December 2014 Update
The Official Opening took place on the 6th December at the bottom of the Range. Local Indigenous Elder Claude Beeron along with Alan Schmidt (Lived up the range as a child and later worked on the range) and Bill Mealing (Lived and worked on the range) along with Mayor Bill Shannon cut the official ribbon, declaring the road open. The Mad Max Gates was pushed open by the Kirrama Range Road Support Group. It was great to be able to talk with the oldies that lived and worked up the range. David Kaurila in the Council vehicle then led a cavalcade up the road to the shire boundary where the gate was opened and people then continued on to Blencoe Falls. Those who braved the thunderstorm in the evening and the change of venue, enjoyed a trip back in time to view the amazing photo's of the road being built, followed by the Movie The Irish Man. A great night was had by all. A special thanks to all those who travelled a long distance to be here for the weekend. |
July 2014 Update
Members of the Kirrama Range Road Support Group, Girringun, Cassowary Coast Council and Wet Tropics took a trip up the range to Society Flats on Wednedsay 30th July. Just being on the road was awesome. Wet Tropics has given us a grant for interpretive signage so the aim of this trip was to work out where we wanted the signs placed and to get some photos. The Group has been working very closely with Wet Tropics on the signage. The Eleven Bridges are nearly all completed with just a few minor things to be done. Work has now started on the drains and actual road. Council is still advising that the road will be reopened in November. Remember the road is still closed and there is no vehicular access. |
Update 1st Feb 2014
Kirrama Range Road is progressing well according to reports from council the road
is on track and on budget.
Bridge No 9 of the eleven bridges is under
construction.
Latest advice is that work will be halted
shortly until the end of the wet season.
Once the wet season is finished work will
commence on the reconstruction of the road.
We are extremely confident that the Official
Opening and Picnic at Blencoe Falls will
happen during the C150 Celebrations.
Please remember that the road is a
Construction Site and please heed all signs.
We are waiting for confirmation of the Heritage Listing of the four monuments on the road.
The Late Robert Sing submitted the application to the Qld Heritage Register.
The Kirrama Range Road Support Group will
be working with the CCRC and other stakeholders to explore tourism
opportunities once the road is open.
Interpretative signage telling the story of
the Timber Industry and Indigenous History are one of the proposals.
The Support Group was humbled to receive a
nomination of an achievement award on Australia Day.
Our greatest award will be when the road is
open and the residents and visitors
of our shire can once again enjoy this unique part of our world and the spectacular drive up the range.
UPDATE 1st July 2013
What's Been Happening.
Not Much???????
Federal Minister Anthony Albanese's office has requested further information from the Cassowary Coast Regional Council
regarding the submission for the $1 million that took CCRC two months to put
together.
We are concerned about how long it will take them to put together
this new information that is required.
While we are twiddling our thumbs, the road is deteriorating at a rapid rate.
No maintenance work has been carried out on the road since
2011. There are trees more than 4 mtrs high growing on the road.
There are places just wide enough for a motorcycle.
While the weather is dry, maintenance work should be carried out on the
drains, culverts, pipes and the regrowth contained.
Whilst our group has made numerous endeavours to communicate with the council it seems to be falling on deaf ears. Our emails are ignored.
Apparently a draft MOU has been sent to TMR Tony Potter's office in Cairns. The CCRC lacks the communication skills to keep the public updated.
The council certainly knows the existence of our group, how hard would it be to communicate with us.
The Cardwell Community would like to see the re-opening of the road during the Cardwell 150 celebrations. A picnic at Blencoe Falls is planned for the celebrations.
If you share our concerns on progress up to date or the lack of it, please contact your Local Councillors, Ministers Andrew Cripps and Bob Katter with your concerns.
Please forward this email on to any supporters, friends and
interested parties that would like to see Kirrama Range Road open.
See Recent Road Photo's in the Gallery at the Bottom of the Page
RALLY RESULTS
The rally held on October 20th, 2012 was a huge success with nearly 700 people attending. At the rally Minister Andrew Cripps anounced a $2.5million funding package to be matched dollar for dollar by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council. Andrew Cripps has put us in contact with the TMR representative, who informed us he is awaiting a proposal from the CCRC on how the road will be repaired. However we still have had no clarification from the council as to whether they will accept the offer made by the state government. We are trying to get an answer out of the CCRC, the below letter was sent to the council on the 4th of December 2012. To date we have not received a response. It is a shame that some our councillors in Innisfail are using scare tactics and misinformation in their push to keep the road closed.
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Attention David Trotter
Hi David,
The Kirrama Range Road Support Group had a meeting with Minister Andrew Cripps last week regarding the road.
He informed us that Tony Potter from TMR was liasing with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.
Andrew assured us that the Kirrama Range Road Support Group would be involved in all discussions involved in this process.
We have since spoken to Tony and he has informed us that he has been in contact with the CEO and
Is awaiting a detailed proposal on how the road will be rehabilited.
Has the Council got the funding to match the State Governments $2.5 milllion offer?
Does this have to be voted on by Council and if so when will this happen?
Has Council completed the proposal and are we able to have a copy of this please?
