Cook MP David Kempton on Quaid’s Road in Far North Queensland. Photo: Supplied.
Cook MP David Kempton says permanently opening an iconic road in the Far North used as an emergency link is “worth fighting for” after Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg outlined a range of challenges.
Quaid’s Road, formerly Southedge-Wangetti Rd, is a 32-kilometre stretch connecting the Captain Cook Highway at Wangetti and Mulligan Highway at Southedge.
The “ghost road” named after George Quaid, who sought approval to build the road in 1983, was never officially opened and has been shut to the general public for decades.
But it has been used by residents and as an emergency connector between Cairns and the tablelands following the destruction wrought by Cyclone Jasper on the Kuranda Range three years ago.
Mareeba’s Iain Edwards created a petition to State Parliament to reopen the road and thousands of people ended up signing in a couple of months.
Mr Mickelberg responded in a letter on 18 September: “Should an entity such as local government wish to reopen Quaid Road as a public thoroughfare, a number of activities would be required.”
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg and Cook MP David Kempton in the Torres Strait earlier this year.
“The first step would be to secure the land used for the road, as it is currently privately owned. This could be achieved through a negotiated sale with the current owner or through the formal land resumption process, which gives landowners certain appeal rights,” he said.
“Once ownership has been resolved, the road would need to be brought up to appropriate standards. As the land is privately owned, no assessment has been undertaken by the department.
“However, it is understood that structural defects along the road have contributed to embankment failures during previous wet season events. Given this, and the department’s experiences with similar issues on roads in the area, it is anticipated that significant investment would be required.”
Mr Mickelberg said any work on the road may need approval under federal environment laws.
“Petitioners should also be aware that under the Wet Tropics Management Plan, Quaid Road is situated within Zone A, which provides the highest level of conservation protection. Current legislation does not provide a mechanism to rezone Zone A land for community service infrastructure that did not exist prior to 1 September 1998. Under the current legislative framework, the road can only be maintained in its existing state,” he wrote.
Mr Kempton said he had received “numerous queries” about Mr Mickelberg’s response.
Quaid’s Road in Far North Queensland, which is shut to the general public. Photo: Supplied.
He said the Transport Minister did not say the road could not be reopened, but “set out prerequisites were this to occur”.
“I acknowledge eight kilometres of the 32-kilometre 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. The balance of the road or 24 km is the property of the state,” Mr Kempton said.
“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.”
Mr Kempton said the “iconic link” which had “survived the test of time” was constructed with World Heritage approval in 1989, before the 1998 Zone A “imposition”.
“It will provide a critical link for shift workers, locals, travellers, medical emergencies and perhaps evacuations when other links are closed for maintenance and repairs and could divert traffic from the Kuranda Range, which will likely suffer roadwork delays for years to come,” he said.
“The road may play a major part in the delivery of Wangetti Trail stage 3 and provides amazing tourism opportunities through access to national parks and wonderful vistas.”
Mr Kempton said he would continue to push for the reopening.
“So, far as I am concerned the people of the north have spoken and this is a project worth fighting for,” he said.
Original Article published by Luke Mortimer on Region Tropical North Queensland.
