Joint media release with Matt Smith MP, the Hon Sam O'Connor MP and Bree James MP
- Tropical Cyclone Jasper reconstruction efforts will include the installation of debris flow barriers at several key sites along the Captain Cook Highway.
- The debris flow barriers protecting roads are a first for Far North Queensland's state-controlled roads and are due to be completed during 2026.
- The barriers will reduce the community impacts of future extreme weather by preventing debris from washing onto the road during heavy rainfall events.
Specially designed barriers will be installed along sections of the Captain Cook Highway damaged by significant debris flows caused by the intense rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Jasper, in a first for state-controlled roads in Far North Queensland.
The recovery works are jointly funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and are part of a package of works on Captain Cook Highway, including the barrier works and other major geotechnical repairs, totalling $243 million.
The rainfall during Tropical Cyclone Jasper is estimated to have reached magnitudes of a 1-in-2000-year event for short durations at points along the Captain Cook Highway.
Satellite imagery and drone photographs show considerable scars in the landscape with some debris flows spanning over a kilometre from their top point in the Macalister Range down to where they met the coastal highway.
The debris flow barriers being constructed above the roadside will vary from two to six metres tall and are rated to withstand the considerable force required to protect the road from large boulders and vegetation that may dislodge from a mountainside during extreme weather.
The barriers are designed to catch the solid debris while allowing for the flow of water into culverts and drains along the highway. This reduces the potential for long term road closures at these sites during and after extreme weather.
Construction of the debris flow barriers is underway and is expected to be completed in 2026, site and weather conditions permitting.
Other reconstruction works are progressing well on Captain Cook Highway with over one-third of geotechnical sites repaired.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads is working closely with the contractor to complete the majority of works by 2027, site and weather conditions permitting. Some works may take longer due to the severity of the damage.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain
"The installation of debris flow barriers along the Captain Cook Highway is another important step in strengthening Far North Queensland's recovery following Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
"These works not only repair the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper but also deliver long-term benefits by safeguarding key transport links that local communities and industries rely on.
"By investing in smarter, more resilient infrastructure, we're supporting Far North Queensland's ongoing recovery and helping communities bounce back stronger after disasters."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith
"It's nearly two years since the devastating floods following Tropical Cyclone Jasper and while we continue to repair the damage in the Far North, it's important to my community that we are also build resilience and protection from future catastrophes. We all remember the shocking devastation at Ellis Beach and Wangetti, none of us want to see that happen again.
"These barriers will help shield the Captain Cook Highway from rocks, boulders, and other debris that would otherwise wash onto the bitumen. By doing so, they will protect the integrity of this essential road and prolong the positive effects of restoration that is still ongoing.
"Drivers who travel North of Cairns have a right to know they can get home safely, and this is just another way the Albanese Government is lifting up the regions."
Quotes attributable to Acting Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Sam O'Connor
"We're focused on making sure our communities across the Far North are better protected against natural disasters and more resilient to the effects of the wet season.
"These barriers will help reduce the likelihood of long-term recovery and reconstruction being needed at these sites after future natural disasters."
"We know it's been a long recovery, and we appreciate the community's patience as we deliver lasting improvements that will help keep Queenslanders safe and connected."
Quotes attributable to Member for Barron River Bree James
"Seeing the destruction left behind by Tropical Cyclone Jasper was devastating, but this investment shows our commitment to rebuilding stronger and making sure our community can withstand what nature throws at us. These new protections mean that when the next storm comes, our region will be safer and better connected.
"These barriers are the first of their kind on Far North Queensland's state-controlled roads and will play a vital role in keeping our community connected by reducing the impact of future extreme weather.
"For people in the Far North, this highway is our lifeline. It links our towns, supports tourism, and keeps essential goods moving. Strengthening it after such devastation is about protecting our way of life."
