TMR Range Road Update December 2020 – Part 1
Tropical Festive Cheer at Paluma
The PDCA ended the year on a high note on Saturday night (12/12/20) with the final social event of the year, the Paluma Tropical BBQ.
The Community Hall was lit up like a Christmas tree (literally!) and the tropical shirts were as loud as the lively chatter emanating from the hall. The residents of Paluma came armed with a feast of sumptuous dishes and Don fired up the BBQ with his usual finesse. Barman Les reported a lively trade and he made sure that everyone remained hydrated with their favourite beverages on the night.
Colin and Jill were the outright winners of the ‘Best Dressed’ tropical costume, arriving as if they had just stepped off the cruise boat (hopefully not the Ruby Princess!) adorned in sarong, board shirts, frangipani leis and tropical cocktails in hand.
Despite a challenging 2020, the community spirit is alive and well at Paluma as these few photographs clearly show. Merry Christmas Paluma-style!
Text & Photos by Michele Bird
A Motley Moth……
There is no doubt that we co-habit with a diversity of interesting critters at Paluma, but this moth has to be admired for its remarkable and distinctive appearance. Spotted at Peter and Jan Cooke’s place just recently, this moth flew in and spent a few hours resting around the place before heading off back to the forest.
Check out the big hair-do and the antennae. A good leg wax is certainly well overdue !!!!
Have you spotted any interesting insects or other critters around your place with the warming of the weather and the first summer showers? If so, please send us a photo so we can share your discoveries with other residents.
Photo by Peter Cooke. Text by Michele Bird.
TMR Range Road Update
Good afternoon everyone,
TMR anticipates that the full road closure of Mt Spec Road will be completed this Sunday night and the road will be operational at all times from 6am Monday 14 December 2020.
Construction crews are in the process of demobilising the project sites and expect to be finished on Mount Spec Road over the next few days.
We will provide a project update to stakeholders by email and an SMS when works are completed, and Mt Spec Road is fully open to motorists.
TMR thanks you for patience during these important works. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 1800 625 648 should you require any further information.
Kind Regards,
Meghan
Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810
P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8725
E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au
TMR Range Road Update
Good morning everyone,
Please be advised that the bottom gate closure for the Mt Spec reconstruction works has been relocated up to the Little Crystal Creek Bridge. This means that you will need to be at the Little Crystal Creek Bridge by 6pm Saturday to Thursday and 7pm Friday to travel up Mt Spec Road before the closure of the road for the evening.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information about the project.
Kind regards
Meghan
Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810
P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8725
E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au
TMR Range Road Update
Good afternoon everyone,
Thank you for your patience while the Department of Transport and Main Roads continues to complete important reconstruction works on Mt Spec Road.
While the weekend did see the project experience some inclement weather on Saturday night, concreting works at Windy Corner and Culvert 161 were able to be completed on Sunday evening.
Please be advised that TMR will not be completing a second weekend closure this weekend. Existing closure times for Mt Spec Road (6pm-6am Saturday to Thursday, 7pm-7am Friday) will be in place for this weekend.
Again, thank you for your patience while we complete these important works and please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.
Kind Regards
Meghan
Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810
P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8725
E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au
Rainforest Tree of the Month, November 2020 – Washing-board Tree
The washing-board tree (Cryptocarya corrugata) belongs to the Laurel family (Lauracea). There are over 300 species in the genus Cryptocarya, most of which inhabit cloud covered rainforests. This particular species is endemic to central and northern Queensland upland rainforests.
On close inspection the tree has distinctive red flakey bark and conspicuous fist to saucer-sized dimples along its trunk where the bark has flaked off. The sap-wood has a corrugataed surface, but this is largely masked by the outer bark.
The washing-board tree can grow up to 35m tall and occasionally has a butressed trunk. The cut bark and outer wood (a blaze) smells like sugar cane, but with alternative common names such as Bull’s Breath and Acid Wood this smell be a matter of personal perception.
The twigs and new leaves are covered in twisted brown hairs, while the older leaves become hairless (glabrous) with age
The fruit of the Washing-board tree are also distinctive. They are large ( 15-22mm high x 22-34mm wide) and broad or bilobed with a smooth to shiny purple-black outer surface. Flowering occurs in December, with mature fruit developing the following September. The fruit are eaten by cassowaries and fruit doves.
The wood of the washing board tree is infrequently used for general purpose timber under the name “Corduory Laurel.
You can find a tagged specimen (#4) of this species near the beginning of the H-Track (starting at Whalley Cr) on the right hand side of the track. This tree is part of a Guide to the Trees of the H-Track which is currently being revised with new text and new white tags.
Text by Jamie Oliver
A few nature notes as summer arrives
A deliciously sweet fragrance at the approach the Loop Road, and the humming of bees, draw attention to a stand of Brown Gardenias (Attractocarpus fitzalanii,) which are covered in small white, five-petalled star-shaped flowers. This is an unusually heavy flowering and the trees look spectacular.
In the nearby cutting and in several other roadside tangles, the Hibbertia scandens vines scramble to the tops of trees, scattering their bright yellow flowers over the foliage.
Glochidion hylandii trees are laden with pin-cushion-like fruits nestling in the leaf axils along almost every branch. Recently, an unusually abundant flowering of Sloanea australis took place in the stand of trees outside PEEC. The spiny-covered fruits should soon be found ripening on the trees.
On the forest floor among the dropped seeds and fruits are the dark red to black drupes of Bollywood, (Litsea connorsii) and the glossy, black 30 mm long drupes of the Ivory Walnut (Bielschmiedia recurva).
Sarsaparillas (Alphitonia petriei), herald the approaching festive season, looking splendid with their tiered branches covered in white to cream flowers suggestive of snow-clad Christmas trees.
Literally, here today and gone tomorrow, are the various fungi which have popped up in response to recent rain. Notable was a brilliant red, star-like fungus: the anemone stinkhorn, (Aseroe rubra).
There are many more little treasures to be found on your walks – just keep a wary eye out for snakes though!
Text and photos (unless indicated otherwise) by Colwyn Campbell
Paluma Tropical Breeze BBQ
The final Social Event for 2020 is the Paluma Tropical Breeze BBQ to be held on Saturday 12 December at 6.30 pm at the Community Hall.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please bring along:-
- Your own choice of meat/protein for the BBQ.
- A Plate for sharing – nibbles, salad bowl or dessert.
- Dress is Casual Tropical. Please wear your favourite tropical outfit. There will be a free drink for the person who most embraces the Tropical theme.
- Your Xmas spirit and good humour is essential.
The Bar will be open as usual with low cost beverages for thirsty people.
Please come along and join your friends and neighbours in marking the start of the Silly Season and the closing of 2020. See you there!
TMR Range Road Update – Notice of Road Closure
