Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tropical North has published an independent factual analysis of six
alternate access routes to the Atherton Tablelands to stimulate public discussion on a solution to improve
connectivity from Cairns.
RDA Tropical North Chair Professor Hurriyet Babacan said the Kuranda Range Road provides critical access
between Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands and broader region for residents, visitors and industry, especially
agriculture.
“RDA Tropical North has undertaken a technical analysis of the access options between Cairns and the Atherton
Tablelands to provide an independent factual appraisal of all potential routes,” she said.
The route options are:
• Quaid Road
• Kuranda Range Road
• Saddle Route
• Smith’s Surface Route
• Redicliffe Route• Katter’s Bridle Tunnel and Surface Route
“RDA Tropical North is not recommending a preferred option, instead we want to provide a technical
foundation to enable the affected communities, industries and governments to make an informed decision on
which route is feasible,” Professor Babacan said.
“Historic studies have been reviewed and show there are existing challenges with all routes traversing the Wet
Tropics World Heritage Area, meaning significant environmental, geotechnical and approval challenges apply
regardless of alignment.
“Constraints in reliable access will impede regional growth, however, this long-standing and complex issue does
not have a simple solution.
“While capacity modelling suggests the Kuranda Range Road can operate to 2050 and beyond under normal
conditions, the major issue is reliability with closures due to landslips, tree falls and crashes frequently
impacting commuters, freight and emergency access.
“Alternate shorter routes could provide economic benefits but would come at high environmental and financial
cost.
“Historic estimates for an alternate route have risen from $300 million in 2001 to more than $3 billion in 2014.
“Any new corridor would likely take 10 to 20 years to investigate, approve and construct which means
incremental upgrades to the existing road will be a continued requirement in the short to medium term.
“Options for the Kuranda Range Road upgrades include intelligent real-time traffic management, slope
stabilisation to improve reliability, and continued investigation of widening, curve alignment and overtaking
lanes to accommodate large freight vehicles.
“The publication acknowledges that incremental widening of the Kuranda Range Road may have more
significant environmental impacts than a newer route without significant slope stabilisation work.
“All surface routes will impact environmental values, with tunnel options reducing surface environmental
impacts, but presenting high cost and operational challenges.
“All options involve significant trade-offs between cost, environment, freight efficiency and community impact
and need informed decisions to be made by all stakeholders.”
Read the publication: https://www.rdatropicalnorth.org.au/our-projects/tablelands-access-and-alternative-routes/
Regional Development Australia Tropical North Inc is an independent organisation driven by community
leaders to broker regional development solutions that will create jobs and grow the Far North Queensland
economy.
ENDS