Cape Tribulation locals celebrate landslide ‘birthday’ with cake

Celebrating the positives after what has been a tough year, Cape Tribulation locals celebrated the “first birthday” of the landslide which left the remote town isolated.

Cape Tribulation locals and road works employees have celebrated the ‘first birthday’ of a landslide which left the remote town isolated, following torrential rain and flooding after Cyclone Jasper in 2023. Photo: Supplied.

Celebrating the positives after what has been a tough year, Cape Tribulation locals have celebrated the “first birthday” of the massive landslide which left the remote town isolated.

Nestled in the heart of World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, the coastal hamlet was isolated for more than seven weeks in December 2023 after flooding rains caused major road damage and landslides throughout the region.

Cape Tribulation business owner Lawrence Mason said some locals and road works contractors met on site to celebrate the landslide’s “birthday” with a mud cake, provided by Cape Tribulation Camping.

Cape Tribulation locals and road works employees have celebrated the 'first birthday' of a landslide with a mud cake after the remote town was left isolated, following torrential rain and flooding after Cyclone Jasper in 2023. Photo: Supplied.

“We had all the road workers there because they knocked off when we went up and we got approval from the worksite manager who let us do it,” Mr Mason said.

“We had a nice cake – a landslide cake and after that we went to the park and had pizza and a few more drinks, and mulled over the fact that it takes years to move a landslide.”

A year later, Mr Mason said the town was open and ready for business, however limited road access and bureaucracy around moving the landslide had slowed tourist traffic in the area.

“The problem is not so much with debris but with society because we live in a society where you need permission from a whole lot of different departments, you need cultural approval, and have to go through several agencies,” he said.

“A lot of us at Cape Tribulation are thinking our road should be surveyed culturally and environmentally so when a disaster happens it can be fixed as soon as possible.

“We made the point last night (that) we desperately don’t want to be back for a second birthday party.”

Originally published as Cape Tribulation locals celebrate landslide ‘birthday’ with cake