TMR Updates on the Range Road

Please be advised that the Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR) will be providing regular updates on the status of the Range Road via email.

To register for the updates please do one of the following:-

  1. Send an email with your name and email address to the following:- engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au

IMPORTANT: In your email, please mention that you want information about Paluma and the Range Road. 

Even if you are already registered with TMR on this email address, you MUST RE-REGISTER NOW. This is because TMR are setting up a new and specific email list and dedicated service for Paluma residents regarding the Range Road.

2. As advised by Len Cook today, you can also register by phoning:-

1800 625 648

I have registered to receive information and will also post notices as and when received to this website.

Stay safe everyone!

Michele Bird, Secretary, PDCA



Paluma In The Rain……..

Update Bulletin for Wednesday 6 February 2019

Well, it continues to pour rain here with little prospect of relief until the weekend at soonest, but after seeing the news footage of the catastrophic flooding in Townsville and some surrounding districts,  we realise how very lightly Paluma has been affected by this extreme weather event. So far at least, there are no reports here of serious damage to property. Our hearts go out to those whose homes have been flooded and who have lost irreplaceable personal items. 

In houses and in the community hall, pools of water lie on some floors, due to leaks in the roof, or ground-water seepage.  Where possible, tarpaulins have been used to cover leaky roofs.  These inconveniences occur to a greater or lesser degree every wet season; it is just lasting longer this time.  A tree fell and smashed the gate at Gumburu and several small trees have fallen in and around the village.  The ground is water-logged and rivulets and streams course over the road and down the slopes to join up with Benham’s Creek. Some driveways and sections of the road have been gouged out by the force of water.  The official Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website rainfall readings advise that 2521 mm of rain has fallen since Australia Day (26 January). Len Cook has kindly provided the BOM rainfall figures at the end of this bulletin (below).

Birds are starving and those of us who are feeding them have what seems like an open aviary from dawn to dark with literally scores of birds on the back decks and verandas, seeking food and shelter.  Coming to my table are White-cheeked Honey-eaters, Macleay’s and Lewin’s Honey-eaters, Lorikeets, Satin Bower-birds, Cat-birds and Rifle-birds. Hunger overcomes their fear and the birds cling to my arms and shoulders as I fill the feeder trays. Unusually too, there is no fighting for supremacy at the feeder: all species are happy to share.

A few days ago the worst crisis was for the several smokers who had run out of cigarettes and/or tobacco.  Suggestions that this was a good opportunity to give up smoking, or to roll tea leaves were greeted with disdain.  Someone managed to procure tobacco so the situation was saved, temporarily.  

Yesterday, some people from the Running River area, armed with shopping lists, ventured to Ingham via the Mt Fox Road.  Their return was prevented by a land-slip on the Mt Fox Road. 

I am very grateful to the number of absent Paluma residents who have rung, generously offering the contents of their pantries to those of us here, should our food supplies run out.  We thank you all so much for your concern and generosity but hope, of course, that things will not drag on to that extent.

As has already been reported, engineers are trying to decide on the best way to remove a huge rock blocking the road about 1.5 km from the village. Two more giant rocks are poised on the up-slope ready to fall and as fast as one slip is cleared, another occurs elsewhere.  Conditions are terribly dangerous for those attempting to clear the road, but they are trying to keep a narrow way open for use of emergency vehicles only.  Otherwise the road remains closed.

So, we are here for the time being: keeping our sanity by taking long walks in the pouring rain, and getting together for coffee and gossip.  Neil Appleton’s birthday offered an excellent opportunity for a very happy such gathering.  

Update Bulletin by Colwyn Campbell

BOM Rainfall Figures for Paluma (Courtesy of Len Cook)

Saturday 26 January 2019…………………..93 mm

Sunday 27 January 2019……………………160 mm

Monday 28 January 2019………………….230 mm

Tuesday 29 January 2019………………….370 mm

Wednesday 30 January 2019…………….143 mm

Thursday 31 January 2019………………. 222 mm

Friday 1 February 2019…………………….261 mm

Saturday 2 February 2019……………….303 mm

Sunday 3 February 2019………………….175 mm

Monday 4 February 2019………………..384 mm

Tuesday 5 February 2019………………..180 mm

Total……………………………………………….2521 mm

          

Update From Paluma

The village of Paluma remains isolated with the Range Road still closed following the unprecedented rainfall . Locals report today that there are numerous landslides and trees blocking the Range Road and it appears it may be some time before the road will open. Paluma continues to receive astounding rainfall totals.

