WE’RE GOING SPRING BROKE

Cut road sends mountain into economic slump

THE Gold Coast Hinterland community of Springbrook is reeling after learning it could take more than a year to reopen the flood-damaged main access road. Businesses say trade is down 20 per cent and the property market has been hit hard.

BUSINESSES are reeling from a 20 per cent drop in traffic on Springbrook Mountain since April because the Government still hasn’t fixed the main road, the chamber of commerce says.

Springbrook Rd sustained heavy damage when Cyclone Debbie ripped through the region in April and May.

Despite a series of roadworks in the area, the main road into the popular village is still closed pending repairs, which locals fear may not be completed until after the Commonwealth Games.

Springbrook Chamber of Commerce spokesman Wayne Randall said the long wait for repairs had already had a devastating impact on businesses and the loss of an opportunity to capitalise on an expected influx of Commonwealth Games visitors would be devastating.

“The closure of Springbrook Rd is a massive issue,” he said. “Businesses are losing 20 or more per cent due to lack of trade. It seems we will be missing a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful Hinterland and rainforests to an international audience.”

Mr Randall said many residents were fed-up with government bureaucrats who would not give them a straight answer over the issue, prompting some community members to ponder whether the Government was stalling due to a lack of funds.

“It’s always been the standard response that they will work through the issues,” he said. “There are still no answers as to how they’re going to proceed.

“There has been the thought Main Roads just don’t have the money.”

The retreat owner said the chamber had also spoken to the Government about communicating with Google Maps after visitors became annoyed by smartphones and GPS navigators directing them down a road that is closed to the public.

“People are still travelling along Springbrook Rd following their GPSs,” he said.

But Mr Randall said the only problem the village faced was Springbrook Rd and urged locals to visit the town via the Numinbah Valley route.

Scuttlebutt Cafe owner Klaus Kooij said business had dropped by about 20 per cent since April.

Having been an engineer, the 65-year-old said he understood how tough road repairs were but said in the meantime, the Government should better educate the public about how to get to Springbrook using detours.

“I really hope things could move faster but ... I know the complications,” he said.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said contractors were working on designs to fix 20 “critical sites” along Gold Coast-Springbrook Road.

But government sources say although designs are already under way, the complete repairs for the road could take more than a year.

IT SEEMS WE WILL BE MISSING A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE OUR BEAUTIFUL HINTERLAND WAYNE RANDALL