Mackay businesses fear going broke, as weather chaos closes Eungella range

Desperate tourism operators in the Mackay region are pleading for a solution to ongoing road access issues, fearing they are “all going to go broke’ after a vital lifeline is washed out following torrential rainfall.

Eungella tourism operators are “struggling to survive” as the washed-out Eungella range hits hard on their bottom lines and keeps tourists away.

Platypus Lodge Restaurant’s Oskar Krobath said they were desperate for Mackay-Eungella Rd to reopen after about a metre of “torrential” rain caused the range to “collapse”.

Transport and Main Roads has since partially-reopened the stretch, but times were limited.

Mr Krobath, who also runs the Broken River Information Centre – a go-to spot to learn about the region’s famous platypuses – said tourists were turning up to the roadworks at the wrong opening times and were frustratingly turning around in impatience.

“Everything depends on the weather (up here),” Mr Krobath said.

“If the weather’s nice, people go for a drive, come up to Eungella for a picnic or whatever.

“At the moment we have no confirmation, but there's talks the roadworks (will be) going on for four months.

“I don’t think the businesses can sustain it up here with no trade.”

Broken River Tourist Information Centre manager Oskar Krobath. Picture: Melanie Whiting

Mr Krobath said he and other tourism operators feared they would “all go broke” if the situation didn’t change soon, adding it was difficult to roster on staff with limited range opening times.

“We’re suffering big time,” he said.

“(Operators) are hardly covering the costs of (opening) at the moment.

Mr Krobath called on Main Roads to reopen the range on weekends so visitors could return to the mountain.

Main Roads on Thursday advised the range would reopen to road users from 5.30pm to 6am each night, and all day Sundays.

Queensland Ambulance Service captured these dramatic images of the Eungella Range, west of Mackay, after almost a metre of rain fell on Eungella in January.

TMR Central Queensland regional director Dave Grosse said access to Eungella was now only restricted during day construction hours, to ensure the safety of roadworkers and motorists was maintained, and repairs could keep progressing.

“This decision will give residents more flexibility to travel the range after work hours until the early morning,” Mr Grosse said.

“We realise the temporary closures are impacting on residents and businesses on weekends so we are also increasing the available travel time on Sundays.

“More roadworks are required before 24-hour access is restored but I can assure the community we are working to fully reopen the road as soon as possible.”

Mr Grosse thanked the community for its patience.

“We have been listening to residents and business owners, and doing our best to accommodate community feedback while also expediting the required work,” he said.

Mackay-Eungella Road was closed in both directions on Eungella Range due to extensive damage caused by heavy rainfall.

Weather and construction conditions permitting, the range will also be open Mondays to Fridays from 7.45-8.15am, 12.30-1pm and 3.15-3.45pm.

Mr Grosse said lighting would be in place and urged motorists to observe all signs, speed limits, traffic control and also drive to the conditions.

“Outside of work hours, delays of up to 30 minutes may be expected as travel will need to continue via a single lane under traffic control,” he said.

“We’re also expecting an increase in traffic on Sundays so we encourage people not to stop along the route to sightsee.”

Detours for travel between Eungella and Mackay during construction hours remain in place via Turrawulla Road and Lizzie Road for four-wheel-drives and high-clearance vehicles.

For up-to-date information on road conditions and to plan your journey, phone 13 19 40, visit www.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au or download the QLDTraffic app.

Assistance will be provided through the jointly funded, Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.