Mining expert pitches radical Tablelands access solution

A geologist with a lifetime of experience in underground mines has pitched a radical new Tablelands access route using a series of tunnels and an innovative safety solution to end head-on crashes.

A GEOLOGIST with a lifetime of experience in underground mines has proposed a radical new route from Kuranda to Smithfield that involves cutting a series of tunnels under world heritage listed rainforest.

The proposed route would use the existing Saddle Mountain Rd before cutting through two tunnels on the northern side of the Saddle Mountain and emerging 400m north of the MacGregor Rd roundabout on to the Captain Cook Highway.

Geologist Brett Duck has proposed a new route using tunnels to link Smithfield and Kuranda.

Bremar Minerals director Brett Duck has suggested the existing Kuranda range road be used by ascending vehicles and the new road would be travelled by motorists coming down the range.

“As far as I know I am the only one that has proposed this, you can build a whole new road while the old one is still being operated,” he said

Mr Duck said the proposed route transects the narrowest section of the wet tropics world heritage listed area.

Retired geologist Brett Duck believes the best solution to upgrading the Kuranda Range Road is to build a second road from Streets Creek to Smithfield. His studies show that only one kilometre of rainforest would be affected with the use of tunnels. Picture: Brendan Radke

Alternative Tablelands access has been thrust into the spotlight following the release of a shock report commissioned by the Department of Transport and Main Roads that stated no major upgrade would be required before 2051.

The Cairns Post has spearheaded a campaign called Fix Our Broken Link aimed at turning the screws to deliver a safe and reliable alternative to the current highway black spot.

A long awaited state government report into the future of the route has found that no major upgrades or alternatives to the Kuranda Range Road will be needed until 2051. Picture: Brendan Radke

Former site manager leading into development of the Lihir Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea – known as one of the world’s largest – Mr Duck said he had overseen the construction of roads in similar terrain and climate.

“You would put some of the roads under the world heritage listed area and you wouldn’t interfere with the environment in that section,” he said.

“(The geology) is quite competent and would certainly stand up in a tunnel but you never knew what you are going to get so you would have to do drilling investigations.

“The tunnels are flat and the longest one is 1200m. Tunnels are used all around the world and they are very safe.”

Crews at the scene of a truck rollover on February 1 on the Kuranda Range. The truck rolled over near the “hairpin” of the Kennedy Hwy, at Macalister Range. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Duck said, with expanding resources exploration on the Atherton Tablelands and a new tungsten mine at Mt Carbine coming online, the time was right to consider exporting ore from Cairns and end Townsville’s dominance in the sector by accessing the plateau via the Palmerston Highway.

“Cairns is losing $400m a year to Townsville because we can’t get mining trucks down the range,” the mining expert said.

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Originally published as Mining expert pitches radical Tablelands access solution