Rescue Helicopter called to serious road crash at Bilyana, south of Cairns
Emergency services have rushed to serious two-car crash on a major road south of Cairns, with the rescue helicopter expected to transport a patient to hospital.
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G’day Far Northerners, here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening across the region this week, October 24 to 28.
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TODAY’S NEWS
Rescue helicopter called to crash south of Cairns
Emergency services including the rescue helicopter were called to a serious two-vehicle crash around 170km south of Cairns on Tuesday afternoon.
A temporary diversion on the Bruce Highway is in place.
A Queensland Ambulance Service representative said they were called to the incident around 2.40pm.
“We were called to a road crash on Bilyana Rd, Bilyana,” she said.
“When paramedics arrived there was a one patient, an adult male, still entrapped.
“The man has now been extracted and will be taken to hospital but we won’t know if he will be transported to Cairns or Townsville until they are in the air.”
QAS later confirmed the man would be transported to Cairns Hospital.
Meanwhile, a Queensand Fire and Emergency Services representative confirmed that four fire crews, two from Tully, and one each from Cardwell and Innisfail, attended the incident.
“There were four rescue pumpers at the scene by 3pm,” she said.
“They had the man extracted from the vehicle at 3.45pm.”
A Queensland Police Service representative confirmed the incident involved two vehicles and the road was temporarily closed.
“The Forensic Crash Unit will not be involved,” she said.
“There is a diversion in place at Upper Murray Rd.”
Serious vehicle crash, Smithfield
A 36-year-old White Rock man remains in care at Townsville Hospital in a critical condition after being struck by a white ute near Smithfield about 7pm Monday evening.
The man received serious head injuries as a result of the collision and was transported to Townsville Hospital by helicopter about 11.30pm.
Police alleged the man was crossing the northbound lanes of the Captain Cook highway when the collision happened. A police spokeswoman said the driver of the vehicle stopped and phoned emergency services.
The crash closed the highway to allow investigations to occur.
Queensland Police are appealing for witnesses and drivers of the pictured vehicles who may have any dashcam vision of the incident to come forward.
Power outage, Atherton
The cause of a power outage that affected thousands of people from Cairns to Mamu has been identified.
However customers in Atherton are still waiting for power to be restored.
A Powerlink spokeswoman said the loss of power was due to interference of the reptilian kind.
“Power supply to nearly 27,000 customers in the Cairns area was temporarily affected overnight between around 1.50am and 3.30am, caused by a snake interfering with transmission equipment at Powerlink’s Innisfail substation,” she said.
“Powerlink took immediate action to ensure supply was restored as quickly and safely as possible, with southern suburbs of Cairns, down to (Mena Creek) and west to Mamu impacted during the unexpected incident.”
The spokeswoman thanked residents and businesses affected while power was being restored.
In a separate incident, homes in Atherton are still affected by another supply interruption.
The addresses still affected in Atherton include Antonia Cl, Crothers Cl, Dalziel Ave, Gallo Rd, Garner Dr, Jackson Dr, Maunds Rd, Montgomery Cl, Moses Cct, Rockley Rd, Storer St, Trainor St, Waldby Cl, Windhaus Rd.
Ergon Energy reported about 145 customers have been affected in Atherton since about 4am.
Ergon Energy outage finder has listed the cause as supply problems resulting in low voltage conditions.
Power is expected to come back up by 8am.
WEATHER
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a partly cloudy day in Cairns on Tuesday.
Across the region on Tuesday
Cairns – 25C-34C Partly cloudy
Atherton – 20C – 33C Possible storm
Cardwell – 24C – 33C Possible storm
Cooktown – 26C – 36C Mostly sunny
Innisfail – 23C – 34C Partly cloudy
Mareeba – 22C – 36C Possible storm
TRAFFIC
Cape Tribulation / Kimberley
Roadworks have been reported on Cape Tribulation Bloomfield Road at Cape Tribulation / Kimberley
Long delays are expected in both directions towards Wujal Wujal.
Coen / Laura
The Peninsula Developmental Road is subject to a 5 Tonne GVM limit from Laura to Coen due to water over the road.
Edmonton/Gordonvale
Roadworks are being carried out on the Bruce Highway — Cairns Southern Access Corridor — Stage 3: Edmonton to Gordonvale. Delays expected (during active hours of work), with all lanes in both directions affected. The work is expected to run until June 30, 2023.
Feluga
Major intersection upgrade at East Feluga Road and Bruce Hwy. Delays are expected to August 12, 2022.
Lake Eacham
Wrights Creek Road is closed to all traffic. Motorists are advised to use an alternative route.
Ravenshoe
Roadworks have been reported at Grigg St, Ravenshoe and are expected to December 12, 2022.
Wrights Creek
Hill Road Closed permanently from the Bruce Highway to Harris Road to December 2024.
WHAT’S ON
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Picnic benches outside of Muddies
Public barbecues
Fitness equipment
Playgrounds including Muddy’s Playground and the Fun Ship Playground
Basketball and tennis courts
Bump tracks and BMX tracks (within parks)
The Esplanade Activity Precinct (skate plaza, bouldering park, beach volleyball courts, multipurpose court)
The Lagoon and Council-run swimming pools
Flecker Gardens
Arts and cultural venues including Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Tanks Arts Centre, the Courthouse gallery
Buy Back Shop
Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
Barlow Park
Tobruk, Smithfield and Gordonvale pools
Marlin Coast Recreation Centre
Green Space Our Place
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Originally published as Rescue Helicopter called to serious road crash at Bilyana, south of Cairns
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