Hidden Valley Cabins owner Kurt Harlow calls for better roads to save popular tourism region

The owner of Hidden Valley Cabins has spoken out about how road damage has impacted his business, following significant flooding in North Queensland.

Months after devastating flooding hammered the region, the end still isn’t in sight for some frustrated tourism businesses.

Kurt Harlow owns Hidden Valley Cabins alongside his wife Tahlia and her parents Steve and Sonia Ellery, and their business has been severely impacted by road damage due to the rainfall.

“We’ve really been struggling since the floods,” he said.

Since February’s severe flooding event, locals have been stranded after the three main access points into Hidden Valley and Paluma were cut off, with Mount Spec Road impacted by massive landslips, and Laroona and Ewan Road suffering significant damage.

Mount Spec Road remains closed for repairs, however the remaining access points have since been reopened.

Steve and Sonia Ellery with Kurt and Tahlia Harlow, holding sons Billy and Jack, outside the entrance to Hidden Valley Cabins. Photo: Facebook

Mr Harlow said tourism has suffered a major blow and developing surrounding roads need to be prioritised.

“Although it’s a small community in Hidden Valley and Paluma, what people don’t understand is the tourism side of it.” he said.

“The problem is Ewan Road, there’s about 34km of dirt there.”

Ewan Road and Laroona Road are managed by Charters Towers regional council, which “promptly addressed” 55 hazardous defects identified along the roads following the floods.

A spokesman for Charters Towers regional council said further repairs have been delayed, due to increased rainfall.

Roads to Hidden Valley Cabins have been damaged due to record breaking floods in the area.

“Unfortunately, further extended rainfall throughout March has damaged the road network, increasing the number of hazardous defects to 97,” they said.

“Council crews and local contractors have since been working tirelessly to repair these sections and restore safe access for the community.”

Council said 75 out of 97 defects have been repaired, many of which needed to be repaired multiple times due to the ongoing rainfall.

“Local contractors are currently active along the route, working as quickly and safely as possible to complete the remaining repairs and ensure the road remains accessible for residents and road users.”

Mr Harlow said it’s great to see work progressing, but the road needs to be developed further, to prevent future rainfall damage.

Hidden Valley Cabins. Photo: Facebook

“The problem is we keep getting the rain, and the culverts keep getting washed out again,” he said.

“What I’ve been pushing for, for months now through the Katter’s office, is to get those culverts done properly, have it future proof, otherwise we’re just going to keep having this issue, and the council will just keep spending more money.”

“For our business to survive, we need a tough, resilient road that’s going to future-proof tourism.”

A landslide at Paluma's Mount Spec Road, due to February's severe weather.

At parliament in early April, Traeger MP Robbie Katter asked the Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg when Hidden Valley locals could expect repairs for Laroona and Ewan Road to be complete.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto also demanded answers from the Minister on when Mount Spec Road would be fixed.

Mr Mickelberg could not comment on repairs along Ewan and Laroona Road, as they do not form part of the state-controlled road network.

It is still unclear when repair works for Mount Spec Road will be completed, which is state-controlled.

Originally published as Hidden Valley Cabins owner Kurt Harlow calls for better roads to save popular tourism region