Copper thefts plunge Bruce Highway in Burdekin into darkness

A shocking series of destructive copper thefts have left swathes of the Bruce Highway south of Townsville treacherous for travellers due to the reduced lighting.

Transport and Main Roads said on Friday that significant amounts of copper cabling had been ripped out of the ground leaving a more than two-kilometre stretch of highway from the Sandy Corner Rest Area in Brandon to the Hoey Road intersection without street lighting. Photo: Supplied

A shocking series of destructive copper thefts has left swathes of the Bruce Highway in the Burdekin south of Townsville treacherously without lighting, with Transport and Main Roads confirming it is a state-wide issue.

TMR said significant amounts of copper cabling had been ripped out of the ground leaving a more than two-kilometre stretch of highway from the Sandy Corner Rest Area in Brandon to the Hoey Road intersection without street lighting.

In addition, there have been similar thefts at the Giddy Rd intersection as well as at Inkerman Hill, leaving the notorious highway in pitch-black darkness at night.

A TMR spokesperson confirmed that “street lighting at these locations has been impacted by a series of cable vandalism incidences”.

“Theft and vandalism continue to have a significant impact on traffic management assets across Queensland, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, and Townsville,” they said.

“All instances of cable theft are reported to the Queensland Police Service.”

Burdekin MP Dale Last said the thefts “endanger the lives of road users” and urged anyone with knowledge of the crimes to contact Queensland Police Service. Picture: John Gass

The spokesperson said TMR had assessed the safety of the impacted sites and was developing a “longer-term program of repair works”.

“Due to the high volume of cable theft and vandalism incidences across Queensland and the costs involved in reinstating this infrastructure, each impacted site has to be assessed against other locations for priority response,” they said.

“To mitigate the risk of future theft, and to provide a solution that is value for money, TMR is developing vandalism and theft prevention measures aimed at reducing public access to TMR cabling and other infrastructure.”

The TMR spokesperson said that while the priority was to replace and upgrade the street lighting as quickly as possible, “it is important to acknowledge that developing and incorporating these improvements necessitates additional time”.

“TMR is aware of the safety and customer impacts resulting from vandalism and theft and is endeavouring to reinstate all impacted street lighting as quickly as possible.”

Burdekin MP Dale Last said the thefts “endanger the lives of road users”.

“It is completely unacceptable, and I would think that the persons stealing this cabling would be held fully responsible for any injuries or fatalities that result from these offences,” he said.

“As these thefts are mostly occurring away from homes and residences, it is important that travellers and the general public are vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.”

Mr Last said anyone who knew the perpetrators of the crimes had the responsibility to contact QPS and “help put an end to this stupidity”.

“Our roads are dangerous enough at the best of times and lighting is installed in an attempt to improve safety.

“This behaviour deliberately puts lives at risk and, when they are caught, these offenders should face the full force of the law.”

QPS has been contacted for comment.

The Townsville Police Property Crime Unit launched a task force in October 2024 to target copper thieves.

QPS estimated the cost to Townsville businesses was as high as $874,000 in the first six weeks of 2025 alone.

The vandalism adds to the Bruce Highways increasing list of woes.

Originally published as Copper thefts plunge Bruce Highway in Burdekin into darkness