Daintree-region tour operator hit with second whammy as road breaks again
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A road in the ranges north of Cairns has experienced another “significant rockfall” after $80m worth of reconstruction work across two years was close to finished, impacting tour operators already affected by the Daintree ferry being out of action.
The temporarily closed Barron Gorge Road - part of a Cairns hydro project - has been shut since being hit by cyclone Jasper and was damaged again just before Narelle struck near Coen on Friday morning.
Barron River MP Bree James said this was “not great news”.
“This service road has taken another major hit with this significant rockfall on the Barron Gorge Road after the wild weather before cyclone Narelle and so much rain the past weeks,” she said.
“Access to the hydro station and the white water rafting location is blocked - Cairns Regional Council crews are working to restore vehicular access over the coming weeks.
“With Daintree Ferry also down, I know this is impacting local tourism operator Cairns Adventure Group who operates in this location and in the Daintree, not to mention all the other tourism businesses at Cape Trib and Daintree.”
The restoration of Barron Gorge Road is part of a program of works commissioned by CRC to help rebuild essential public roads through the joint Federal and State Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
More than $80m has already been approved for this program, according to the CRC.
Barron Gorge Road provides vehicle access to the region’s main power supply of Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station.
Jasper caused several landslips and washouts along the road, which was expected to reopen mid-year.