General News
19 May, 2026
Highway a priority spot for new speed cameras
A 28km section of road on the Kennedy Highway between Mareeba and Kuranda has been identified as one of nine high-priority locations in the state for point-to-point speed cameras.
Point-to-point (P2P) speed cameras enforce speed limits by calculating a vehicle’s average speed from one point to another at locations where other types of speed enforcement may be difficult or dangerous. They can monitor locations 24/7.
According to a Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) noting brief, which was sourced by a member of the public under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, a P2P speed camera is planned to monitor the Kennedy Highway between Gilmore Road (near the old Emerald Creek service station) and Warril Drive (the set of traffic lights before the Kuranda traffic lights intersection).
TMR selects locations for these cameras by analysing lengths of a road with a history of crashes. In this case, the stretch in question had had 21 crashes from 1 July 2019 to June 2024, including two fatalities and 17 hospitalisations.
According to TMR’s website, point-to-point cameras have reduced instances of speeding along high-crash-risk locations and improved traffic flow and density, particularly in metropolitan areas.
A concept design for the installation of the cameras has been completed and a detailed design is yet to commence, with a planned completion date set for December next year.
The Express asked TMR for more information about the cameras, however, the department provided a single-line response stating the blatantly obvious.
“A section of the Kennedy Highway between Cairns and Mareeba was identified as one of nine high priority locations for point to point speed cameras,” a TMR spokesperson said.
ALL photographic detection devices used in speed cameras operated by TMR are set up in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and guide-lines.
Several checks are completed to ensure the accuracy of speed cameras, which can vary depending on the type of speed camera, and all detections are also reviewed by a specially trained adjudicator prior to an infringement notice being issued.
