Palmerston Highway
Road Connectivity
An integrated and efficient road transport network is critical for economic stability and growth in Far North Queensland, a region of 380,000km² which includes some of the nation’s most remote communities. The region’s inland roads and Cairns’ access to the northern beaches and Tablelands play a vital role in enabling the productivity of northern Australia and the contribution to the national economy through improved connectivity to southern markets. The disruption and dislocation to these road networks in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper have underpinned the importance of these links to the region and indeed, to the nation. Growth in population, employment, tourism and freight volumes coupled with the increasing importance of food security, means safety and capacity requirements will only be exacerbated. Investment in FNQ’s road connectivity is crucial to avoid nationally significant productivity losses, to connect rural and remote communities and to ensure continued regional and state economic development.
The road networks linking Cairns with the vital agricultural, mining and tourism regions of the Atherton Tablelands and beyond are critical enablers of the regional economy. With sizeable growth in both agriculture and mining in the region predicted in the next decade, a safe and reliable road network that enables increased heavy vehicle traffic is vital for economic growth and prosperity in the region. The road network in and out of Cairns acts as the main distribution hub for the region and is essential for further developing the agricultural and mining exports of the region. However, the growing demands for freight and increasing frequency of severe weather events, has strained the existing infrastructure, impacting transport costs and service levels across the supply chain.
The Palmerston Highway is a key strategic link connecting the southern Tablelands to the Bruce Highway, Port of Mourilyan and Innisfail. As the only road facilitating B-double access to the Tablelands, the Palmerston Highway functions as the region’s primary freight route, playing a critical role in connecting Far North Queensland’s agriculture and mining sectors with southern markets in addition to providing access to tourist attractions and is central to waste management. However, it requires significant investment to maintain crucial access and enhance the resilience of the route.
Following significant structural damage, the Palmerston Highway reopened with a single temporary lane in early February. However, it is essential the road is upgraded to ensure its long-term viability.
Significant investment from the state and federal governments required.
Benefits to the region
• Enhance regional connectivity.
• Increased resilience in the wake of increasingly frequent and severe weather events.
• Unlock and secure critical supply chains, improving the region’s freight network and waste management industry.
• Increased economic and social outcomes.
• Improve safety and security.
• Improve national and regional connectivity.
Recommendation
The unique and complex topography of the Palmerston Highway requires significant investment from both Queensland and Australian Governments to ensure the long-term sustainability and functionality of the highway into the future.
Overview
The Palmerston Highway is a key strategic link connecting the southern Tablelands to the Bruce Highway, Port of Mourilyan and Innisfail. As the only road facilitating B-double access to the Tablelands, the Palmerston Highway functions as the region’s primary freight route, playing a critical role in connecting Far North Queensland’s agriculture and mining sectors with southern markets in addition to providing access to tourist attractions and is central to waste management. However, it requires significant investment to maintain crucial access and enhance the resilience of the route.
Catastrophic flooding associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper has highlighted not only the importance, but the vulnerability of the Palmerston Highway. The highway remained closed for nearly two months, with a temporary single lane section opening in early February 2024, after the road suffered significant structural damage.
Located in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, the region’s topography is challenging and particularly susceptible to flooding, landslides and fallen vegetation. In the four years to 2019, 76% of closures to the Palmerston Highway were due to environmental factors. Closures to the highway result in B-double traffic having to either wait, breakdown their vehicle to access an alternative range route (provided these are open) or divert and use the inland route via Townsville, resulting in at least a two hour increase to travel time[i].
Whilst remedial work on the Palmerston Highway continues, investments in infrastructure resilience, including planning, design, construction and maintenance are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Palmerston Highway, secure supply chains and increase connectivity and efficiency.
[i] The State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads), Cairns to Northern Tablelands Access Strategy, July 2021
Last updated: September 2024
The Palmerston Highway is a key strategic link connecting the southern Tablelands to the Bruce Highway, Port of Mourilyan and Innisfail. As the only road facilitating B-double access to the Tablelands, the Palmerston Highway functions as the region’s primary freight route, playing a critical role in connecting Far North Queensland’s agriculture and mining sectors with southern markets in addition to providing access to tourist attractions and is central to waste management. However, it requires significant investment to maintain crucial access and enhance the resilience of the route.
Following significant structural damage, the Palmerston Highway reopened with a single temporary lane in early February. However, it is essential the road is upgraded to ensure its long-term viability.
Significant investment from the state and federal governments required.
Benefits to the region
• Enhance regional connectivity.
• Increased resilience in the wake of increasingly frequent and severe weather events.
• Unlock and secure critical supply chains, improving the region’s freight network and waste management industry.
• Increased economic and social outcomes.
• Improve safety and security.
• Improve national and regional connectivity.
Recommendation
The unique and complex topography of the Palmerston Highway requires significant investment from both Queensland and Australian Governments to ensure the long-term sustainability and functionality of the highway into the future.
Overview
The Palmerston Highway is a key strategic link connecting the southern Tablelands to the Bruce Highway, Port of Mourilyan and Innisfail. As the only road facilitating B-double access to the Tablelands, the Palmerston Highway functions as the region’s primary freight route, playing a critical role in connecting Far North Queensland’s agriculture and mining sectors with southern markets in addition to providing access to tourist attractions and is central to waste management. However, it requires significant investment to maintain crucial access and enhance the resilience of the route.
Catastrophic flooding associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper has highlighted not only the importance, but the vulnerability of the Palmerston Highway. The highway remained closed for nearly two months, with a temporary single lane section opening in early February 2024, after the road suffered significant structural damage.
Located in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, the region’s topography is challenging and particularly susceptible to flooding, landslides and fallen vegetation. In the four years to 2019, 76% of closures to the Palmerston Highway were due to environmental factors. Closures to the highway result in B-double traffic having to either wait, breakdown their vehicle to access an alternative range route (provided these are open) or divert and use the inland route via Townsville, resulting in at least a two hour increase to travel time[i].
Whilst remedial work on the Palmerston Highway continues, investments in infrastructure resilience, including planning, design, construction and maintenance are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Palmerston Highway, secure supply chains and increase connectivity and efficiency.
[i] The State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads), Cairns to Northern Tablelands Access Strategy, July 2021
Last updated: September 2024
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