Should Tweed Heads Become Apart Of Queensland?

[ferdinand]

Hello my fellow Gold Coasters,
I want to hear your views on whether Tweeds should become apart of the Gold Coast.
Its hard for me to give my opinion as im up the other end of the state in Cairns. However i did notice that Tweed and Gold Coast share the same buses. :)
regards
Ferdinand from Cairns
should Tweed Heads
http://www.bni.net.au/~splash/g_tweed02.jpg
join the Queensland family? Gold Coast already treats her like a sister
http://www.mrdaytours.com.au/gold%20coast.gif

Of course she would need to listen to her "new mother"
http://www.uq.net.au/hyperlinked/sheila/brisbane.jpg

[RUM]

Good question.

This should go into the Australia wide section and get some thoughts from the NSW people. :)

My answer, Yes, but that's because I am a QLDer. It should be more than the Tweeds though. Extend it down towards Brunswick Heads / Macksville. Into more rural areas.

[GMAC]

Well Im in Brissie but I do alot of work in northern NSW and there has been alot of talk about the area becoming part of queensland, but not just Tweed Heads. Much of the talk is coming from places like Stanthorpe which is further inland but you also hear this sought of talk as far down as Lismore and Ballina. The arguement is that all services come from Queensland so it may as well be part of Queensland which sought of makes sense. I can understand why people on the NSW side want the change but queensland is already the second biggest state and Im not sure it is in our best interest to make it bigger. I would probably feel differently if it affected me directly.

Next Sunday will be the flare up of the arguement again as Daylight Savings come into action in NSW, this problem could be fixed if Queensland would introduce Daylight Savings for southern Queensland

[finn]

Maybe Queensland should just be split into two states and the southern portion can take over some of the northern areas of NSW.

[Shado]

No, it would be rather pointless and difficult. Perhaps some things need to be co-governed (daylight savings / roads etc). But there are many laws and things that are slightly different between states that would cause a bit of trouble if it were to change.

Ideally though the border should fall on an unpopulated area. But of course you have to wonder if this area isn't populated because it's on the border. (well apart from the idealic setting).

[RUM]

Maybe Queensland should just be split into two states and the southern portion can take over some of the northern areas of NSW.

If that's what it takes to make NSW happy...
I actually like that idea too.

NRL could then say, "The NRL is played in over half of the states of Australia"

[Blend]

I guess if they want to join QLD they should. If they dont want to then thats their own choice.

Id be ok with it.

[finn]

If that's what it takes to make NSW happy...
I actually like that idea too.

NRL could then say, "The NRL is played in over half of the states of Australia"

I don't know if it would make NSW happy, but it would make me happy. ;)

I think some of the states are too big...well two of them anyway, being Queensland and WA. They could both be split up a bit, then we'd get some new capital cities and more enhanced skylines. I guess we also get unnecessary expensiture on new public buildings for extra government though.

Ideally all the states would be abolished and the whole country could be broken up into new divisions, similar to local government areas but bigger (like average of 250,000 maybe). Some of the state government powers could be transferred to the Commonwealth and some to the new divisions. Then we could cut out one whole level of government and get rid of some of the red tape! :)

[jellyman]

or abolish the state govts so that we have federal and local govt only.

[Danubis]

i think thats what finn was gettin at

[jellyman]

oops.

[Jimmy James]

Ideally all the states would be abolished and the whole country could be broken up into new divisions, similar to local government areas but bigger (like average of 250,000 maybe). Some of the state government powers could be transferred to the Commonwealth and some to the new divisions. Then we could cut out one whole level of government and get rid of some of the red tape! :)

The ACT is the case for this - esentially a City/State - they're like a beefed up US Style City Government with control over Electricity, Water, Urban Services, Planning, Roads, Parks, Police, Jails, Hospitals, Criminal Law. It's not as powerful as a state government as some of it's legislation can be repealed by the Commonwealth , but they get a lot more done because of the relative density of the population, Australia should be divided into City Governments with Single House ACT Style Legislatures with anywhere from 15 to 45 members (always odd) apiece in relation to their population.

All areas in Australia that do have a big enough population (at least 100,000 people) should be unincoporated and run by the Commonwealth for Health and Policing and Town/Shire Councils for regular services.

The Size of Areas should be determined by several factors, including where residents work and so on - for example if a mojority of Central Coast workers work in the Central Coast and do not commute to Sydney, then they should be considered a separate city, but if they do work in Syndey they should be incorporated into the metro

Smaller Areas should be allowed to expand to areas within commuting distance, Canberra for instance should extend it's borders not only to Queanbeyan, but also Yass, Goulburn and Cooma as all of these places are only 1Hr away.

