Works set to begin to fix cyclone-damaged roads across Far North QLD

Approximately $49 million in works on eight state-controlled roads damaged by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper has been announced, which will be delivered as part of the 2023-24 Betterment Fund – jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

Since Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi in 2011, ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper alongside the subsequent catastrophic flooding caused the most significant damage across Far North Queensland. 

“The Albanese Government is proud to jointly fund these efforts through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, ensuring that vital roads are restored and made more resilient,” Federal Assistant Minister for Emergency Management Josh Wilson said. 

“On top of our commitment through the DRFA, the Crisafulli Government is also delivering on a key election promise, with $40 million a year towards the Queensland Betterment Fund, delivering high priority betterment infrastructure projects. 

“The fund is part of our $450 million commitment over five years to improve the State’s resilience to natural disaster. 

“Through the QRRR program, we’re investing in infrastructure that can better withstand floods and extreme weather and ensure our communities aren’t left isolated or vulnerable when the next event strikes,” QLD Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said. 

The betterment works will be delivered along with current reconstruction projects and aim to minimise future damage from severe weather as reduce road closures during and after disasters. Projects include: 

• Pavement resilience and sealing over seven kilometres of existing gravel on Forsayth Road 

• Constructing six additional floodways on the Burke Developmental Road, west of Chillagoe 

• Drainage improvements at key sections on the Mulligan Highway 

• Improving drainage, pavement and slope resilience at multiple sites along the Captain Cook Highway 

• Upgrading drainage at multiple sections of the Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range Road) 

• Improving drainage and pavement resilience at multiple sites along Mossman-Mount Molloy Road 

• Improving pavement resilience and drainage at multiple sites along Mossman-Daintree Road 

• Installing new drainage and pavement resilience at priority sections of Stratford Connection Road 

These projects are anticipated to commence from late 2025/early 2026 and will be completed simultaneously with ongoing reconstruction works. 

In addition, ongoing reconstruction works on Kuranda Range Road and Captain Cook Highway are also progressing. 

Across several of the 100-plus damaged sites on Kuranda Range Road and Captain Cook Highway, geotechnical investigations and detailed design have been completed to enable construction to begin. 

Meanwhile, eight sites on Kuranda Range Road have been repaired, including two major downslope slip sites and works are now underway on another 10 sites. 

On the Captain Cook Highway, stabilisation works have been completed at two high priority downslope sites, with work progressing on more than 20 geotechnical sites along the corridor. 

“Roads across the Far North have copped a battering from natural disasters over the last two years 0 causing significant damage on key corridors such as the Kuranda Range Road and Captain Cook Highway, where there are still more than 100 geotechnical sites being repaired. 

“In addition to the ongoing repairs, our focus is on building our roads back to a better, more resilient standard, to help reduce the risk of our road network being impacted on this scale in the future. 

“These roads are key lifelines for communities, and we want to ensure they can stay connected, and bounce back quicker, in the face of natural disasters,” QLD Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads; Infrastructure Magazine