Empty Far North supermarket shelves spark call for local distribution centre

Empty supermarket shelves across the Far North are sparking calls for the establishment of a local distribution centre, but not everyone is convinced it would make any difference.

Inside the Townsville Reginal Distribution Centre. There are calls for a similar facility to be established in Cairns. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Empty supermarket shelves across the Far North have sparked calls for the establishment of a local distribution centre, but not everyone is convinced it would make a difference to the dwindling food supply.

Despite much of the Far North avoiding the severe weather, which hit hardest between Cardwell and Ayr, supermarkets in the greater Cairns region are reportedly more bare than those in Townsville – where Woolworths unveiled an upgraded distribution centre in 2020.

Reacting to the region’s woeful food situation, Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said she wrote to both the Prime Minister and the federal Opposition Leader, as well as Coles and Woolworths on Thursday, putting forward a case to establish a local centre.

“I believe if we had a distribution and warehouse centre here in Cairns, we wouldn’t be bypassing Cairns from the Tablelands down to Brisbane and then back again,” she said.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden has written to the major supermarkets and both side of federal politics urging them to consider establishing a distribution centre in Cairns, with supplies impacted each wet season. Picture: Brendan Radke

But she said a local government-owned distribution centre or warehousing facility had not yet been discussed within council.

“Definitely not something that we’ve discussed at council and … something that I haven’t thought of as a council investment.

“But I (have written) to both sides of politics … and (am) really hoping that the federal government might be able to encourage or mandate that in certain locations distribution and warehouse centres exist, because it’s not just pivotal for Cairns, as we’ve seen the whole region up here is impacted every single wet season.”

Ms Eden said while establishing a centre in Cairns “made sense” she wouldn’t oppose one on the Tablelands – linking growers to the Kennedy Developmental Rd – now set to be fully sealed.

However, FNQ Growers president Joe Moro said while he didn’t oppose a distribution centre for the region, he questioned its economic viability and whether there were other solutions to the Far Norths’ vulnerable supply chains.

“If Coles and Woolworths wanted to build one up here, they would’ve done it already,” he said.

“But the problem still remains, you don’t grow half of the things you need up here during the wet season, you’d still be trucking it up, so I would say make sure we focus on not just sealing the inland highway, but making it flood proof.

FNQ Growers chairman, Joe Moro. PICTURE: Andrea Falvo

“Let’s just look at this other way – this week Melbourne had no bananas, but they’ve got all the distribution centres you want there – once the road connectivity is broken, you’re left with the same problem with persible items.

“If you wanted to stock non-perishables in like a warehouse, that’s a different conversation, and you’d have to figure out who’s going to run that.”

Cook MP David Kempton said his was supportive of establishing a centre “closer to the end user”.

“We do need a larger supply of food closer to the end user. Coles actually use the trucks and trains as their storage facility, so rather than put it in storage, they just move it up and down the highway.”

Former elected officials at the launch of works at the Townsville distribution centre.

Mr Kempton said he agreed the Far North needed an all-weather access highway between Cairns and Brisbane, but wasn’t sure if the sealing of the Kennedy Developmental Rd was the right answer.

He said he also wanted the federal government to note it should have only been subsidising essential grocery items, on the freight flights to Cairns.

“I’ve heard of stories that one of the government subsidised planes for the major chains had soft drink.

“We need to be really sure that, the response is according to the need, not for anyone to be making profits.”

Originally published as Empty Far North supermarket shelves spark call for local distribution centre