Range Road Information – Page 6 – Paluma

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.

Image of Mount Spec Road is current and was captured as part of recent road inspections. Source: TMR

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 – Update 2

Earlier this afternoon we spoke with Ross Hyne who was able to give us an overview of the current status up at Paluma.

The worst of the rains seems to be over for now but the forecasts for early next week are not encouraging. The biggest risk from further rain is that it might cut off the tenuous road link back to Townsville via Ewan that has been used to bring up fuel and supplies to date.

Yesterday (Saturday February 8th), the Townsville Ciy Council sent up 1000l of petrol for household generators and about 300 litres of diesel for the water treatment plant as well as some medical prescriptions. Sam Stedman and Colin Meads also came up the back way to Hidden Valley to drop off fuel, requested prescriptions and some food which Ross Hyne picked up and took to Paluma. They headed back down immediately and just made it across the Star River bridge before it flooded. The Council workers left later and were unable to cross, spending the night at Zig Zag station.

Power is still out, and further investigations have revealed additional powerline damage on the line to Paluma which could take some time to repair. Plans are being made to bring up a small generator as soon as possible to power key facilities including the Telstra tower.

Major Landslip over powerlines feeding Paluma village. (photo: Ergon)

Food supplies are adequate for the moment and many residents with generators are able to keep some food refrigerated. Fuel will continue to be an issue, especially with the news that further significant work needs to be done to restore power to the village. There has been some discussion on the feasibility of bringing up larger generators via the back road to provide power more widely through the village. Provided the rains do not keep the back road closed for too long, it should be possible to deliver essential supplies to the village (including medical prescriptions for some residents) until the range road is passable.

Hidden Valley remains the worst affected with some homes still flooded or uninhabitable.

Community spirits in Paluma remain good. Daily meetings at the Community Hall are providing an opportunity to check in with everyone, and coordinate the distribution of supplies and requests for further assistance. Initial organisers Tracy Cooper and Sonya Hyne have now passed the baton to Charlie Allen and Ross Hyne who continue to coordinate communications to outside agencies and distributing any incoming resources to all.

The Townsville Disaster Management Group has been in daily contact and the World Central Kitchen organisation has made contact with Paluma. The WCK offered to fly in food supplies and even hot meals if and when required. They have already provided this to other isolated small communities down on the coast who are affected by this rain event.

The residents of Paluma village and neighbouring areas are very grateful to Josh (Macca) from Taravale who provided a starlink device which has allowed people to maintain contact with loved ones, keep track of what’s going on elsewhere as well as receive and send any communications to support agencies as needed.

We wish everyone on the mountain well. Take care and enjoy those snags! 😊

Jamie Oliver and Juanita Poletto

PS Michael Drew would like to remind all about the dangers of Melioidosis when working in and around flood waters and silt.

Update on Roadworks –

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) would like to provide an update regarding the Mt Spec slope stabilisation night works.

The contractor’s availability has been delayed due to heavy rainfall in Kuranda.

As a result, night works on Mt Spec Road will now commence on Wednesday, 3 July, and will be extended until Friday, 4 October.

Night works including full temporary road closure will occur from:

Wednesday 3 July to Friday 4 October

With a working roster of 10 days on 4 days off between 6pm – 6am

Friday night road closure will occur 7pm and reopen 6am Saturday.

Please find attached updated Notice of Works including a calendar with scheduled works specific to Mt Spec Road. Please note these may be subject to change due to weather conditions, contractor availability and construction progress.

Mount Spec Road in its entirety will be closed during the night works, with provision for Queensland Emergency Services and parents who will be required to retrieve sick students only.

The night works will take place based on 10 working days and 4 days-off (10:4) roster for the duration of the slope stabilisation project. Each Friday night of the work schedule, the road will be closed at 7pm and reopen 6am Saturday morning.

If you require further information about these works, please contact the Northern District Customer and Stakeholder Management team using the below contact details. We thank you for your understanding.

Kind regards

Sarah Valinoti
Communications Officer
Department of Transport and Main Roads

P: 1800 625 648| M: 0744218996
engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au

View Updated Schedule

Mt Spec Road closures June til August

The department of Main Roads is planning maintenance work on the range road in June through to August. Works will be conducted in the night from 6pm to 6am Saturday – Thursday, and 7pm to 6am on Fridays. This is the same schedule that was used during the last maintenance program. Individuals who commute up and down the range for work should have been contacted individually already. I you fall this this category please contact TMR as soon as possible. There will be no maintenance work during the Paluma Push.

