Cairns Kart Hire reopens after record floods

It’s all systems go as Cairns Kart Hire reopens the popular racetrack, as the owners urge families to head down and end their school holidays with a bang.

Cairns Kart Hire owners Erin and Elliot Outman are back in business as they urge locals and tourists to get behind the wheel of their go-carts before the end of the school holidays.

It’s all systems go at Cairns Kart Hire as owners Erin and Elliott Outman re-open their doors to the popular racetrack, urging families to head down and end their school holidays with a bang.

The couple, who have been running Cairns Kart Hire, Laser Tag and Escape Rooms for just over a year, have declared they are back and ready for business, after their premises was affected by floods following Cyclone Jasper.

“On December 9 it was our 12 month anniversary and then on December 12, the flood came through,” Mr Outman said.

The water flowed higher than they had anticipated, reaching the go-carts and equipment that had been raised onto higher benches.

“The first time the water came in, it was about 300mm, then it dried, so we thought we were OK because everything was safe and high. Then it came through again, and got everything,” he said.

Katharina Belani, Nigel Brown, Matthew Brown, Hayley O'Neill and Alex Rutherford get ready to rumble on the newly reopened Cairns Kart Hire racetrack after an extensive clean up following Cyclone Jasper.

When they returned to the site after the floodwater receded, a foot of mud caked the floor, tyre barriers along the racetrack became loose, parts of the newly redeveloped track were washed away and laser tag equipment was unusable.

“The escape rooms were good because the water didn’t come up to the second storey and our mechanic worked really heard to get the go-carts ready so we could go again,” Mrs Outman said.

After three weeks of extensive clean up by staff and volunteers, the racetrack has reopened and repairs have started on laser tag equipment.
“We’re hoping to get that going sooner rather than later.” Mr Outman said.
With the end of school holidays around the corner, the couple are encouraging locals to support the family-run business as they prepare for the quiet season.

“We’re encouraging the locals to come and bring their visitors and families to Cairns and check us out. We’ve got the karts ready and the escape rooms are good challenges for friends or families, even work groups,” Ms Outman said.

Originally published as Cairns Kart Hire reopens after record floods