‘We need answers’: MP demands action on Mount Spec Road

Stranded for months after multiple landslips cut their main road, Paluma locals are still waiting for a fix — and now their MP is demanding action. LATEST.

Nick Dametto MP during an inspection on Mount Spec Road. Picture: Supplied

Stranded for months after multiple landslips cut their main road, Paluma and Hidden Valley locals are still waiting for a fix — and now their MP is demanding action.

Around 200 people live in the two towns, which are usually buzzing with tourists, day-trippers and school groups visiting the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

That all came to a halt during the heavy rains in February when massive landslips smashed Mount Spec Road, cutting off the main access route.

Since then, tourist numbers have collapsed and businesses are battling to survive.

A rough western detour has been opened, but the road is unsuitable for buses, and travel times have almost doubled — taking three hours from Townsville and two hours from Ingham.

With no clear timeline set for restoring Mount Spec Road, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto is now demanding answers from the Transport and Main Roads Minister.

“Road crews on the ground have taken on a mammoth task under extremely difficult conditions and I thank them for their continued efforts as they work to clear and stabilise Mount Spec Road, but it’s now time for the Minister to provide the residents and small businesses in this area some certainty around when access will be restored,” he said.

Mr Dametto said he had worked “constructively” with the Minister during the floods to restore links like the Bruce Highway at Olera Creek — but warned Paluma was at risk of being forgotten.

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

“I’ve worked constructively with the TMR Minister during the recent flooding events on major projects like restoring access to the Olera Creek bridge which cut the Bruce Highway, but my job now is to ensure the good people of Paluma are not forgotten,” he said.

He says every day without answers was doing damage.

“Every day without answers pushes this community closer to the brink of collapse,” Mr Dametto said.

“People who live in Paluma and work in Townsville have been forced to either spend hours travelling via Hervey Range Road or pay for accommodation in Townsville just to keep their jobs. This situation is completely untenable.”

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

“Adding to the frustration is the heritage listing attached to Mount Spec Road, which no doubt is hindering any betterment on this restoration project and scrapping any chance of building a more resilient piece of road infrastructure.”

Mr Dametto said his office was now preparing an application to scrap the heritage listing in favour of building a fit-for-purpose road.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said emergency repairs and slope stabilisation works were underway to reopen Mount Spec Road.

TMR said about 60 landslips were recorded, with three major slips causing serious damage and debris.

“We understand how difficult this closure has been for the Paluma community. Pleased be assured we are working very hard to restore access as quickly and safely as possible.”

Originally published as ‘We need answers’: MP demands action on Mount Spec Road