Roads on Cape York

Submitted: Friday, May 05, 2006 at 10:10
ThreadID: 33561 Views:2132 Replies:2 FollowUps:0
This Thread has been Archived
Report from today's Cairns Post....perhaps some of you guys up north could give a non-newspaper view of the world up there for those intending to travel shortly.

“The Cape York town of Coen will run out of fuel for its power supply by Tuesday unless Ergon Energy finds a way to supply the flood-bound community, police have warned.
With unrelenting rainfall dampening hopes of access by road, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has asked the Australian Defence Force chief to see if the army can fix the destroyed Peninsula Development Rd.
Two weeks after record floods from Cyclone Monica destroyed Cape York’s lifeblood dirt highway, residents remain cut off from food and services, stations are reporting up to 90 percent calf losses, tourists are abandoning their travel plans and businesses from Thursday Island to Weipa are feeling the pinch.
Emergency food was being dropped from aircraft across the region yesterday and today, Cook MP Jason O’Brien said.
“We are still struggling to get services on the ground to these people,” he said. “The aftermath has lingered longer than what anyone expected.”
But Coen Sen-Constable Chris Vines said the food would be no good unless there was power to keep it fresh.
He said Ergon hand now abandoned its hopes of trucking fuel by road from Weipa or Cairns and was considering enlisting the help of emergency services to deliver it by air.
Federal member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said he had written to Prime Minister John Howard about the lack of support for the Peninsula.
“The businesses up here are dying, they’re in ver serious trouble.” Mr Entsch said.
Cook Shire CEO Mark Pitt said the shire was looking at “total Breakdown of our road network alone”, with conservative damage estimates of up to $10 million.
“There’s not as many people affected (as with Cyclone Larry) but they’re suffering equally as much. We desperately need all the people up here to be given access to (assistance) programs.”
A senior ADF figure would meet with Mr Entsch to discuss enlisting army personnel to fix the roads, a spokesman for the Defence Minister said yesterday."
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: draff - Friday, May 05, 2006 at 13:24

Friday, May 05, 2006 at 13:24
There was a good thread going a few days ago with comments from the guys up there and someone had rang one of the roadhouses and had some up to date reports direct from the roadhouse. I think the thread was started by Eric from Cape York Connenctions so maybe search for that or look back a few days. The people who had posted provided some really good information - extremely helpful!! (thanks to those who provided the info!)
AnswerID: 170918

Reply By: draff - Friday, May 05, 2006 at 13:32

Friday, May 05, 2006 at 13:32
Just looked back and the post you want is 33337 - hope that helps!
AnswerID: 170921

Sponsored Links