General News
6 October, 2026
Key link reaches roadblock
STATE Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg has ruled out the government’s direct role in opening up Quaid Rd between Wangetti and Lake Mitchell.
However, in a letter responding to a petition lodged with Parliament, he has suggested that if local government (Mareeba and Douglas shire councils) “wish to open” the road as a public thoroughfare, it would require “a number of activities”.
“The first step would be to secure the land used for the road, as it is currently privately-owned,” he said.
He said that would either involve buying it from the Quaid family or a formal land resumption process.
Mr Mickelberg said after the land was acquired, it would have to be brought up to appropriate standards.
“As the land is privately-owned, no assessment has been undertaken by the department,” he said.
“However, it is understood that structural defects along the road have contributed to embankment failures during previous wet season events.
“Given this, and the department’s experiences with similar issues on roads in the area, it is anticipated that significant investment would be required.”
Mr Mickelberg said under the Wet Tropics Management Plan, the road fell within zone A, the highest level of conservation protection and under current legislation it could not be rezoned and the road could only be maintained in its current state.
Mr Mickelberg said any environmental approvals to open the road for public use “typically take a number of years and prevent construction commencing before finalisation”.
He said the government was spending $262.5 million on upgrades to the Kuranda Range road and the replacement of the Barrion River Bridge. Construction is not expected to start until 2028.
Petitioner Iain Edwards, who submitted the document with 8215 signatures calling for the road to be opened, said the minister’s response was heartening.
“It is encouraging, to the extent that the minister has left the door open for numerous options to be explored. And they certainly will be,” he said.
“There is nothing in the minister’s response that gives us cause for concern, knowing what we know about our options and the best way to proceed.
“Keep in mind that the Southedge-Wangetti (Quaid) road is not and would not be a QTMR responsibility. It would be a local government road, with a portion within both the Mareeba and Douglas shire boundaries.”
Member for Cook David Kempton said he would continue to fight for the road’s opening.
He said the minister’s response did not say that Quaid Road could not be opened but rather set out the prerequisites.
“I acknowledge 8km of the 32km road are on private land, however, that landowner has indicated in writing he is prepared to make the land and infrastructure available should the road be opened to the public. The balance of the road or 24km is the property of the state.
“The second point is that Quaid Road traverses Mareeba Shire and Douglas Shire both of whom have given in principle support for the opening and once repaired would likely take on responsibility for ongoing maintenance.
“The third point is that Quaid Road had approvals and was built to a state standard and suffered only minimal slippage in the flood events that decimated all range crossings in recent years.
“Any rectification would only be a fraction of the expenditure on the Kuranda, Rex and Palmerston ranges and indications are the only real cost will be resealing sections.
“So, as far as I am concerned the people of the north have spoken and this is a project worth fighting for”
Douglas Chamber of Commerce president Jeremy Blockey said it was a “typical bureaucratic response”.
“Minister, tell us what you’re going to do about it, not why it won’t happen. Disappointing indeed,” he said.
“Interesting that the state government worries about the environment when it comes to Quaid Rd but not when it comes to the development of Olympic sites,” said Karen Black on Facebook.
