General News
7 October, 2026
MP determined to get road open
MEMBER for Cook David Kempton has not given up on getting Quaid Road open to the public despite Transport Minister Brett Mickelberg’s response to a petition that attracted more than 8200 signatures.
The petition, launched by Iain Edwards who was involved in the construction of the road, was aimed at preventing its permanent closure when the permit allowing access through the National Park expires on 29 March 2027.
Responding to the petition, Mr Mickelberg said that as someone who had lived and worked in the area before becoming a Member of Parliament, he recognised the importance of existing routes to the coast and the impacts closures could have on connectivity, especially in times of disaster.
But he warned that a number of actions would be needed “should an entity such as local government wish to re-open the road as a public thoroughfare”.
The first step would be to secure ownership of the 8km of Quaid Road that was privately owned and that once ownership had been resolved, the road would need to be brought up to appropriate standards which would require “significant investment”.
He also warned that under the Wet Tropics Management Plan, the road was located within Zone A which provided the highest level of conservation protection and current legislation did not allow Zone A land to be rezoned for community service infrastructure.
“Under the current legislative framework, the road can only be maintained in its existing state,” Mr Mickelberg said, adding that any potential works would need approval under federal environmental laws which could take years.
But the response has not dampened Mr Kempton’s desire to get the road open.
“As far as I am concerned, the people of the north have spoken and this is a project worth fighting for,” he said.
“There is no need to get angry as there is no road block. The Minister’s response simply sets out the matters to consider if it is to reopen.
“Only 8km are not owned by the government and the owner has offered that section to the state.
“The second point is that Quaid’s Road traverses Mareeba Shire and Dougals Shire, both of which have given in principle support for the opening and, once repaired, would likely take on responsibility for ongoing maintenance.
“The third point is that Quaid’s Road had approvals and was built to a state standard and suffered only minimal slippage in the flood events that decimated all range crossings in recent years.
“Any rectification would only be a fraction of the expenditure on the Kuranda, Rex and Palmerston ranges and indications are the only real cost will be resealing sections.
“Finally, the road was constructed with World Heritage approval in 1989 a decade prior to the 1998 Zone A imposition.
“The only remaining question is who pays for the upgrade and sealing of Quaid’s Road.
“If the Federal/State government has $262 million to spend on the Kuranda Range after the current repairs are complete to assist traffic flow from the Tablelands to the coast as the Minister’s letter says, then Quaid Road looks like a bargain.”
Mr Kempton said the road was “an iconic link between the coast and the Tablelands that has survived the test of time and should be opened to the public for all to experience and enjoy”.
“I will continue to work hard with the landowner, councils, tourist bodies and of course the tens of thousands of supporters who want to see Quaid Road open after 35 years of closure,” he added.
