Pitch for road to somewhere

TO seal or not to seal, that is the question.

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the dings and bogholes of outrageous vehicular misfortune; or to lay bitumen against this sea of troubles.

The decision to fully seal the Bloomfield Track may not quite exactly be a Shakespearean dilemma, but it does have the potential to have a significant impact on Cape York’s coastal communities.

Anyone who has ever travelled along the scenic track will be familiar with just how amazing the experience can be. There are creek crossings, views of spectacular isolated beaches, long corridors of World-Heritage listed rainforest.

Those who live in this neck of the woods have to contend with the ugly side of the track: vehicles frequently getting bogged during the Big Wet; impassable creeks; and dangerous twists and turns that have resulted in one fatality this year, and many nearmisses. Sealing the Bloomfield Track will, undoubtedly, make like easier for locals.

An influx of visitors wanting to make the trip from the Daintree Ferry through to Cooktown will provide a much-needed economic boost for the region.

The indigenous community of Wujal Wujal, only accessible from the south via 4WD, will benefit greatly being able to show off its natural beauty and cultural significance to travellers. Cook Shire Council and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire councils admit their plan to fully seal the Bloomfield Track is an ambitious one, and will not be cheap.

But as the saying goes, fortune always favours the bold.