Community & Business
27 May, 2021
Bypass road committee urges residents to attend information meeting
THE RANGE Bypass committee urges all residents to attend an information meeting about the Kuranda Range Bypass Road meeting on Tuesday night as scores of local motorists join the Bypass road Facebook page every day.
THE RANGE Bypass committee urges all residents to attend an information meeting about the Kuranda Range Bypass Road meeting next Tuesday night as scores of local motorists join the Bypass road Facebook page every day.
Range Bypass Committee Chairman Ken Harley said there are now more than 700 Facebook followers, nearly all of whom support a new road access to Cairns.
“They have had enough of the dangerous Kuranda Range Road especially the truckies who are demanding the road be built,” Mr Harley said.
“A new four lane road will open up the Tablelands and the Peninsula and have a similar effect on the northern economy as the Tinaroo Dam did when it was built.
“We have support for a new access to Cairns from the transport industry and FNQ Regional Organisation of Councils Chairman, Cr Peter Scott, who is Mayor of Cook Shire.
“A lot of money is spent in the South East corner of Queensland but it is our turn now to have a safe new road that will reduce the cost of freight for the Far North.
“If the Barron River bridge ends up with a reduced load limit because of its end-of-life deterioration it will have a significant effect on all industries and agriculture and significantly increase the cost of freight.
“That is why we are insisting on a new road which will be much cheaper than replacing the bridge.”
Mr Harley said the Committee had decided to restrict the meeting to Tablelands residents only because of the large number of locals who have indicated they will attend and the limited size of the Turf Club venue.
“We are concerned that Cairns residents should not have to drive up the range at night time so we have scheduled another information meeting for Cairns on June 28 at a venue to be confirmed.
“We urge all Tablelands residents to come to the Mareeba meeting because a show of public support will be essential for our politicians to take action,” he said.
The meeting will be held on June 1 at 7pm at the Mareeba Turf Club. For more information contact Ken Harley on 0488788598
