasons.
These include work that cannot be undertaken at home, school, essential shopping, health care, or to care for someone who is vulnerable.
The directions apply to travellers entering each side of the border and includes people who want to travel into Queensland to receive their first dose of vaccine.
"It's anyone who can't reasonably work from home, so they need to make that decision with the employer," Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the date announced is to give authorities enough time to adjust border pass processes to ensure the new arrangements can be implemented safely.
NSW Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, thanked Queensland for the quick action and the establishment of a bubble for residents who have previously protested against the hard-border.
"This will make a difference for those communities who have done it hard. We know how seamless and invisible that border is, but unfortunately communities do get impacted at times when borders are closed," he said.
The announcement has come on a day when NSW recorded 1542 new COVID cases and nine deaths.
Australian Associated Press
