Floods Cut Bruce Highway In Six Spots For Six Days

In a joint press conference held at the still flooded Plantation Park, and standing next to the Bruce Highway, Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, led calls for urgent road upgrades after North Queensland was again cut off from the rest of the state and country.

“With the recent rainfall events, we had major flooding on the roads where the Bruce Highway was cut in six different spots. It's simply not good enough,” Mr. Willcox stated.

“The flooding has affected a lot of people. We've had flood water go through houses, through busi-nesses, and disrupt essential services, but what we've really noticed is the dilapidation of the Bruce Highway.”

Nationals Leader David Littleproud, Senator Susan McDonald, and Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, also expressed their concerns, after Home Hill and Ayr were separated from one another for six days, affecting trade routes and food supplies.

“We've gotten 1000s of signatures to fix the Bruce. It highlights how bad this road is and now we need action,” Mr Willcox declared.

“Traditionally, the federal highway has always been funded 80% federally, 20% by state. Under the Labor Government, they slashed that to a 50/50 arrangement. That's why the work just simply is not getting done.”

“The current government has put $7.2 billion on the table. That's been matched by the coalition. I'm asking that some of that large chunk of $7.2 billion, be contributed to fix what's needed here most,” Mr Willcox added.

Local business owner, Richard Bonato, was left frustrated after numerous delays as he counts the cost of road closures.

“We had to helicopter our staff back and over with materials to get people going over there. People had no power. We've got all these stoppages along this Bruce Highway,” Richard Bonato said.

“This is 2025 and should not be happening”

“There's 3000 to 4000 people this side of this river, and there's another 6000 to 7000 that side. It's a disaster and needs to be fixed. Everybody's sick to death of it,” he added.

“Never before could you see a more compelling case to spend some of that $7.2 billion. We've got the Labor government to come with us on an 80/20 split on the Bruce but it's important that we don't put all the money down south to get people to the Sunshine Coast for a holiday faster,” Na-tionals Leader David Littleproud said.

“This is a very important arterial to feed our nation. Unless we invest and prioritise these parts of the road, then in times of disaster we are going to continue to face into these problems,” he added.

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor, Pierina Dalle Cort echoed the statements.

"I agree with everything said. I was born and raised here, and I've seen this road cut off many times over my lifetime. Now is the time to move with all this devastation. It must be a high priority, be-cause too much was lost between Ayr and Home Hill alone with productivity, transport, schooling, and medical services. This road was shut down for six days,” Mayor Dalle Cort exclaimed.

(L-R) Senator Susan McDonald (back), Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, Annette Swaine LNP candidate for Kennedy, Nationals Leader David Littleproud, and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, stand at the road which was cut off for six days. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen

Caption 1: Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, Senator Susan McDonald, and Nationals Leader David Littleproud, hear from Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, who pleads for actions to fix the problematic Bruce Highway. Photo credit: Mark T. Rasmussen

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