Newsroom

February 18, 2022

KENNEDY MP, Bob Katter, has requested the Federal Government get onboard with the Bridle Track Tunnel and fund the engineering plans for the new super-fast freight highway and tunnel from the Atherton Tablelands/Mareeba to the Cairns CBD.

Mr Katter has written and met with the Federal Transport Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce requesting funds for the preliminary engineering works and planning for the new tunnel and highway.

The existing Kuranda range road route is closed an average of 44 times a year, for an average of seven hours per closure, according to the Federal Government’s own report.[1]

The Labor State Government has shown no interest in being involved in the nation building project and Mr Katter says now is the time for the Federal Government to get involved.

The Bridle Track involves 16 kilometres of road from the Davies Creek turn off to the tunnel entrance, and a 1-2km tunnel through the range. Coming out of the tunnel on the Cairns southern suburbs side, there will be an overpass onto the Bruce Highway (see diagram attached). Mr Katter estimates the project will cost $1.5b.

“We have no heavy vehicle access from the Atherton Tablelands, Gulf and Cape down to the Cairns CBD and Port,” Mr Katter said.

“This is holding back expansion in agriculture and mining on the Tablelands, Gulf and Cape.

“We have seven of Australia’s ten biggest rivers in Far North Queensland and we cannot tap into their potential unless we have access to a port. Similarly in mining, the Chillagoe minerals province will be one of the biggest in Australia, but it is being held back due to the cost of transporting product out.”

Mr Katter said the new highway and tunnel would also make commuting to and from Cairns and the Tablelands very feasible and would see an explosion of population.

“Currently it takes well over an hour to get to Cairns,” he said.

“Once the Bridle Track Tunnel is built it will take motorists roughly 20 minutes. The State Government has spent billions on the Cross River Rail tunnels in Brisbane to save commuters a measly five minutes. It’s time we got our fair share.”

[1] https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/cairns-to-northern-tablelands-access-strategy#:~:text=The%20Cairns%20to%20Northern%20Tablelands,infrastructure%20at%20the%20right%20time.