TMR Range Road Update 9
Category: Local Issues
Community Meeting to review experiences and lessons learned during the recent rain event
A community meeting to review our experiences during & after the February extreme weather event will be held on Saturday the 22nd of March commencing at 1 pm in the Paluma Community Hall. The objective is to record lessons learnt for the future, discuss known problems & see what we can do to improve how we manage such events. All members of the community are encouraged to attend.
Charlie Allen
TMR Range Road Update 4
TMR Range Road Update 3
TMR Range Road Update
As promised by the Department of Transport and Main Roads last week, here is the first update on the status of the Range Road up to Paluma. These will appear on Tuesdays and Fridays until all work has been completed. If you would like to receive these reports directly by email please send a request to: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
Update for residents and the community of Paluma, Hidden Valley and surrounds
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) wishes to provide you with an important update regarding the current status of Mount Spec Road, which has been severely impacted by the recent weather event in early February.
Due to extensive landslips and debris, Mount Spec Road remains closed to all traffic. Our work crews are working diligently to assess the damage and implement the necessary steps to restore accessibility.
Assessment of Mount Spec Road remains our priority over the coming weeks.
- Mount Spec Road was closed following the severe weather event and remains inaccessible to traffic and walkers due to extensive landslips and debris.
- Assessment of Mount Spec Road conditions remains our priority over the coming weeks.
- On 7 February 2025, TMR crews carried out an inspection of Mount Spec Road, however, were only able to assess three to four kilometres of the road.
- As of 14 February 2025, TMR have successfully cut a single-lane path approximately 17 kilometres on MountSpec Road towards Paluma.
- TMR have recommenced on the ground assessments of Mount Spec Road and will work towards reopening the road as soon as possible, weather and conditions permitting.
Community Updates
TMR’s Northern District, Customer and Stakeholder Management (CSM) team will provide two updates each week to the community of Paluma:
- Tuesdays: An overview of planned works for the week
- Fridays: A progress update on completed and ongoingworks.
These updates will continue until the road is fully reopened. In some cases, updates may indicate that there is no new information; however, this ensures ongoing communication and reassures you that the CSM team is available to answer any questions. Safety is TMR’s highest priority.
Paluma in the Rain – Final update
The sun has been shining in Paluma for 3 days now, and while the ground is still soggy and access to and from the village is for higher clearance vehicles, the Village is beginning to recover from the trials and tribulations of the last two weeks. We will provide further updates on the recovery process and efforts to identify how things might be handled even better during future events, but for now Paluma is no longer in the rain. In fact I had to go out and water the Impatiens at the Community Hall on Sunday that were wilting after over two days of full sun.
Probably the best news since the last update is the power was restored to Paluma on February 11th, and with it came Telstra mobile phone access, water treatment, cold and frozen food storage capacity and relief from anxiety about dwindling fuel for generators. That can do a lot to raise spirits.
While most residents report that food is not a major issue, the quality and variety has definitely not yet returned to normal. Food runs by Sam Stedman and other residents returning to the village on soggy roads via Mt Fox or Hervey’s Range Road has helped alleviate this and to maintain a table of various food items at the Community Hall for residents who were running short.
Currently the key factor preventing a return to near-normalcy is access to Townsville and Ingham via the range road. The alternate route via Herveys range has only just opened up officially and it is quite rough in spots. Annoyingly, the bridge over the Star River still has a road closed sign at either end, even though it is now officially open with some restrictions for heavy trucks. A moderate clearance 2wd drive made it back today (Monday) without any problems but small cars with small wheels and low clearance would probably bottom out on the rougher sections. Our trip back to Townsville today took a little over 3 hours, which is twice the normal trip time when using the Paluma range road. The state of the road to Inghan via Mt Fox is reported to be “very rough”.
There has been much speculation on the severity of damage to the range road and the timetable for Transport and Main Roads (TMR) to effect repairs. On Sunday we were contacted by the TMR engagement group who committed to provide bi-weekly updates (Tuesday and Friday) via their email list on repairs and timetables starting tomorrow. All updates will also be posted on Paluma.org. We were informed that the main concern was an area of undercut road and downhill landslip near Wolfram Creek that will require a considerable volume of fill to be brought in. More details should be available tomorrow.
As a precautionary measure, Paluma received a major delivery of bottled drinking water which is available at the Hall. Our local treatment plant is currently working however any future events that increase turbidity at the source weir might reduce its capacity and result in a need for supplemental water.
On Sunday we had visits from support workers who provided assistance to any residents who were in need of financial assistance as a result of the rains. Representatives from Qld Housing also came up in case there were any residents who required re-housing.
We also had a visit from the acting Mayor (Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney) and Zac Daws, Local Disaster Coordinator who met with a group of residents from Paluma and Hidden Valley community at the hall. A separate post will provide a report and insights arising from that community meeting.
Jamie Oliver and Juanita Poletto
Paluma in the Rain – an Update
According to reports in the news and our local readings, Paluma received the lion’s share of the rains that have wreaked havoc on nearby coastal communities. So how has the Village and its inhabitants fared? I have been in Townsville during the event so this report is compiled from various conversations I have had with some residents with phone reception and one intrepid visitor who recently braved the inland route.
Rainfall
During the 4 days of major rain (February 1-4th) Peter Cooke has recorded just over 2m of rain at the official Bureau of Meteorology rain gauge. This must be getting fairly close to a record fall, but I will need to check the records for 2019 first.
Power and phones
Near the start of the rains (Saturday at 2 am) power was lost to the Village and in short order this led to the loss of mobile phone service. Some communication lines with Paluma have remained open for those with generators and satellite internet connections, and also for those willing to go out to Witts Lookout or Star Valley Lookout in hopes of a 1 bar signal.
Quite a few people have generators and have been able to ration out their petrol in order to keep fridges and freezers cool, but dwindling petrol supplies is now a concern.
Access to/from Paluma
For a while the village roads were cut both east and west, but once the rain abated a group of locals set about clearing trees between Chicks Road and the Village, and then explored the state of the range road down a ways until they encountered a major landslip with major boulders blocking the way. This slip (probably one of several further down) means that major equipment will need to come up from Townsville before the range road is cleared. With Ollera Creek bridge cut, access to and from Townsville via the Bruce highway, will be impossible for a while, although a temporary bridge has been constructed for emergency vehicles.
Earlier this week Sam Steadman undertook to go up the back way and managed to bring some food and fuel and good cheer to both Hidden Valley and Paluma. This access road is in poor condition and will get worse with use, so it is not recommended unless the need is urgent.
Also, whilst things have been uncomfortable in the village, some of our valley neighbours have fared much worse with up to 1.8 metres of water through their dwellings. The Hidden Valley fire truck has been completely submerged. There are residents in this area unable to return to their homes. They are a strong community and are supporting each other through this but will need the full support available from our local, state and federal bodies to get back on their feet.
Food and Water
Most Paluma residents keep a stock of non-perishable foods so despite a mass cleanout of fridges and freezers, the food situation is not dire at present and relief supplies have been trickling in. The Disaster Management Group is aware of Paluma’s status and is making plans for substantial supply runs in the next day or so. A small group of four wheel drive vehicles is planning to go up with fuel and food this weekend if the rains permit.
Overall I understand the community spirit is high in Paluma and everyone is looking out for one another. There has been a community meeting to discuss coordinating efforts and communications back to Townsville, and there is now a Starlink internet access and a generator in the Community Hall that can be used when the generator is operating. While everyone in the community has played their part, special mention should be made of the two Townsville Water officers, Tracey Cooper and Rick Roveda who have been working overtime to help coordinate and communicate with Townsville City Council during the event. Also, Don Battersby has unsurprisingly been spending most of his time helping out various villagers in innumerable ways.
If any Paluma homeowners who are not currently in the Village would like some assistance in checking out the state of their house, or would like to donate any food or fuel from personal stores already up there, please contact me and I will try to coordinate these requests or offers.
It will probably be some time before life in Paluma returns to normal and I am sure we share the hope that everyone up in Paluma stays safe and secure in the meantime. Our thoughts are with you all!
Jamie Oliver & Juanita Poletto
(ph 0408710030)
Dangers of Paluma Range Road
Our local member for Hinchinbrook, Nick Dametto, has written to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, the Honourable Brent Mickelberg regarding urgent safety concerns about the Paluma Range Road.
We thank Nick for bringing the safety issues regarding our coastal access road to the Minister’s attention. Thanks also to Michael Drew for forwarding Nick’s letter for this post. I’ve inserted the letter as three images below. Please forgive the formatting but we wanted quick and easy access for all to read.
Margie and Nick – A Successful Community Meeting
Last Sunday, on August 20th was our first Community Meeting with Cr Margie Ryder for this year. It was very productive with some rigorous discussion around several issues. There was also an earlier briefing with Nick Dametto, our Hinchinbrook electorate representative in Qld Parliament, regarding the village entrance signage. The issues raised at the community meeting included:
- Pet clean up bags and general pet management
- Traffic management – speeding in the village
- Community security – break-ins, hooning
- Road maintenance – verges on road to Dam turnoff and potholes on dam road
- Vegetation control – weeds on council land and vacant blocks
- Signage at village entrance
- Pet clean up bags: proposal put to council to provide pet clean up bag dispensers has not been approved. Maggie will take it back to council again noting that the PDCA is happy to do the restocking of any installed dispensers with resources provided by council.
