FLOOD-HIT COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES HANGING BY CRUMBLING DIRT TRACK

April 14, 2025

The 2025 North Queensland floods have again exposed many of our infrastructure vulnerabilities and the neglect from governments refusing to treat our roads up here as the lifelines they are, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter said.

“While Brisbane obsesses over the Olympics and pours billions into infrastructure down south, North Queenslanders are cut off – again – not because of nature but because our roads are left to deteriorate into disrepair,” the Member for Traeger said.

“I have a question on notice to the Minister for Transport if he could advise when the Hidden Valley community can expect urgent repairs to the roads that are unusable after the flood event in January this year,” he said.

During Mr Katter’s recent visit to Hidden Valley, he was appalled to see the deteriorating roads and hear about unnecessary obstacles this flood-damaged community faces to receive government assistance to rebuild.

“In the Charters Towers region, businesses such as Hidden Valley Cabins – an internationally significant and multi-award-winning family-owned business – are now facing losing in the hundreds of thousands being completely isolated due to their main and alternative routes being allowed to crumble after years of neglect,” Mr Katter said.

Hidden Valley business owners, Kurt, and Tahlia Harlow are determined not to give in but can’t help to doubt the future of their business.

“Our business is highly successful in driving tourism to North Queensland. To continue to operate safely and for everyone to have access, we need our roads functioning and accessible. Without that, we may as well close our doors — same for other businesses in the area. We have already lost thousands of dollars’ worth of income, and the uncertainty, damage, and time it will take will determine our business’s future,” Mr Harlow said.

Mr Katter acknowledges that both the State and Federal Government have made disaster funding assistance available but says it is not fit for purpose.

“The reality on the ground tells a different story. This funding needs to commensurate with the urgency and pressure these flood-affected locals are living through right now. There is no meaningful financial relief reaching the businesses and community. The application process is arduous and bogged down in paperwork,” Mr Katter said.

“It’s pretty simple, fix the roads to betterment, so we don’t have to keep coming back in crisis.

“I will continue to put pressure on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) and the Department of Transport and Main Roads  (TMR), demanding these roads be sealed and enhance flood proofing,” Mr Katter said.

-ENDS-

                                                     

Media inquiries: Jean Halstead, 0436 655 598