The Kennedy Development Road which runs between outback Hughenden and the Lynd Junction has just 11km that remains to be bitumen sealed – and this needs to be done as a matter of urgency.
It is also known as the Hann Highway in Flinders Shire and when the coastal Bruce Highway is flooded is a great inland route.
However when the recent floods created havoc in the north, trucks stuck and banked up in the vicinity could not use it.
That’s because the 11km of dirt were unpassable.
The unsealed sections remain a critical bottleneck, preventing a continuous inland highway connection from Cairns to Melbourne.
Earlier this month, Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle emphasised the importance of completing the final 11km of sealing to strengthen regional connectivity and supply chain resilience.
“In times of need, we Queenslanders want to help out a mate, and in this instance, we can’t due to 11km of unsealed road. If the Bruce Highway is cut, business is impacted, supply chains suffer, and inland communities lose the ability to support the coast. Right now, if they go down, we go down,” Peddle said.
On February 13, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that funding will be made available to seal the remaining 11km section of the road, which was welcomed by Peddle.
“This long-awaited investment will ensure a reliable inland alternative to the Bruce Highway during times of crisis, strengthening our region’s resilience, improving freight efficiency, and supporting local industries and communities,” she said.
“The Kennedy Developmental Road is a vital link for North and North-West Queensland, and this upgrade will deliver lasting benefits for transport, emergency response, and economic development.
“This announcement also reinforces the value of partnerships and the power of working together across all levels of government and industry.
“By investing in critical infrastructure, we are building a stronger, more connected future for our region, and putting Queensland on the global stage as an economic powerhouse.”
Since the early 2000s I have travelled the Hann several times including when most of it was shifting dirt.
An action group was set up to lobby governments for an upgrade and one meeting I attended during 2008 was at Clothes Peg Station along the route.
I am sure when the remaining section is sealed truck drivers and road transport companies will be delighted.