The battle continues for Paluma and Hidden Valley residents as they wait for Mount Spec Road to be fixed

Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said it could be months, even years before Mount Spec Road is fixed, leaving resident in Paluma and Hidden Valley frustrated

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

A local MP has told Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg to get his department in order over frustrations with how long it’s taking to fix Mount Spec Road.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said that it has been four months and people are still living in limbo.

“Transport and Main Roads with all the modern technology and the engineering expertise that can’t give a specific time frame on when they’re going to actually open this road is absolute ludicrous,” he said.

Mr Dametto said the community was growing frustrated.

“The department needs to be pulled into line here,” he said.

“We’ve got businesses like the Hidden Valley Cabins, we’ve got a number of cafes up there that rely on drive traffic coming through.” he said.

“And without that drive traffic coming through you pretty much put a death knell in those businesses and basically sign their death warrant.”

Mr Mickelberg was in Townsville during the week and said that it would take months, if not years, to fix.

Mount Spec Road was closed in February as landslides have damaged the road.

Mr Mickelberg said he had been up to Mount Spec Road and inspected the land slips, and spoke to residents there.

“I want to acknowledge the impact that this event and that road closure is having on local residents,” he said.

“I want to be clear there is a considerable amount of damage to that road and it will take a considerable amount of time to rectify.”

The Transport and Main Roads Minister stopped short of putting an actual time frame on the works.

“We’re not talking weeks, it will most certainly be months, if not years,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“There is considerable impact on that road and its got a considerable amount of existing damage, what we need to do is we need to shore up the existing site as quickly as possible because any further rain events are going to exacerbate it.”

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said it could be months or even years before Mount Spec Road is fixed. Picture David Clark

Mr Mickelberg said that a permit system has been put in place to facilitate movement

“That’s not without risk, what we’ve tried to do is strike the right balance between ensuring that it is safe,” he said.

“But it is not suitable right now for general public usage, and what we’re trying to do is make sure we can get that work done as quickly as possible.”

One business that has struggled during that time is the Paluma Tea House at the Ivy Cottage, with the business being shut since February 1.

“We’re just sitting up here waiting for the day they can tell us we can open again,” said owner Carolyne Richards.

“So we’ve been doing it pretty tough.”

Carolyne Richards and David Roveda have had to close down their Paluma Tea House for several months due to the Mount Spec Road being closed for repairs.

Ms Richards said she thinks the communication could be better.

“I think that’s one of the things that’s most upsetting, not just for us as a small business, but for the majority of people that live up here, is that there’s no communication,” she said.

“It’s just a total lack of communication, the Minister has been invited to Ivy Cottage for a morning tea to speak with awesome locals to have that discussion but declined.”

With the loose time frame of years for the road to be fixed, Ms Richards said it’s been scary.

“Because we’re on a permit system, we can’t go down the hill until 6am, we have to be up the hill by 6pm and it’s really frustrating,” she said.

“And I run a small business like do I close my doors permanently and go and find employment elsewhere, but I’m trying to hang on.”

Originally published as The battle continues for Paluma and Hidden Valley residents as they wait for Mount Spec Road to be fixed