Flood-ravaged road to be fixed in $25.4m disaster recovery spend

A total of $25.4m will be spent to build a permanent bridge linking two sections of road at Holloways Beach after Casuarina Street was washed away by floodwater in 2023.

A huge section of Casuarina St at Holloways Beach was swept away by the torrent that tore through the Cairns suburb in December, 2023. Picture: Peter Carruthers

A total of $25.4m will be spent to build a permanent bridge linking two sections of road at Holloways Beach after Casuarina Street was washed away by floodwater in 2023.

Work will commence later this year on a new two-lane 80m bridge that’s expected to be completed by mid-2026.

The bridge will replace the section of road and foreshore washed away when a raging torrent of water hurtled down Richter Creek to create a new river mouth, affectionately known by locals as Jasper Creek.

The extreme rain event in December 2023 caused flooding at Caravonica and low-lying Cairns suburbs in the wake of a coastal crossing of Cyclone Jasper near Wujal Wujal.

An aerial view of Casuarina Street, Holloways Beach in Queensland, showing damage from Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Cairns Regional Council

Allocated under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, council will release $17m in 2025-26 of a $25.4m total cost and the remaining $8m will be committed in the following financial year.

Division 8 Councillor Rhonda Coghlan said the bridge was a vital investment in rebuilding stronger and more resilient infrastructure.

“This project is about reconnecting the community and preparing for any possible future events,” Ms Coghlan said.

“We understand how vital reliable access is for residents and we’re proud to be delivering a permanent solution.”

A temporary roadway was built immediately after the flood in December, 2023. Picture: Nuno Avendano

Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the new bridge at Holloways Beach was a critical investment that would reconnect residents and ensure they’re not cut off again during future flooding.

“By restoring permanent access and building infrastructure that’s stronger and safer, we’re helping residents at Holloways Beach move forward with confidence after a challenging few months,” she said.

The bridge reconstruction project is part of federal and state funding worth $28.9m that will be used for recovery projects that respond directly to damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

“Recovering from a disaster of this scale takes time and careful planning, but we’re getting on with the job,” Mayor Amy Eden said.

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Originally published as Flood-ravaged road to be fixed in $25.4m disaster recovery spend