Call for federal aid to seal Cape track

DANIEL BATEMAN incentive needed to have the government contribute the next step to having the track sealed.

“The sealing of the road meets all the social, environmental and cultural requirements,” he said.

“But what we still need to do, is the geotechnical study, which will feature the road design and cost a lot more than this one.

“What I’d like to see the Feds do now that they have made a commitment, I’d like to see them contribute to that next study, to help with design parameters and costings.”

Wujal Wujal Mayor Desmond Tayley welcomed the report’s recommendation, but said it was another matter entirely whether the government would follow up on the matter.

“This has been on the cards for a long while, and people who live in the northern part of the Douglas Shire – even in the southern part of the Cook Shire – are supportive of this,” he said.

“A majority of people in Wujal are supportive of it, and they’re traditional owners.

“It would be a welcome relief if all parties agreed to it, and got it sorted.

“It would open up a whole lot of opportunities for the whole area.”

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has been supportive of the sealing of the Bloomfield, previously describing the proposal as a “no-brainer”.

The main roadblock, however, is Douglas Shire Council, with Mayor Julia Leu saying she opposed the tourism inquiry report’s recommendation for several reasons.

“The project would require realignment, total reconstruction and substantial earthworks that end the popular four-wheel drive experience, and destroy many hectares of the Wet Tropics rainforest,” she said. She said sealing the track would also involve huge infrastructure upgrades in the area between the southern bank of the Daintree River, and Cape Tribulation to cater for increased traffic flow.

“Council is concerned that maintaining this infrastructure would impose a massive financial burden on Douglas Shire ratepayers,” she said.

“This inquiry appears to have overlooked this potential impact in making its recommendation.

“Sealing the track would not be sufficient to make it an all-weather road.”

She said the report highlighted the importance of maintaining adventure routes in Northern Australia.