Joint media release with the Hon Dr Steven Miles MP
Carpentaria Shire Council will receive more than $22 million to repair the vital Mitchell River Crossing along Dunbar Koolatah Road after prolonged monsoonal rains and flooding caused significant damage to the infrastructure.
The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) under the 2021-22 Betterment Fund.
Dunbar Koolatah Road has been closed since December 2022. The crossing links rural properties between Koolatah and Maramie to business centres such as Normanton and Mareeba.
The route is also crucial for tourist traffic and community connectivity to north-west Queensland.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt said the closure of Dunbar Koolatah Road is proving especially challenging right now for livestock transport providers, adding three hours to their travel time as they use an alternate route.
"Repairing this crossing to a more resilient standard will be a huge boost for the region, especially local cattle properties and FNQ communities like Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and Weipa," Minister Watt said.
"Betterment funding allows disaster-impacted councils to get on with their flood recovery efforts, with investments like this helping minimise future damage to essential public assets."
Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Steven Miles said flood damage continues to be assessed across the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York Peninsula regions due to severe thunderstorms and intense rainfall which began in late December last year.
"Many remote and regional communities across Queensland are still feeling the impact of these floods, compounded by last year's heavy monsoon season," Mr Miles said.
"Through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, we will continue to support projects like this to ensure the safety and welfare of our most isolated Queenslanders."
Carpentaria Shire Council Mayor Jack Bawden said the level of funding provided through DRFA will ensure a new crossing will be constructed that will allow road movements to continue much earlier than has occurred in past years.
"This funding is a game-changer for road users within this part of the council area, and our rural landowners in the Mitchell River area will be very pleased with this funding announcement also," Mayor Bawden said.
Further information:
The $22 million Mitchell River Crossing betterment is part of a range of betterment projects worth $170 million being rolled out to Queensland local government areas impacted in the 2021-22 disaster season.
The existing damaged bed-level crossing has been closed throughout the entirety of 2023 due to high water levels and extensive flood damage in the aftermath of the severe monsoon event.