Don Battersby has been recording rainfall at his place on Hussey Road and has logged the following readings:-

Rainfall overnight (4-5 February 2019) was 344 mm.

Rainfall between 1 to 5 February 2019 is 1294 mm.

Rainfall total for January 2019 is 1206 mm.

Jennie Robinson from the Rainforest Inn reports that there are currently about 23 people in the village and surrounds. Everyone seems to be doing well. The community spirit is certainly alive and well. Yesterday (4 February) was Neil Appleton’s birthday and everyone gathered together at ‘Cloud Cottage’ to celebrate with afternoon tea. Happy Birthday Neil!

Photo courtesy of Jennie Robinson

Don’s Party

One of Paluma’s most popular and well-loved residents, Don Battersby will celebrate his 69th birthday this week. To mark the occasion, Colwyn Campbell hosted a birthday party for Don on Saturday night (19th January) at her residence. The house and verandas were bursting at the seams with the event well-attended by many of Don’s long-time friends and his Paluma family. As usual, there was food aplenty with an array of Indian-inspired dishes and other cuisine, as well as a tropical passionfruit birthday cake. There was good food, great company, many laughs and the usual warm community spirit that exists uniquely in our village of Paluma.

Happy Birthday Don from all your friends and family at Paluma!

Don Battersby with his birthday cake!

Last Social for 2018 – Tropical BBQ

Last Saturday night (8 December) the annual Tropical Xmas BBQ was held at the Community Hall to close out the Paluma Social calendar for 2018. Up to 20 residents attended the event, with a few people coming and going over the course of the evening.

A sumptuous feast consisting of  BBQ meats and an array of salads and sweets was enjoyed by all. The ‘BBQ-er’ for the evening was Ross Hyne, closely supervised by ‘Mr. BBQ’ himself, Don Battersby. As usual, the Bar and Beverages were expertly dispensed by Les Hyland.

The ‘dish of the night’ was awarded to Jennie Robinson for her very special and unique recipe for ‘sweet but salty’ berry dessert cake! The encouragement award goes to Jim for his very special ‘do-it-yourself cucumber and egg salad’.

It was great to see many people embracing the ‘Tropical’ theme with their colourful shirts and other attire.  We were lucky enough to have two of Santa’s Elves attend as well (Ross & Sonya).

As with all Paluma Social Events, many of us ate too much food, drank a little too much wine and laughed a lot! A happy and fun-filled Paluma time was enjoyed by all.  Merry Xmas!

 

Telstra Mobile Tower Launch Celebration

Some of the community arrived a bit late for the 10.30 am start time last Saturday 1st December, but all up there were at least 17 residents in attendance to celebrate the provision of a tower giving Telstra mobile coverage over quite an extensive area in and around Paluma. 

Rachel and Joanne from Telstra came up from Townsville and were welcomed by PDCA President Jamie Oliver who acknowledged  the great benefits from the installation, not only in the township, but  as far as the Dam turnoff and quite a way down the Range Road. There is also reception on some of the walking tracks which has an obvious safety benefit – hopefully rarely needed. Lynn Hyland also spoke of the benefit to the PRFB and the SES who have on occasions found that their technology was useless in Paluma due to lack of mobile connection. Rachel replied mentioning that she had not fully realised the extent to which the tower would benefit the area. Participants were presented with a complimentary gift bag from Telstra containing a power pack – a very useful gift !

A scrumptious morning tea was provided by the Rainforest Inn and it was after 12.00 hrs that the group finally dispersed.

Article by Les Hyland

NOTICE TO PALUMA RESIDENTS: Heavy Vehicles on Range Road

HEAVY VEHICLES ON RANGE ROAD, WEEK OF 26 NOVEMBER

Paluma residents and visitors are advised that there will be heavy vehicles using the Range Road in the week beginning 26 November.

The heavy vehicles will include gravel trucks, concrete trucks and other large transport vehicles. The vehicles will be travelling to Gumburu to carry out work on extending the bus turnaround area.

Heavy vehicles are most likely to be encountered in the early morning.

Please drive carefully and be alert for these large vehicles on the road this week.