Community
2 March, 2024
Urgent plea to state minister
QUEENSLAND’S Fire and Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd is being formally asked by Douglas shire councillors to “urgently” send assistance to repair and re-open the road between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, particularly the Noah Range section.
Cr Abigail Noli moved a motion at Tuesday’s monthly meeting for the urgent help, saying the road, especially through Noah’s Range, was not open safely for long enough.
She said the geotechnical work required was beyond the council’s capacity, council staff were weary and didn’t have the capabilities to do the job.
Cr Noli said the road was essential for residents and was “the jewel in the Douglas crown”.
Mayor Michael Kerr said the council had been working with other councils and the state and federal governments to recover from the Cyclone Jasper flooding disaster.
He said the “exponential disaster” had caused enormous damage to the community and infrastructure and it was not simple to fix.
Cr Kerr said there were 30 slips upstream of the Rex Creek water intake which caused havoc with the infiltration systems whenever it rained.
He said a geotechnical firm specialising in mines had been hired to advise on the slip at Noah’s Range where there was a 40m crack above the road.
Cr Kerr said hundreds of workers could not be on site as the slip was dangerous and could fall causing deaths. The hill had to be stabilised before any road works underneath could be completed.
A council report said Jasper had caused extensive damage to the landscape and left communities devastated in its wake.
“The landslips also caused major damage to both Whyanbeel water intake and Rex Creek water intake, which is used as the raw water supply for Mossman/Port Douglas water scheme.”
The report said the road network would not be fully functional until well into 2026 while the water issues across the shire would continue throughout 2024. “The cost of repairs and recovery were to date at least $20 million,” it said. The figure will increase.
Read the full report on the Douglas Shire Council website via:
