‘Worse than Covid’: Closed roads lead to mass exodus from Cape Tribulation following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper

A Far North tourism town is experiencing its worst trading period in living memory with a mass exodus of unemployed workers choosing to head south in search of new job opportunities, businesses say.

Cape Tribulation supermarket owner, Graham Williams says there may be as few as 50 residents living in the Far North tourism community as a result of the road closures in the area.

A Far North tourism town is experiencing its worst trading period in living memory with a mass exodus of unemployed workers choosing to head south in search of new job opportunities, businesses say.

Cape Tribulation has remained isolated for more than seven weeks due to road closures following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, decimating the community’s hospitality, accommodation and tourism businesses.

Supermarket owner Graham Williams said the population had plummeted from around 120 residents to just double digits following the mass exodus from the coastal hamlet, located 150km north of Cairns.

“The core people that have lived here for a long time are staying. But all the ones that have come here for work are dwindling,” Mr Williams said.

“We’re probably down to 50-odd people at the moment. You can’t pay rent and survive living off Centrelink here.

“Some people have gone to Cairns already. Even as a business owner, I’m losing thousands of dollars a week.

“I’ve got to make a decision about whether or not I’m going to close and go down to Cairns and look for work for a couple of months.”

Large culverts on the famous Bloomfield Track, north of Cape Tribulation, have been washed away with the road in a significant state of disrepair.

While Cape Tribulation Road remains limited to local traffic and emergency services, Mr Williams said the state of the Bloomfield Track to the north is also a concern.

“A lot of people that come through are travelling up to Cape York,” he said.

“Are they still going to come here if they can’t go up this road?

“Why would you pay to cross the ferry and come here for two days, then drive back to Mossman and head up to Cooktown?

“They’ll probably just leave Cape Tribulation off their destination list.

“That’s going to affect PK’s (Resort), the campgrounds and this shop because those are the people who stock up as they drive through.”

Since ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the floods, Ferntree Rainforest Lodge owner Mark Cromwell has lost almost all his staff and dealt with uninvited guests allegedly looting his resort.

Ferntree Rainforest Lodge owner Mark Cromwell, whose luxury accommodation normally employs around 20 staff, said just a handful of workers remained at his business.

“This is worse than Covid,” Mr Cromwell said.

“Once we opened up (in 2020) after the initial shutdown … we still managed to operate up here and make a profit.

“We were in a good position then in comparison to now. When we re-open we’re going to have to re-staff because we’ve had no ability to keep them.”

Around $6,000 worth of souvenirs sit in unpacked boxes at the back of Mr Williams’ store — all ordered and paid for prior to December.

Landslides run for hundreds of metres down cliff faces and into the ocean on the Bloomfield Track between Wujal Wujal and Cape Tribulation.

Had he known tourists wouldn’t be able to visit, the shopkeeper said he would have never bought the items.

“My business is 95 per cent tourism,” Mr Williams said.

“I’m way below breaking even. I’m turning over 90 per cent less than I’d normally make on a daily basis.”

Mr Williams, whose shop lease ends this year, said he’ll be forced to ponder his next steps soon.

“It’s heartbreaking and depressing,” he said. “You wonder what your future’s going to be and that would be the same for any business here.

“I’m looking at the rest of this year as a loss.”

Nestled in the heart of ancient rainforest, Cape Tribulation is a popular Far North Queensland tourism destination with the industry considered the "lifeblood" of the region's economy.

Once a far flung backpacker haven with a vibrant party scene, Cape Tribulation’s tourism palette has broadened its appeal in recent years.

More businesses cater to families and high-end tourists now visiting the rainforest retreat, Mr Williams said.

“This is a beautiful idyllic location where the rainforest comes to the beach,” he said.

“It’s a big loss for everyone. The staff that work in these places have all either lost their jobs or are on reduced hours.

“There’s a whole community that feels stranded here.”

In a statement, a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson confirmed Douglas Shire Council had sought its assistance to repair Cape Tribulation Road.

“TMR is currently working with Douglas Shire Council to determine the most appropriate resources and levels of assistance we can provide to assist with repairs on Cape Tribulation Road,” the spokesperson said.

Originally published as ‘Worse than Covid’: Closed roads lead to mass exodus from Cape Tribulation following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper