Queensland's extension of the coronavirus border bubble is being welcomed by some in northern New South Wales, while others say it does not go far enough.
From October 1 at 1:00am, New South Wales residents from Byron Shire, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes Severn local government areas will be able to travel into Queensland, with a border pass.
Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson said the decision was "well overdue".
"It was unreasonable to begin with, but it's now really pleasing that sanity has finally prevailed," he said.
"I think it's great news for all the residents of Byron who have businesses over the border.
"It's also great news for the 100-odd medical professionals who live in Queensland who can't access their workplace in our hospitals."
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said the bigger border bubble would make life easier for a lot of north coast residents.
"Yes we want no border bubbles at all, we want freedom of movement. But we are in a pandemic, we are in COVID and this is a great improvement," she said.
"It will mean that people that are in Kyogle, that always come over Lismore, don't breach going out of the bubble."
Shires on border left out
Meanwhile, the Nationals Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall called for the bubble to be extended to the Inverell and Gwydir shires.
"Unlike the Inverell and Gwydir shires, none of the five local government areas included in today's border announcement share a border with Queensland," Mr Marshall said.
"While this is great news for them, why include them and leave out two areas which actually border with Queensland?
"You can't tell me that a tourist hotspot like Byron Bay, which attracts visitors from right across NSW, has less potential for a coronavirus outbreak than Inverell, Warialda and Bingara, it just doesn't make sense."
State Nationals Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, whose seat is just south of Ballina, also expressed frustration at not being included.
"Why not extend the bubble down through to Grafton and include all of the Northern New South Wales Local Health District?" Mr Gulaptis said.
"We've got people who are in Grafton who need medical treatment in Queensland on a regular basis."
Nationals' Page MP Kevin Hogan said the broadening of the border bubble was "a good first step" but did not go far enough.
"We'll still be advocating very strongly to the Queensland Premier to lift all restrictions on the borders between Queensland and New South Wales," he said.
"We don't believe there is a medical reason to do it, given we're COVID-free in this whole wider region.
"I do believe it's political. She (Annastacia Palaszczuk) was polling very well on it."
'I'm so stoked'
Glen Innes Mayor Carol Sparks said she was surprised to get a call from a local journalist telling her the bubble had been extended.
"That will be so good for our tourism, it will just give us a bit more confidence and bring some more funds into our town," Councillor Sparks said.
Byron Bay photographer Craig Parry said he screamed with joy when he heard the news.
"We've been struggling to stay afloat," he said.
"It was really hard to accept we couldn't cross. I'm so stoked."
The expansion was also welcomed by Housing Industry Association executive director Toni Bull, who said thousands of tradespeople had been struggling.
"We've had tradies in some areas where they've had to remain in New South Wales away from family and friends," she said.
"At this stage they've been keeping their heads above board, but it was getting close."
