Tropical Cyclone Jasper struck the eastern coast of Cape York Peninsula in early December 2023. The wettest tropical cyclone in Australian history, Jasper dumped over 2,250 mm of rain with wind gusts peaking at 270 km/h.

It caused significant damage, including the destruction of 18 homes and severe damage to 168 others. The Palmerston Highway, a crucial route between the southern Atherton Tablelands and the Far North Queensland coast, suffered catastrophic damage, disrupting transportation for agriculture and tourism industries. The Palmerston-Highway Re-opening is an important milestone in the recovery of Far North Queensland.

Loss of critical infrastructure

The Palmerston Highway is an important route that runs between the southern Atherton Tablelands and the coast of Far North Queensland (FNQ) at Innisfail. It is the most direct link between the agriculture and tourism industries of FNQ and the coastal link provided by the Federal Highway along the coast. The nearest link is Gillies Range Road, another 50 minutes further north. The heavy rainfall caused landslips and pavement failures along the highway, which carries more than 300 trucks every day.

Work supporting Palmerston Highway Re-opening

Work on the Palmerston Highway Re-opening began on 8 January as soon as the ground stopped moving and had dried enough to allow crews to work safely. This work placed a temporary seal between Crawford’s Lookout and Junction Road, creating a single-lane connection. The new seal was opened on 10 February, ahead of schedule. 

Even this has been a massive undertaking, with 4,200 tonnes of earth excavated, 4,500 tonnes of rock installed, 1,500 tonnes of road base laid, and 150 tonnes of asphalt. This means traffic can now pass safely along the highway.  While the highway is currently a single lane, this achievement is a crucial step in rebuilding Far North Queensland and reconnecting communities.

This important work on the Palmerston Highway Re-Opening was made possible through the jointly funded and NEMA-administered Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 
 

Image credit: Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads

Tourists, community members and local businesses have much to celebrate with the opening of new Narooma mountain bike trails. Communities in this region were severely impacted by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20, and recovery is still ongoing. Jointly funded under the Local Economic Recovery Program, the new trails are predicted to generate an extra 65,000 visitors to the region. This will provide a much needed boost to local tourism and small business in the region.
 

Improving the existing Narooma mountain bike trails

The $4.1 million Narooma Mountain Bike Hub project, co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Local Economic Recovery program, has delivered an additional 58 kilometres of new Narooma mountain bike trails and a trail head carpark at its base in Bodalla State Forest.

“As we create new trails, we are not just building paths, we are providing local communities with the opportunity to live a healthy outdoors lifestyle, as well as attracting keen mountain bikers to the area,” said Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt.

“This is a display of our ongoing commitment to Australian communities recovering from the bushfires and showcases how we use our beautiful landscape to uplift local tourism.”
 

Narooma mountain bike trails to strengthen the local economy

The Narooma Bike Club was behind the Narooma mountain bike trails project. The improvements were designed to not only boost the local economy by promoting the region as a year-round holiday destination, but leave a positive legacy for the future.

“The new trail network will have long and wide-ranging benefits not just to our local mountain biking community but also to nearby towns,” said Narooma Bike Club President Georgie Staley.

“The South coast is becoming a central hub for mountain biking in New South Wales and this will be a further boost to the sport as well as to the region’s economy.”

The $4.1 million Narooma Mountain Bike Hub project was jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments under the Local Economic Recovery program.

The needs of communities when preparing for and recovering from disasters can be many and varying. HealthWISE have been assisting South-East Queensland communities and supporting Scenic Rim disaster preparedness.

Building disaster preparedness across the Scenic Rim

For residents of the Scenic Rim region in South-East Queensland, who were still recovering from the extensive impacts of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 when a ‘tornado’ swept through on Christmas Day 2023, advice and practical support with communication apps have been extremely valuable.

“These communities can be isolated with limited access in and out in the event of bushfire threats, which can heighten people’s anxiety about the impact of disasters,” said Susan Glas, HealthWISE Care Navigator.

“With 75% of the 40,000 residents of this region impacted by the severe weather in December 2023, there’s a heightened awareness of the need to be prepared.” 

Susan’s been working in partnership with the Scenic Rim Council and community organisations to provide residents with information and skills to support their physical preparedness and better understand the psychological impact that can accompany disasters and uncertainty.

Improving communication to enhance Scenic Rim disaster preparedness

Through the Recover Adapt Connect program, HealthWISE provided information and education to schools, community and social groups, improving Scenic Rim disaster preparedness.

Residents were encouraged to develop emergency plans and explore ways they can stay informed regarding any hazards or events in their area through the council disaster dashboard and disaster apps.

Residents were provided with information about communication apps that could be downloaded onto their phones. Practical support, demonstrations and testing of the effectiveness of the apps took place well in advance of them being needed. 

"This was particularly important for older residents who were less familiar and comfortable with technology,” said Susan. 

This input improved residents’ confidence in understanding how the apps could be utilised and the type of information they would receive during a disaster. 

By improving communication, residents are informed to act quickly, confidently, and decisively in the event of a disaster, which increases chances of better outcomes and bolsters Scenic Rim disaster preparedness

The Recover Adapt Connect program received $3.6 million under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery (BSBR) grants program, supported by NEMA.