Community & Business
8 April, 2022
Joyce puts hold on visit
MAREEBA residents will have to wait until after the federal election for a visit from Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce to discuss an alternative link from Mareeba to Cairns with Mareeba Shire Council and the Reddicliffe Highway Steering Committee.
The Federal Minister for Infrastructure was due to make the trip north after finalising the budget at the end of last month, however, with an election on the horizon, he has postponed his trip until after poll day, expected to be on either 14 May or 21 May.
The trigger for Mr Joyce’s trip was Mareeba Shire Council’s call for an urgent meeting with the Minister about the future of an alternative link to Cairns from the Northern Tablelands.
The council is supportive of a move for the Kennedy Highway, from Smithfield to Mareeba to be declared a national highway, unlocking an 80/20 funding split between the Federal and State Governments.
Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said despite the postponement, Mr Joyce was still “very keen” to visit Mareeba to meet with council and Ken Harley of the Reddicliffe Highway Steering Committee.
