Far North economy loses estimated $40m from broken roads
Families have been feeling the consequences of the region’s broken highways, as the economy misses out on an estimated $40 million due to the state of Far North roads.
Families have been feeling the consequences of the region’s broken highways, as the economy misses out on an estimated $40 million due to the state of Far North roads.
Frustrated drivers have waited nearly two years for the Palmerston Highway, the Kuranda Range Road and the Captain Cook Highway to fully reopen after damage caused by Cyclone Jasper rainfall and flooding.
Reconstruction works on all roads are on track to be completed by mid-2026, according to the Department of Transport and Main Roads website.
The Cairns Post has called on the state government to boost repair efforts and prioritise these major roads over any other works throughout Queensland, following the Bush Summit roundtable held in the city on August 5.
Port Douglas business owner and resident David Haratsis shared his road ordeal after travelling to Cairns to watch the T20I cricket match at Cazalys. When Mr Haratsis arrived at the Smithfield bypass intersection, he was greeted by an electronic sign with a warning about a Captain Cook Highway closure.
A truck hauling cane had crashed and closed both lanes at Wangetti for about five hours from 8pm.
“So we had to take long the way home, up the Kuranda Range with all its issues, and out to Mareeba and then back down the Rex Range,” Mr Haratsis said.
“It was a total of about 2 ½ hours.
“The cane truck rollover isn’t linked to the roadworks, but you have to question how frequently this will be a problem with all the stoppages and traffic backed up.”
Mr Haratsis said he believed Cairns residents were avoiding travelling to Port Douglas for weekend trips, just as he was aware Port residents were choosing to avoid heading south.
“People are getting discouraged because two years is a long wait,” he said.
“So we’ve got different economies and businesses really missing out.”
He said the disruptions were also impacting Douglas Shire school kids who travelled south for education – among them, his son.
“There’s about four school buses that go down and back each day. My son is leaving home at 6.55am, and gets back at 4pm, but it’s getting later and later,” he said.
Cairns economist Bill Cummings said some of the region’s largest industries depended on significant road investment.
He noted the sealing of the Bruce Highway as a key project which helped establish the region’s $1 billion a year horticulture sector.
More recently, the sealing taking place into the peninsula has helped to build Lakeland’s agricultural district.
“Resilient and efficient roads are critical to productivity,” he said.
“The final sealing of the last unsealed section of the Bruce Highway in the early 1970s … has enabled the Cairns region to develop whole new sections to its economy in road-borne tourism, but especially the progressive development of the now $1 billion a year horticultural sector.
“The fact the Kuranda Range and (Captain) Cook Highway have effectively been down to one-lane traffic now for 20 months following the Cyclone Jasper flooding effect is unacceptable.
“Based on a conservative estimate …[the] costs of wasted time involved comes to something of the order of $35m to $40m over the 20 months.”
FEDERAL MEMBERS SPLIT ON ROADS SUPPORT
Leichhardt MP Matt Smith said he would support the call for the state government to prioritise the Far North.
“The (Captain) Cook Hwy and Kuranda range are the arteries of northern community. While I understand the challenges presented by the nature of the damage, our communities are still suffering as a result,” he said.
“With the proposal to continue trucking cane from Mossman via the Cook Hwy, it is imperative that the road be suitable for the additional traffic as well as not impact our tourism industry.
“I completely support the Cairns Post campaign to have the state redirect resources to get us on our feet ASAP.”
But Kennedy MP Bob Katter refused to back the call, fearing it would detract from his ambitions to build a tunnel connecting Cairns and Mareeba.
“My sole focus is an all-access road/tunnel between southern Cairns and Mareeba along the route of the Bridle Track,” he said.
“This connection is vital for the economic growth and development of both Cairns and the Tablelands.”
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