JUNGLE DRUM: Noahgate - the saga that won't go away.
LAWRENCE MASON COLUMN
I swear I was going to write a good uplifting story this week. I really was. Promise.
But at seven minutes to five last Friday arvo, a text changed all that.
Part said "Noah Bridge re-rated to 8 tonnes. Subsequent to timber bridge specialists assessing Noah Creek Bridge last month as part of the ongoing monitoring process....... All vehicles over 8 tonnes will need to use the causeway upstream.''
It went on to advise that 'work on a solution to achieve a 16 tonne load limit is under consideration'.
My first question is why send such a text just before the weekend? The signs still say 16 tonnes and they did repair the causeway today, but why stress us out on Friday if the signs still say 16 tonnes on Sunday arvo?
This bridge saga dates back to 2003. There was a ten ton load limit then, and since then the limits have been all over the place. Famously, when DSC won a big gravel resheeting program for the Bloomfield track about ten years ago, the limit was 42 tonnes for the duration, with pods of six trucks escorted from the ferry to Cape Trib. One was towing a quad dog! Small wonder the bridge is buggered now.
I guess we all know that DSC, with community help, secured funding for a new bridge over Noah's in 2017, and that the actual new bridge is sitting in the weeds at Drumsara, allegedly in perfect condition.
Many, including companies who may want to tender to build it have probably well founded doubts about that. But I have a letter on file from DSC assuring me that the bridge is still good; in fair condition with some remedial work carried out to rusted areas.
What we are not told is that due to the glacial slowness of DSC, that the initial funding of $1.125 million (75 per cent of the 1.5 million construction cost) applied for on March 7, 2017, appears to have disappeared.
We have got a bridge but it is at Drumsara, not over Noah Creek. And now, according to last month's Council Meeting, the bridge cost is now $11.49 million! And they have only applied for $5 million of that, so brace yourself for another rate rise! I suspect the one at Drumsara is trash, and not only are we looking at another new bridge, but an alternative causeway for use during the build that will cost millions.
You see, originally we pointed out that if the bridge was built in a road corridor we would get cut off every time it rained, and DSC changed the bridge to just near the old one. But for cultural and other reasons this is impossible so we are back to using the road corridor. And the problem of access is back too.
Now the lethargy is starting to bite. Tomorrow when Max Stocks comes up, and the sign says 8 tonnes, what happens? Probably be nobody there so they will drive over, or if someone stops him he will turn around and businesses to the north will run out of food. Because I doubt the driver wants to dunk his brakes in Noah Creek. How long will the bridge last unless the 8 tonnes is policed? If it is, how will we get food, fuel and building materials?
Buses like the Yutongs and Ibuses that come to our business will offload passengers and make them walk to get below 8 tonnes, causing traffic chaos and adding risk.
The fuel truck that is the lifeblood of electricity production at Cape Trib may decide that a bath is not what they want for their expensive truck. Will we go back to helicopter slings for fuel? Barge deliveries?
It is time for three things. One, the Queensland Government needs to enact emergency powers and get Noah's Bridge built. Bugger SARA, bugger the cultural considerations, bugger Wet Tropics and bugger anyone who gets in the way. Just bloody build it. Do whatever is needed. It is time to end the nonsense. Nothing of any significance will change because we get a new bridge.
Second, there should be a full Parliamentary inquiry into this ABSOLUTE FIASCO, with an intent to charge those involved in the longest process to build a little bridge in living memory. The waste of time and money is scandalous. How do bureaucrats get away with this nonsense? It is waste and incompetence on a grand scale dating back YEARS.
Third, it is time for DSC to investigate the very real mental health implications of their incompetence. How do you think I feel getting a text with potentially huge implications for my income at 4.53pm on a Friday?
No doubt followed up in a month with my rates notice with a 9 per cent increase. Not happy, Jan. BUILD THE BLOODY BRIDGE DSC. NOW! Enough of the fooling around.
*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.
The opinions and views in this column are those of the author and author only and do not reflect the Newsport editor or staff.