The Cities as I see them in the Future

Perth (extended to include Mandurah)
Adelaide (including the Hills Area, Gawler, Victor Harbour and Murray Bridge)
Geelong
Ballarat
Bendigo
Melbourne (Current Melways area excluding Geelong)
La Trobe Valley (Moe, Morwell, Traralgon, Sale)
Albury/Wodonga
Wagga Wagga (extended to Junee, Tarcutta and The Rock, That might just bring it up to 100,000!)
Canberra (Yass, Goulburn, Queanbeyan and Cooma)
Sydney (incl Penrith and Hawkesbury, Blue Mtns, Southern Highlands Areas)
Central Coast
Illawarra (from Wollongong down to Shoalhaven-Nowra)
Hunter (Newcastle - Maitland - Lakes Area)
Coffs Harbour (Incorporate Grafton)
New England (Armidale to Tamworth)
Gold Coast (GCCC, Tweed & Beaudesert shires)
Brisbane (Bris, Logan, Ipswich, Redland, Redcliffe, Pine Rivers)
Sunshine Coast (Caboolture, Maroochy, Caloundra, Noosa, Gympie)
Townsville
Cairns (incl Mosman and Port Douglas)
Darwin
Devonport (inc Somerset, Burnie and Ulverstone)
Launceston (incl Hadspen, Wentworth, Perth and Georgetown)
Hobart (North to Bagdad, South to Kingston and East to Sorrell)

[JayT]

I have family in Northern NSW and most locals on the far north coast would prefer to be part of Queensland.

They get no recognition from Sydney.
Most of their services come down from Queensland.
If they go to a city - they go to Brisbane. Sydney is alien to most of them.

From state of origin parties that I have been to there is always 50/50 Qld and NSW supporters - its amazing to see so many NSW's who go for Qld.

Personally it would be better and it would make the locals more happy if the border was moved down to the Clarence River.

Grafton could become the new border town.


As for Tweed its already an integral part of SEQ. Just look at the thousands of NSW numberplates every day in Brisbane from those who commute from Tweed - they are locals!

jt
jt

[LA53R]

Too right JayT i lived in Tweed for 20 years and brisbane is 'our city' no1 goes to sydney its like going to perth.
I did the commute and worked in brisbane everyday, its funny how i consider a town in another state to be an outter suburb of Brisbane :)

[GMAC]

JayT its interesting that you make the point that people in the area get no recognition from Sydney, I completely agree with that. The NSW State Govt. has often been accused of being very Sydneycentric which is very disappointing for many areas in NSW and it then makes sense that people in the Northern Rivers and Tweed Districts would prefer to be part of QLD.

I also see the benefits in what Jimmy is saying, and have always thought that places like Byron, Ballina, Lismore and Casino Shire Councils would be far more effective as one larger shire than 4 smaller shires. They all share the same problems, residents commute between all 4 towns every single day, each city has its role to play to ensure the Northern Rivers Region continues to grow and develop and tourism which is fast becoming one of the largest industries is already a combined effort between the four cities.

I would agree that it would make sense for the Tweed Shire to become part of Qld I think that is as far south as the border should go with the nightcap ranges a fantastic physical border. It does concern me that there are so many areas of QLD that are in need of better services and infrastructure and I believe that these areas should be a priority. I think we need to be careful that we dont give NSW the further advantage that say Victoria has of a large population living in a small state.

[Danubis]

but if you did that, the NEQ would more then certainly want to forge their own state aswell... the arguement that they get no recognition from far distant brisbane runs true up there aswell...

[nagelixin]

More people live in the cities, which means more seats in Parliament. Of course the incumbent government will want to keep the cities happy. As for changing borders, states that would require uniform agreement and constitutional change - good luck getting that.

[Macca-GC]

Peter Beattie was on 102.9 Hot Tomato the other day, and they were talking about how Tweed would be on Daylight Savings soon, and the premier said, "We this just brings up what I've suggested before, and that is that the Queensland border should be moved to just outside Melbourne." The hosts responded, "Oh, nah. We can't do that. That would make Gus Gould one of us."

[Gertzy]

I think it should. Mainly due to the fact it already joined to the gold Coast.

[Chuq]

It should be as people have already stated in the past:

Tweed Heads, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, and all areas inclusive = New state.

The rest of Queensland = New state.

Or, an alternate plan:
Parts of FNQ should join with the NT? Help to balance the population out a bit..

[TOCC]

it should be, just because it would help public services in the area so much more, when it comes to infastructure and other services.