If all parties agree to the proposal when do you see work being able to commence?
Regards,
Kirrama Range Road
Support Group
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MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Saturday 20
October 2012
LNP DELIVERS KIRRAMA RANGE ROAD FUNDING
...
Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, today announced a one-off funding injection by the Queensland Government to assist with the necessary repair works to re-open the Kirrama Range Road, north west of Cardwell.
Mr Cripps said the Newman LNP Government was prepared to commit up to $2.5 million, on a dollar for dollar basis with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, to get this important local road reopened.
“This funding will be available this financial year, provided the Cassowary Coast Regional Council is prepared to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Transport and Main Roads in relation to this project” Mr Cripps said.
“Main Roads has agreed to match additional allocations in the Council’s budget on a dollar for dollar basis, up to $2.5 million to get the Kirrama Range Road open for the benefit of the local community, visitors and local industries” he said.
“As part of this MOU, there will be an obligation on the Cassowary Coast Regional Council to maintain the road going forward. We want to ensure that if this local road is restored, it will be maintained and not be closed again” Mr Cripps said.
“Main Roads will provide the funds to Council to allow it to continue to deliver the works on the Kirrama Range Road”.
“By restoring the road to a standard, Council will be able to ensure that it can receive natural disaster funding to repair damage from any future events”.
Mr Cripps said he believed the funding on offer would be sufficient to repair the bridges and rehabilitate the road surface to a standard that would see the road reopened for the local community, tourism and the cattle industry.
“I have been working on the issue of the Kirrama Range Road since I first entered Parliament in 2006. It has been a long and frustrating issue, which has been complicated by a number of factors” M Cripps said.
“I am very pleased that the Newman LNP Government has provided an opportunity for us to finally move forward and have this vital piece of infrastructure restored and I thank the Main Roads Minister, Scott Emerson, for his support” he said.
“This is an important investment in road infrastructure in the Hinchinbrook electorate and demonstrates the Newman Government’s commitment to this region, particularly given the difficult financial situation of the state budget” Mr Cripps said.
“While previous Labor Governments have failed to realise the importance of this road, the LNP has clearly recognised the importance of the Kirrama Range Road to the local community and I am delighted with this outcome” he said.
-ENDS-
----------------------------------------------
Attention David Trotter
Hi David,
The Kirrama Range Road Support Group had a meeting with Minister Andrew Cripps last week regarding the road.
He informed us that Tony Potter from TMR was liasing with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.
Andrew assured us that the Kirrama Range Road Support Group would be involved in all discussions involved in this process.
We have since spoken to Tony and he has informed us that he has been in contact with the CEO and
Is awaiting a detailed proposal on how the road will be rehabilited.
Has the Council got the funding to match the State Governments $2.5 milllion offer?
Does this have to be voted on by Council and if so when will this happen?
Has Council completed the proposal and are we able to have a copy of this please?
If all parties agree to the proposal when do you see work being able to commence?
Regards,
Kirrama Range Road
Support Group
--------------------------------------------------
MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Saturday 20
October 2012
LNP DELIVERS KIRRAMA RANGE ROAD FUNDING
...
Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, today announced a one-off funding injection by the Queensland Government to assist with the necessary repair works to re-open the Kirrama Range Road, north west of Cardwell.
Mr Cripps said the Newman LNP Government was prepared to commit up to $2.5 million, on a dollar for dollar basis with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, to get this important local road reopened.
“This funding will be available this financial year, provided the Cassowary Coast Regional Council is prepared to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Transport and Main Roads in relation to this project” Mr Cripps said.
“Main Roads has agreed to match additional allocations in the Council’s budget on a dollar for dollar basis, up to $2.5 million to get the Kirrama Range Road open for the benefit of the local community, visitors and local industries” he said.
“As part of this MOU, there will be an obligation on the Cassowary Coast Regional Council to maintain the road going forward. We want to ensure that if this local road is restored, it will be maintained and not be closed again” Mr Cripps said.
“Main Roads will provide the funds to Council to allow it to continue to deliver the works on the Kirrama Range Road”.
“By restoring the road to a standard, Council will be able to ensure that it can receive natural disaster funding to repair damage from any future events”.
Mr Cripps said he believed the funding on offer would be sufficient to repair the bridges and rehabilitate the road surface to a standard that would see the road reopened for the local community, tourism and the cattle industry.
“I have been working on the issue of the Kirrama Range Road since I first entered Parliament in 2006. It has been a long and frustrating issue, which has been complicated by a number of factors” M Cripps said.
“I am very pleased that the Newman LNP Government has provided an opportunity for us to finally move forward and have this vital piece of infrastructure restored and I thank the Main Roads Minister, Scott Emerson, for his support” he said.
“This is an important investment in road infrastructure in the Hinchinbrook electorate and demonstrates the Newman Government’s commitment to this region, particularly given the difficult financial situation of the state budget” Mr Cripps said.
“While previous Labor Governments have failed to realise the importance of this road, the LNP has clearly recognised the importance of the Kirrama Range Road to the local community and I am delighted with this outcome” he said.
-ENDS-