Cattle farmers demand Bowen Developmental Road upgrade over fatality risk

A major corridor linking Central Queensland’s resource and cattle rich to the coast has those who have no choice but to drive it fearing for their lives. WARNING: Confronting images.

Cattle farmer Amanda Clarke is fed up with the state of the Bowen Developmental Road and has warned a road fatality is on the cards because of its poor condition.

“It is in an absolutely atrocious state at the moment,” she said.

“We have had two road trains go over and lost cattle in both of those instances.

“It is probably lucky no-one has been killed.”

The most recent road train rollover happened in late June.

The most recent road train rollover in late June on the Bowen Developmental Road resulted in a farmer losing 30 head of cattle. Picture: John Ashton.

A cattle farmer lost 30 head of cattle in the accident, priced at $1500-$1800 a head.

“The person that lost the cattle, that was a huge economic hit,” Mrs Clarke said.

“They have lost a lot of money there.”

Portions of the inland corridor linking Bowen in the east to the Gregory Highway near Belyando are unsealed and Mrs Clarke said “big potholes” and “ruts” were common.

“The amount of traffic has increased on that road and it is not being maintained to a suitable standard,” she said.

“Having two rollovers on that road – it is just not good enough.”

John Ashton runs the Illamahta Station at Mt Coolon and said the road had become a major link road to the coast for cattle and mining.

“It takes a lot of pressure off the Bruce Highway,” he said.

“It is a very busy road and it has deteriorated over the years.”

Both want to see the road upgraded and sealed.

In 2021 an ambulance rolled over on the Bowen Developmental Road on its way to a traffic incident. Picture: John Ashton.

“Who is going to be accountable for the life of that one person that may be killed on that road due to its condition?” Mr Ashton said.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said the department was committed to ensuring the safety of Queensland’s state-controlled roads.

“On the Bowen Developmental Road, we have completed more than $43m in sealing works along a 25km stretch and replaced ageing culverts to improve flood resilience,” he said.

“We know the Queensland road network has been repeatedly inundated by extended and unprecedented rain events.

“This rainfall has had an impact on the state’s roads, resulting in the prevalence of potholes.

“Work crews are inspecting, scoping and prioritising repairs to ensure the safety of the network as conditions allow.

“We will continue to monitor the condition of Bowen Developmental Road and undertake ongoing maintenance.”