Key Far North Queensland Freight Route Returned To Pre-Disaster Function

Stabilisation works have been completed on the Palmerston Highway. Photo sourced: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads

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Reconstruction works jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) have been completed on the Palmerston Highway, a key freight route in Far North Queensland.

Two significant landslips – one where the road sunk two metres and shifted two metres sideways – have been repaired.

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The upslope sites, including one that measured 20-metres high and 75 metres at its widest point, were stabilised with more than 6500 metres of soil nails – the length of about 60 football fields – along with high tensile mesh and coir netting.

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At the downslope landslip, 83 concrete piles measuring up to 19 metres were installed over 160 metres. A capping beam was built on top of the piles to secure them together. The beam will also act as a retaining wall for the road embankment. The structures used more than 1450 cubic metres of concrete.

Damaged sections of rainforest in the road corridor have also been rehabilitated.

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State Member for Hinchinbrook Wayde Chiesa said the completed works were a testament to the commitment of both governments to the recovery of Far North Queensland.

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“The Atherton Tablelands is the agricultural powerhouse of Far North Queensland, and the Palmerston Highway is its connection to the coast, so having this route fully restored is absolutely critical for our producers, our businesses and our communities,” Mr Chiesa said.

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“This is complex, world-class engineering carried out in one of Australia’s most sensitive natural environments and tourist attractions, and the result speaks for itself.”

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Works under the DRFA to repair damage from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper on other key range roads including Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range), Gillies Range Road and Mossman – Mount Molloy Road are ongoing.

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