Motorists to have say on road closure

A GOOD newspaper knows its community like no other.

And our city’s heartlands spread far wider than the shadow of Castle Hill.

All too often, with the immediacy of online and the pressures of print, our journalists get stuck behind their desks.

But there’s only so much you can learn about your city while staring at a computer screen.

It’s a priority of this newspaper that our journalists and photographers know our city and our region like the back of their hands. So they were each assigned a council division and sent out to pound the pavements and gather the yarns that matter to you.

From Balgal Beach to Alligator Creek, and everywhere in between, our reporters have chatted to their local councillors, business owners, mums and dads and community groups. From tomorrow we’ll share with you the results.

In a new series called Talk of the Town, we’ll feature articles on the big issues and the people from each division.

It’s just one of many ways we’re getting out to hear your yarns. JENNA CAIRNEY,

EDITOR BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS COMICS CROSSWORDS DEFENDERS LAW LIST LETTERS MOVIE LISTINGS NATION RACING SPORT STARS, SUDOKU TEXT THE EDITOR TV GUIDE WEATHER WORLD 18 36 35 34 23 39 16 10 14 40 42 34 17 19 35 15 NIGHT drivers on the Bruce Highway near Yabulu are being called on to help plan the demolition of a railway overpass damaged in a bridge strike.

There were hopes the overpass may be able to be fixed by removing the damaged span but Queensland Rail has ruled the overpass needs to be demolished, following an attempt to remove the span.

The Bruce Highway will need to be closed at the site and will likely be closed for three consecutive nights, from 8pm to 4am.

The Hinchinbrook Shire Council posted an alert to residents on July 31, with the Department of Transport and Main Roads seeking feedback from the community which uses that stretch of highway.

The demolition has been scheduled for about late August or early September, although the dates will factor in feedback, traffic numbers and avoid Cowboys games and school holidays.

Feedback will be used to determine when the closures will have the least impact on drivers and motorists can send their thoughts by email to e n g a g e m e n t . n o r t h e r n @ tmr. qldgov. au before close of business tomorrow.