- A ‘letterbox drop’ to residents suggested as a reminder of their responsibilities as pet owners including use of leashes.
- Pet management: There is currently a ‘local law’ pertaining to cat ownership currently being considered at State level. This resulted from a community survey open to all of the Townsville City Council area. If this law is passed, this community has the option to be considered for its use. It would mean residents will not be able to bring in ‘new’ cats to their home. A grandfather clause will allow those who currently have cats to keep them. It was suggested this also be applied to dog ownership although Margie indicated this would likely not be accepted.
- The notion of an ‘off leash park’ be established on council land was also put forward.
- Maggie provided some pet clean up dispenser bags and leashes for distribution to residents with dogs.
- Traffic management/speeding: Need to report ANY observed offences with the police, online or by phone. Mobile number for Rollingstone Police: 0456096305 If its not reported, it hasn’t happened and no action can be taken.
- Due to valid concerns of the safety of visiting school groups and visiting families during school holidays walking along the main road, Margie will write to Nick Dametto to approach Education Queensland (Nth Qld Region) and Townsville Catholic Education Office as well as Main Roads in regards to signage and other measures to mitigate the possibility of future casualities due to vehicles speeding through the village. Specific examples of ways other communities have mitigated speeding provided.
- Community security: Need to report ANY observed offences with the police, online or by phone. Mobile number for Rollingstone Police: 0456096305 If its not reported, it hasn’t happened and no action can be taken.
- Suggestion residents purchase loud portable air horns to assist in alerting close neighbours of immediate security concerns. This has been effective in reducing criminal activity in some streets in small communities near and within Townsville city.
- Suggestion to establish a community alert ‘phone tree’ to ensure residents are alerted to any immediate security threats.
- Suggested to invite Rollingstone Police mobile number to Paluma Community Alert WhatsApp
- Paluma Dam Road and verges from village end to turn off: Paluma Dam road annual maintenance will occur in September. Request for support for more regular maintenance considered.
- A request to council to budget for building up and strengthening verges to cope with large vehicles including garbage trucks. Recent repairs due to request by Sam Stedman of Outer Limit Adventure Fitness in preparation for the recent Paluma Push. Noted this took persistent communications to happen.
- Use ‘Snap Send Solve’ App available on TCC website; Contact Margie directly regards road/verge maintenance (from village to Paluma dam turnoff and the Dam road, Hussey Road) that have been logged with council but not actioned ESPECIALLY if any safety concerns.
- Vegetation control: Council to be informed to mow verges of loop road as part of their regular maintenance. Margie will query council on their ability to enforce landowners to manage vegetation on their vacant blocks of land. Individuals can register a complaint with council regarding unkempt properties.
- Village entrance signage: Margie will check with council if they can take ownership of the proposed location from National Parks. If not possible, Nick Dametto has agreed to appeal to the appropriate State minister.
- Other signage around the village: regardless of prior consultation and against Margie’s recommendations, TCC has started installing a range of signs through the village. Some are not appropriately located. Further collaboration and consultation will be sought by Margie.
Participation in this meeting by local residents was most appreciated and we are grateful for having a local councillor who is willing to drive up our range road regardless of feeling quite unwell let alone having to manage car sickness with doses of ginger. Appreciation also for Nick Dametto meeting with Margie and the PDCA president at 9am to discuss improving the Paluma Village entry signage. Nick is one ‘ever-ready bunny’ and doesn’t suffer car sickness as he truly enjoyed his motorbike ride up the range road to meet with us.
Margie has noted the tropical BBQ on December 9th in her calendar and our next community meeting will be around this time, if not earlier.
Text: Juanita Poletto. Images: Juanita Poletto unless otherwise noted
PDCA Community Meeting with Townsville Councillor Margie Ryder
On Sunday, August 20th at 10am the PDCA is hosting a community meeting with our Townsville City Council representative, Margie Ryder. This will provide an opportunity for Margie to report on what the Council has been doing and to listen to any concerns that Paluma residents may have relating to council facilities and initiatives. Items that we will be inviting Margie to comment on include:
- Plans for signage at the village entrance, and upgrade of other signs around the village
- Dog Poo bag dispensers and other issues on animal control (Cats, noisy dogs)
- Community security in the light of multiple recent events in and around the village
- Road Maintenance
- Vegetation control (weeds)
The meeting is open to all Paluma residents. Please mark this date and come along to have your say.