Here is the relevant notice from TMR.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will soon commence stabilisation works on Mt Spec Road Slop between Fairy Falls and Maiden Hair Fern Creek.

These important works are required due to the deteriorating condition of the rock walls and will prevent failure of the rock walls along this important heritage listed road.

We are contacting you as a key local stakeholder to seek your feedback and understand any concerns you may have about the proposed timing or about these works from a local perspective.

Works will be occurring from:

Monday 17 June to Friday 30 August 2024
With a working roster of 10 days on 4 days off between 6pm – 6am
Friday night road closure will occur 7pm and reopen 6am Saturday.

The schedule is currently for a full road closure commencing at 6pm and reopening at 6am. Work crews will commence prestart works an hour prior to the road closure.

Please note, Mount Spec Road in its entirety will be closed during the night works, with provision for Queensland Emergency Services and parents who will be required to retrieve sick students only.

Please find attached Notice of Works including a calendar with scheduled works specific to Mt Spec Road. Please note these may be subject to change due to weather conditions, contractor availability and construction progress.

We encourage you to please let us know of any community events that are occurring over the course of roadworks. Please find the current works calendar on page 2 of the attached document. Alternatively, you can call me on
1800 625 648 to discuss further.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Sarah

Communications Officer
Customer and Stakeholder Management Team – Northern District | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery and Operations Branch | Infrastructure Management and Delivery Division

Department of Transport and Main Roads
P: 1800 625 648| M: 0744218996
Floor 6 | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
GPO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810

engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
www.tmr.qld.gov.au

QPWS Controlled Burn on the Range

Please be advised that QPWS will be conducting prescribed burn operations on the Range Rd on Tuesday June 13, 2023, between Little Crystal Creek and the rainforest towards Paluma (weather and conditions dependent).

As a result of this, smoke may impact the area from Tuesday next week and may persist for several days following. Traffic control will be in place for the duration of burn operations on June 13 (approximately 10:00am to 3:00pm).

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Sonya Bryce on (0474) 324 153 or Ranger in Charge, Tim Devlin on (07) 4777 3112.

QPWS Controlled Burn on the Range Road, May 15 and 16

Please be advised that QPWS will be conducting controlled burn operations on the Paluma Range Road, Monday May 15 and Tuesday May 16, between ‘The Saddle’ and Little Crystal Creek (weather and conditions dependent).

As a result of this, smoke may impact the Range Road from Monday May 15 and may persist for several days following. Traffic control will be in place on Tuesday May 16 for the duration of burn operations (approximately 10.00 am to 3.00 pm).

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Sonya Bryce (Paluma RFB) or QPWS Ranger in Charge, Tim Devlin on (07) 4777 3112.

Text by Sonya Bryce

TMR Update

TMR Range Road Update: Geotechnical Works in May

Good morning Mt Spec residents and stakeholders

Just a quick update to let you know that TMR’s contractors will be continuing geotechnical investigation works at various sites along Mt Spec Road throughout May. These works are being planned around bus movements for the educational camps in Paluma, so you may notice crews working on some days and not others. As with previous works, there will be minimal impacts for light vehicles.

If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch via email or phone.

Mt Spec Road geotechnical investigations – May 2022
Works hours and activities – 7am to 5pm.
Works each day will include site and traffic management setup, unloading and loading of drilling rig, drilling of boreholes to test soil and rock conditions.
What to expect during these works – Traffic controllers on site, signage and speed restrictions in place. Stop-Go traffic controllers and traffic signals will be used intermittently. Traffic reduced to single lane (one direction at a time). Minor delays of 5-10 minutes – please plan your journey and allow additional travel time.
Important information for heavy vehicle operators – Access for heavy vehicles (more than 4.5 tonnes) including buses and light trucks may be impacted during these works. Please contact TMR by phone on 1800 625 648 or by email at engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au if you are planning to travel on Mt Spec Road with a heavy vehicle during these works.

Kelly Stolz, Customer and Stakeholder Management
Northern District | Department of Transport and Main Roads

TMR Range Road Update

QPWS Burning This Week

Attention: Paluma Residents, Visitors & Users of Mount Spec Road

QPWS are conducting controlled burning on Mt Spec Road this week.

QPWS wish to advise that they will be conducting a prescribed burn on Mt Spec Road on Wednesday March 30, 2022 (weather permitting). Approximate hours of operation are from 1500 to 1800. Please be aware that smoke may impact Mt Spec Road. Traffic control will be in place for the duration.