Quaid’s Road is “worth fighting for” even if a Ministerial response suggests big hurdles remain to get a win, says Member for Cook David Kempton.

Mr Kempton said he’d had numerous queries in relation to the Minister's response to the petition supporting Quaid’s Road but made it clear it was not the end of the road for Quaid’s being opened.

Mr Kempton said the response did not say that Quaid’s Road could not be opened but rather set out prerequisites were this to occur.

“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,’’ Mr Kempton said.

“The balance of the road or 24km is the property of the state.

“The second point is that Quaid’s 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’s 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.

“Finally, the road was constructed with World Heritage approval in 1989 a decade prior to the 1998 Zone A imposition. Quaid’s Road is an iconic link between the coast and the tablelands that has survived the test of time and should be opened to the public for all to experience and enjoy.”