Innisfail bypass in planning stage as TMR launches community feedback portal

A Far Northern town already considered a “bypass” community will desperately need to “reinvent” itself if a proposed diversion plan goes ahead. SEE THE POSSIBLE ROUTE

THE term bypass generally terrifies most small towns but it may prove as the catalyst for a Far Northern community to reinvent itself as the State Government plans a diversion.

The Innisfail bypass has virtually been a silent topic of discussion for years, with rumours of its commencement surfacing from time to time, often without hard substance.

But now the Department of Transport and Main Roads is calling on Innisfail residents to provide feedback on the proposed development, which aims to construct a bypass from north of the Centenary Bridge at Mighell to the vicinity of the Palmerston and Bruce Hwy intersection near the Fred Drew Rest Area at Belvedere.

Planning for the estimated $9m project is expected to finish mid-2024 with investigations aiming to review options for the bypass route’s future corridor as well as options for improved connectivity between the Palmerston Hwy and Mourilyan Harbour Rd.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the planning project would help “road users get home sooner and safer, and is a huge win for Innisfail residents.”

However veteran Cassowary Coast businessman Malcolm Hills who operates mobile coffee van Mister Barista, often on the side of the Bruce Hwy at Haddrell Park in Innisfail said the town didn’t have enough to offer to attract travellers off a potential bypass and into the centre.

Mr Hills said unlike its neighbouring communities, without attractions and accommodation, Innisfail was rarely “the destination.”

“People from Cairns are trying to get to Townsville, or if they’re coming from the south, they’re off to the Tablelands and Port Douglas. If they’re planning a lunch stop, that’s at Cardwell,” he said.

Mobile coffee van Mister Barista owner Malcolm Hills agrees there is heavy traffic on the current highway running through Innisfail but feared a bypass could kill the town. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

“With a bypass, unless someone needs fuel, they won’t think to stop at Innisfail, they’ll just want to get to their destination. The town might not die, but it will need to reinvent itself because we’re not really a destination at the moment.”

Mr Hills did accept a bypass would significantly improve flow on the “heavily congested” highway through town.

Cassowary Coast Mayor Mark Nolan agreed in some ways Innisfail was already a bypass town.

“When we had Mark Evans from Paronella Park present he told us of the 45,000 RVs that visited the park (at Mena Creek), most were then just going straight out to the Tablelands or up to Cairns, a lot weren’t stopping at Innisfail.”

The proposed Innisfail bypass could possibly be built from the vicinity of the Centenary Bridge, at Mighell, which in this file photo is to the right of the frame. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

Asked if the he thought the town would need to reinvent itself if a bypass was constructed, Mr Nolan said he would be seeking feedback from the council’s recently formed Economic Development Committee, and the town’s resurrected Chamber of Commerce.

“At this stage I’m for and against. I’ve seen the number of traffic lights that are coming in because of the traffic, so it would be good to see the heavy traffic out of the CBD.

“But we know a lot of towns die off when a bypass is built. So I’ll be interested to hear what our business community thinks.”

Queensland Train Manufacturing and Regional Roads Minister Bruce Saunders encouraged people to have their say and inform the decision-making process.”

To provide feedback visit tmr.qld.gov.au/InnisfailBypass.

Originally published as Innisfail bypass in planning stage as TMR launches community feedback portal