‘Add to the pressure’: Residents address the future of a Kuranda Range bypass

More than 400 people are expected to attend a meeting that will end with a proposal for the bypass being put to parliament.

MORE than 400 people are expected to attend an information night that will end with a proposal for the Kuranda Range bypass being put to parliament.

The meeting was organised by the Kuranda Range bypass road committee which was formed in February to “add to the pressure on the government” to address a number of concerns surrounding the Kuranda Range and Barron River bridge.

Range Bypass committee chairman Ken Harley said the resolution reached on Tuesday night would be given to Member for Cook Cynthia Lui and Member for Hill Shane Knuth to be tabled in state parliament.

A crash involving a car and a truck closed both lanes of the Kuranda Range road two weeks ago. Picture: Andrew Hewinson

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He said the proposal would also be given to Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch to request funding for the project.

“We’ve got a resolution – tomorrow night all the information will be explained,” he said.

“There’ll be a presentation of the most up-to-date facts and figures.”

Mr Harley said a number of issues relating to the bypass would be addressed including concerns for animal welfare and fuel efficiency.

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and Mareeba resident Robyn Greenfield with crowds at a rally demanding for action on the state of the Barron River Bridge in April. Photo: Thomas Herridge

The meeting will be chaired by president of the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce Joe Moro who said connectivity between Mareeba and Cairns had been an issue for too long, and that it was vital to garner community action.

“This road that Ken and his committee have been talking about is one that meets the criteria pretty easily,” he said.

“This discussion … has been on the agenda in many forms since probably the early 90s and we seem to have gotten nowhere with it.”

The Kennedy Highway bridge over the Barron River, connecting Cairns to Mareeba, has been limited to single-lane traffic since November last year. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mareeba Mayor Angela Toppin said she couldn’t confirm her attendance but that the council supported an alternative route.

“Whatever the route may be, Mareeba Shire Council is very supportive of an alternative route to Cairns. But we are awaiting a government study in this respect,” she said.

The meeting will take place at Mareeba Turf Club on Tuesday at 7pm.

Due to high numbers wishing to attend the meeting, it has been limited to Tablelands residents with a Cairns meeting scheduled for June 28.

Originally published as ‘Add to the pressure’: Residents address the future of a Kuranda Range bypass