JUNGLE DRUM: Resident slams painful, laconic response to Daintree recovery efforts post Jasper and heavy rain events

I am absolutely appalled at the incompetent and glacial pace of recovery at Cape Tribulation and on the Daintree Coast generally.

Despite visits from everyone from the Premier down, there has been little to no change in our situation (following last December's cyclone and heavy rain events). Other that a few trucks and a couple of excavators picking away at Noah Range, not much else is happening, in glorious weather, which probably won’t last.

There are any number of issues we are concerned about:

1. The Noah Range landslide is taking a very long time to move. While I realize it is complicated, at the current rate of removal, we will have no daytime road access for four to six weeks. Added on to the six weeks already passed, this will have a major effect on our businesses. There needs to be a major effort expended into the fastest possible removal of this landslide.

2. Noah Bridge is over 50 years old and has been slated for replacement since funding was approved in 2017. It was further damaged in the flooding and now has a five tonne limit.

A light 4WD towing a loaded trailer has a GCM of over 5000kg, as do many tour buses. A new bridge was built and stored at Drumsara in Mossman and according to DSC (and despite rumours to the contrary) is located in storage undamaged.

However, there are no moves to put this new one up rapidly. I would like to see the new bridge erected as soon as possible. Why fix the old one AGAIN?

3. Alexandra Range has suffered major damage, with probably one third of this section down to one lane.

There are no workmen on site and no tenders called for remediation. This section of road will become a carpark in the tourist season, which typically starts in mid-June, and do untold damage to the Daintree brand.

Without major repairs being prioritized, the business community will suffer badly and local traffic will be held up for hours. One ambulance call will result in traffic chaos.

We want immediate action to repair Alexandra Range before the upcoming tourist season. Mareeba Shire already has an active tender for remediation of Kuranda Range landslips.

4. The Bloomfield Track has major damage from washouts, landslides and damaged bridges. Other than one small excavator working north of Cape Tribulation, there appears to be no priority given here either.

Cape Tribulation accommodation businesses rely to a significant degree on travelers who use the Bloomfield Track and we are worried that this business may be lost for years if someone does not move to repair this track to at least 4WD standard immediately.

5. There are many other smaller sections of road like the Cockatoo Hill causeway, Ryker’s Creek and the Oliver Creek Flats that require remediation and where there is no action.

There is a need for immediate action on these areas in the manner with which the Cook Highway was treated. The Daintree is a vital component of the Port Douglas and Cairns brand. Failing to achieve a workable roadway through the Daintree will cost millions locally, and tens of millions in Far North Queeensland in loss of revenue and damage to our brand.

Can we not just get a move on?

*Lawrence Mason has lived at Cape Tribulation all his life, and has been involved in farming, timber and tourism. He is a former board member of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, founding Chair of Daintree Marketing Co-operative, and has been a member of both Alexandra Bay and Mossman State High School P&C. He is also a member of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce and has a keen interest in local issues.