Quaid Road
Encyclopedia
Quaid Road is a 32 km long stretch of private road in Far North Queensland
. The road was given corridor approval and completed in early 1989 through rainforest that was later declared Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in late 1989 and links Wangetti, on the coast just north of Cairns, to Southedge, just south of Mount Molloy
.
in April 1999, parts of the Quaid Road fell into the World Heritage listed Hartley’s Creek. The Southedge Daintree Pastoral Company repaired the cyclone damage to the road and to this day continues to maintain the road.
The section of road from the Pennisula Development Highway turnoff is open to traffic until a locked gate is reached. Past the locked gate the road is in good condition and goes over three big climbs then through the Kuranda Forest Reserve.
The road condition deteriorates after another locked gate prior to the final descent to Wangetti Beach, which is steep with a lot of debris on the road surface. The condition then improves just before the final locked gate at Wangetti is reached.
, the road has been a hot issue in Far North Queensland. For years after its construction, the road was suggested as an alternative route to the Atherton Tablelands for everyday traffic as well as evacuations during cyclones. However, in 1997, Transport and Main Roads Minister Vaughan Johnson announced that the state government was no longer considering gazetting Quaid Road as a State-controlled road because it would put additional pressure on the Captain Cook Highway
and divert funding away from upgrades of other parts of State road network in Far North Queensland.
During Cyclone Larry
in 2006, all road access to the major regional city of Cairns was blocked and the city was isolated from surrounding areas for three days. This was caused by flooding south of the city near Innisfail
and landslides near Port Douglas
and on the Kuranda Range Highway
. After this period of isolation, Tablelands MP Rosa Lee Long
proposed that Quaid Road be used as another route to truck food into Cairns and evacuate people but the Queensland State Government
again rejected the proposal. The Cook Shire Council
expressed Council's disappointment with this decision by forwarding a letter to the current Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas
.
After the Cairns's tsunami
scare of April 2007, this idea has become more popular with the city's population once again.
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
. The road was given corridor approval and completed in early 1989 through rainforest that was later declared Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in late 1989 and links Wangetti, on the coast just north of Cairns, to Southedge, just south of Mount Molloy
Mount Molloy, Queensland
Mount Molloy is a historic mining and timber town lying 160 kilometres north of Cairns. At the 2006 census, the town and surrounding area had a population of 276.At its height it was a copper mine in the 1890s...
.
Condition of road
Following the heavy rains of Cyclone RonaCyclone Rona
Severe Tropical Cyclone Rona-Frank was a damaging tropical cyclone that made landfall on Queensland, Australia on February 11, 1999, before dissipating and reforming to hit New Caledonia nine days later.Forming during the second week of February, Rona rapidly intensified just before making...
in April 1999, parts of the Quaid Road fell into the World Heritage listed Hartley’s Creek. The Southedge Daintree Pastoral Company repaired the cyclone damage to the road and to this day continues to maintain the road.
The section of road from the Pennisula Development Highway turnoff is open to traffic until a locked gate is reached. Past the locked gate the road is in good condition and goes over three big climbs then through the Kuranda Forest Reserve.
The road condition deteriorates after another locked gate prior to the final descent to Wangetti Beach, which is steep with a lot of debris on the road surface. The condition then improves just before the final locked gate at Wangetti is reached.
Controversy
Ever since its construction as a private road to serve a Quaid Real Estate development at SouthedgeSouthedge Dam
Southedge Dam, also known as Quaids Dam, is located on the Mitchell River. At full supply level the storage has a capacity of 129000ML and covers an area of 3290ha. Southedge Dam has remained unused since its construction in 1986. It was constructed and owned by Southedge Daintree Pastoral...
, the road has been a hot issue in Far North Queensland. For years after its construction, the road was suggested as an alternative route to the Atherton Tablelands for everyday traffic as well as evacuations during cyclones. However, in 1997, Transport and Main Roads Minister Vaughan Johnson announced that the state government was no longer considering gazetting Quaid Road as a State-controlled road because it would put additional pressure on the Captain Cook Highway
Captain Cook Highway
Captain Cook Highway is a short Queensland highway that starts in Cairns and ends in Mossman, where it joins Mossman-Daintree Road, which continues to Daintree.Captain Cook Highway is used by many tourists to travel to Port Douglas north of Cairns...
and divert funding away from upgrades of other parts of State road network in Far North Queensland.
During Cyclone Larry
Cyclone Larry
Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry was a tropical cyclone that made landfall in Australia during the 2005-06 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season. Larry originated as a low pressure system over the eastern Coral Sea on 16 March and was monitored by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in...
in 2006, all road access to the major regional city of Cairns was blocked and the city was isolated from surrounding areas for three days. This was caused by flooding south of the city near Innisfail
Innisfail, Queensland
Innisfail is a town located in the far north of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the major township of the Cassowary Coast and is well renowned for its sugar and banana industries, as well as for being one of Australia's wettest towns...
and landslides near Port Douglas
Port Douglas, Queensland
Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately north of Cairns. Its permanent population was 948 residents in 2006. The town's population can often double, however, with the influx of tourists during the peak tourism season May–September. The town is named in honour of...
and on the Kuranda Range Highway
Kuranda Range Highway
The Kuranda Range road is an informally named section of the Kennedy Highway, located near Cairns that traverses the Macalister Range, connecting Smithfield and Kuranda, after which it is named. The winding road is approximately long, through rainforest from sealevel to an altitude metres above...
. After this period of isolation, Tablelands MP Rosa Lee Long
Rosa Lee Long
Rosa Theresa Lee Long is a former member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly representing the electorate Tablelands in Northern Queensland, Australia for the One Nation Party...
proposed that Quaid Road be used as another route to truck food into Cairns and evacuate people but the Queensland State Government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
again rejected the proposal. The Cook Shire Council
Shire of Cook
The Shire of Cook is a Local Government Area located in Far North Queensland, Australia. The shire covers most of the eastern and central parts of Cape York Peninsula, the most northerly section of the Australian mainland....
expressed Council's disappointment with this decision by forwarding a letter to the current Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas
Paul Lucas (politician)
Paul Thomas Lucas is the Attorney-General of Queensland and Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State in the Bligh Labor Government and the Member for Lytton...
.
After the Cairns's tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
scare of April 2007, this idea has become more popular with the city's population once again.