Kuranda Riverboat still not operating six months after flood
An iconic Kuranda business after six months is at last back in the water but dangerously low river levels have meant tours are still on hiatus as CleanCo works on a $25m rebuild of the decimated Kuranda Weir.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An iconic Kuranda business is at last back in the water but dangerously low river levels have meant tours are still on hiatus as CleanCo works on a multi-million dollar rebuild of the decimated Kuranda Weir.
When ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed the Far North Queensland coast in December the weather system impacted many North Queensland communities and infrastructure including CleanCo’s Kuranda Weir attached to the Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station.
Torrents of water hurtled down the Barron Gorge taking huge concrete sections of the weir with it.
The weir is used to store water before being sucked into pipes that lead to the Hydro Power Station downstream.
The Kuranda Riverboat’s gangway, pontoon and jetty were also casualties of the historic flood.
Nearing six months on from the flood, CleanCo is spearheading critical infrastructure works, the first step being the construction of a temporary rock wall or coffer dam this month.
And it can’t come quickly enough for Kuranda Riverboat owner Warren and Melissa Clinton who have not operated their award-winning tours for six months.
Mr Clinton said the low water levels meant too many rocks were exposed and it was not safe to run scenic wildlife spotting tours.
“The water is meters lower and is 6m from the pontoon because there’s nothing stopping the water going out until we get the coffer dam,” he said.
Being without an income for six months while the bills kept coming had taken a toll on the business owners. A promised tourism assistance grant that is yet to come through made the riverboat’s forced hiatus tougher than it had to be.
The couple put an infrastructure grant towards a $50,0000 replacement of the boat’s gangway, pontoon and jetty which were all swept away by the wall of water.
And the boat that was high and dry until last week has now been lifted back into the river by a CleanCo crane.
They are now ready to welcome guests and are hanging on until the water comes up.
“We have got no choice, it’s an iconic business in Kuranda, we cannot just leave it, and we were awarded last year best Queensland experience, we don’t want to see it fold,” he said.
CleanCo chief executive Tom Metcalfe said during construction of the new weir there was an increased risk that water levels in the Barron River between the Kuranda Weir to the Barron River bridge at Kamerunga could change without notice.
“Those undertaking water activities in these locations during construction, do so at their own risk and are being asked to exercise caution,” he said.
Damage to the weir has rendered the complete hydro scheme inoperable but CleanCo expected the Barron Gorge Power Station would return to full service at the end of the month.
Construction of the permanent weir structure is expected to be completed in late 2024.
According to CleanCo, the total cost of the Kuranda Weir recovery project is expected to cost about $25m.
More Coverage
Originally published as Kuranda Riverboat still not operating six months after flood
Council to nominate director for critical Far North lobby group
A key vote is likely to shape Cairns’ future advocacy ambitions with councillors set to nominate a new board member to an influential lobby group this week.
‘Outdated’ facility subject of plastic contamination concerns before fire
A multimillion-dollar waste processing facility was nearing end of life and its operator had been working with the state govt to address plastic contamination concerns when it burnt down last month.