Ive never really thought about it, but what happens when it comes to police problems and schooling problems. Are the police allowed to persue over the border, are the kids from the tweed allowed to learn in qld funded schools etc.

[Blend]

Australian police arent limited like US ones (u undoubtable got ur view from tv)

(this is what ive heard, btw)

Ive also read of cases where Brisbane police went to NSW lol.

[swifty78]

I think Qld should be split into North and South making Townsville the capital of the North.

[Blend]

before QLD is ever split, WA should be split, wiht Perth the capital of the southern state, and broome the capital of the northern.

[Macca-GC]

For QLD police to continue chases in NSW, they have to get approval from the Tweed police before they reach the Tweed River bridge at Kennedy Drive(They usually call in to the Tweed police station at the Tugun Merge[M1 and GC Hwy]). What usually happens after that, is that NSW police will take over. This usually happens by the time the chase turns onto the Chinderah-Yelgun Freeway.

With Education, there's no problems with people crossing the border. Really, a student could go to any school in the country.

Same with Hospitals and GP's.

The only thing is that people living in Tweed can't get QLD license plates on their cars.

[Blend]

Toadman, If it was a simple thing like speeding or whatever im sure theyd pass it off..

But any crimes more serious and the QLD police wouldnt pass it off.

[Macca-GC]

they HAVE to hand over to the NSW police. I think they're allowed to continue following as well, but they have to be behind the NSW police.

[TOCC]

Australian police arent limited like US ones (u undoubtable got ur view from tv)

well i obviously got my view off TV or i just have common sense. There are various reasons why they wouldnt be able to persue them in NSW without permission, different laws for starters! Thats why they extradite people and dont just send a qld police men down to nsw to pick up a criminal. There are dozens of reasons so its not what you think, about more americanisation.

What would happen if you were sppeding in NSW and a QLD cop was chasing you, do you get booked by qld laws or nsw laws. You couldnt be booked by either.

Before anyone goes picking that apart, il use the scenario a police officer started chasing that person in qld for whatever reason.

[Macca-GC]

If the person started speeding in Qld, he is held accountable under Queensland law. He is allowed to be chased and fined by Queensland police. But not arrested. And the NSW police have to know that they're coming across the border.

Queensland and New South Wales actually introduced special laws for this scenario. Queensland police used to have to turn around at the border, and if they wanted the suspect caught, they could report it to NSW, and then NSW police had to investigate. Now, it's different.

[Macca-GC]

New South Wales is actually trying to make similar arrangements with Victoria, particularly around Albury-Wodonga

[ferdinand]

wow lotta policey talk here. I think it makes sense for Tweed Heads to join Queensland this will ease the complications with police legislations/jurisdictions etc.

[JayT]

New South Wales is actually trying to make similar arrangements with Victoria, particularly around Albury-Wodonga

I've always thought that the Victorian border should be moved north to the Murrumbidgee river - then it would have a common border with the ACT.

Move the Qld border south to the Clarence River.

Move the South Australian Border east so it Broken Hill become's part of SA.

Them's my ideas:)
jt

[Neo]

I'm pretty sure we had a long discussion about this on the old forum (must be 2 years ago now).

Basically the conclusion was yes it should, but it would never happen because NSW proper would never accept it.

[Macca-GC]

^true.

A little known anomoly: The SA/NSW and SA/Vic borders across the Murray aren't in an exact straight line. SA actually has a short distance of border ON the Murray. The border with Victoria was made slightly further west because of a few property owners who didn't want their properties spilt between 2 states.

Sorry, just thought I'd post a little pointless fact.

[ferdinand]

can someone give me a download of all the services that come into Tweed heads from Queensland

[Macca-GC]

There actually isn't all that many. Gold Coast and Tweed hospitals co-operate when one is exceptionally busy.
There are some New South Welshmen who want to send their kids to school in Queensland, and Visa-Versa.
Radio stations cover the Gold Coast and Tweed, but all are based on the Gold Coast.
We both get double transmissions of T.V. reception. Here on the Gold Coast, we get the normal ABC, SBS, 7, 9, ten. But we also get the Northern Rivers' Prime and NBN.

[Wilko]

The drinks are cheaper on the queensland side! Didn't know I was in NSW until I purchased a beer at the Tweed Heads Club

[Macca-GC]

^lol. In fact, Twin Towns RSL and Bowls Club(You may have heard of it, it's only the biggest club in the country), runs on Queensland time.

[BNE_Kid_in_ROK]

It should be as people have already stated in the past:

Tweed Heads, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, and all areas inclusive = New state.

The rest of Queensland = New state.

Or, an alternate plan:
Parts of FNQ should join with the NT? Help to balance the population out a bit..

Exactly!