BRAKES PUT ON TRAVEL
Residents say route essential
DAINTREE residents fear they will be trapped north of the river if there is a severe weather event after authorities barricaded the coastal track north.
To prohibit travel to remote indigenous communities in the Cape due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Queensland Police Service has placed a large log across the road and installed concrete barriers at the start of the Bloomfield Track at Emmagen Creek, north of Cape Tribulation.
The Mulligan Highway at Mt Carbine has also been blocked to restrict Cape access.
Daintree locals are concerned, however, that their blockade was erected without the apparent knowledge of Douglas Shire Council nor any public notice.
Cape Tribulation cafe owner Lawrence Mason said the barricade should have been a locked gate, rather than large tree with large concrete bollards. “I totally understand why indigenous communities have been closed off and I fully support it,” he said.
“But permanently closing roads during a pandemic is just madness.”
He said there was heavy rainfall at Cape Tribulation
overnight, which could have resulted in a landslide, as had occurred in previous years.
“If there was a landslide on Alexandra Range, our road would be closed,” he said.
“If someone has an injury or they are seriously ill here, our step two is to go to the (medical) clinic at Wujal Wujal. It’s like padlocking your fire exits.”
Another Daintree resident, who did not want to be named, said she had a home north of Emmagen Creek within the Douglas shire and was unable to get there.
“They should have informed us all,” she said.
“Council workers weren’t even told about it.”
A Douglas Shire spokesman said the roadblock was placed at Emmagen Creek as a directive from the State Government to protect indigenous communities from coronavirus.
“The Daintree Ferry operators have completed business continuity plans to ensure the continued operation of the Daintree River crossing,” he said.