Community & Business
12 February, 2025
Hann the key to keep trucks rolling
LOCALS across the region were still scrambling for groceries on Monday as trucks were halted and roads cut off after flooding in the region.
Coles and Woolworths’ shelves were stripped bare of nearly all basic items and while the two IGA stores fared a bit better, the situation may continue for some time.
This has triggered calls for action to upgrade the Hann Highway which is part of the Kennedy Developmental Road, spanning from Hughenden to the Lynd.
Last week, regional lobby group Advance Cairns and Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter said the Hann should be a priority to upgrade before the next wet season.
Mr Katter said the “inland highway”, built by the US Army during World War II, was the key to keeping North Queensland connected during future flood events, but would also cut costs and time for trucks in normal conditions.
He said the highway upgrade needed to be finished as a matter of urgency, with just 10.8km of highway remaining unsealed, and additional bridge upgrades needed at Bundock Creek and Einasleigh River crossing in order to make the stretch suitable for larger road trains.
Mr Katter said the Crisafulli Government could finalise the Hann Highway with “loose change”, and that the benefits to the north’s and the nation’s transport network security would be immeasurable.
“With the Bruce Highway cut off again (last week) from these catastrophic floods around Cardwell, Ingham and Townsville, we have to look at how we can improve and flood-proof our road network in Queensland,” he said.
“A lot of that involves the Hann Highway, which can connect western Queensland up to Cairns without having to brave the coast.
“Additionally, if you’re in the fruit and vegetable game and carting freight from the tropical far North to Melbourne to Sydney or back, using the Hann can save up to 13 hours of burning rubber and diesel from going along the coast.
“For our local communities, driving major freight transporters to the Hann takes a lot of road rains off the highway which saves the wear and tear and reduces congestion.
“If you take one triple road train down the Hann you can take two b-doubles off the Bruce, which is a big thing.”
Advance Cairns chair Nick Trompf said he believed the remaining section to be sealed would cost in the vicinity of $30 million which was not a lot of money in terms of highway upgrades.
He said that the upgrade, which could be done before the next wet season, would not only provide the region with a route that would be accessible in all weather, but would cut travel time and distance for trucks heading to Melbourne, which was the biggest market for the region’s produce.
