General News
3 June, 2026
Back to normal
AFTER two and a half years, following the devastating impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, the Palmerston Highway between Innisfail and the Tablelands is back to normal.
The reconstruction cost is still being tallied, with the Australian Government paying 75% and Queensland up for a quarter.
Two significant landslips – one where the road sunk 2m and shifted 2m sideways – have been repaired. The upslope sites, including one that measured 20m high and 75m at its widest point, were stabilised with more than 6500m of soil nails – the length of about 60 football fields – along with high tensile mesh and coir netting. At the downslope landslip, 83 concrete piles measuring up to 19m were installed over 160m. A capping beam was built on top of the piles to secure them together. It also acts as a retaining wall for the road embankment. The piles and capping beam used more than 1450 cubic metres of concrete which is enough to fill half an Olympic-size swimming pool.
Damaged sections of rainforest in the road corridor have also been rehabilitated.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the completion of works would benefit local residents.
“This news will be a relief for Far North Queenslanders still recovering from Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which caused this significant damage on the Palmerston Highway,” she said.
“Crews did an amazing job to undertake emergency works in challenging conditions and repaired the road to a trafficable condition just months after its closure, helping keep the economy moving.
“This critical supply route has now been restored to its pre-disaster function, helping Tablelands primary producers and residents get around the region safely as we get on with the job of supporting recovery from Tropical Cyclone Jasper.”
Federal Member for Leichardt Matt Smith said the repairs restored the Palmerston Highway to pre-Cyclone Jasper conditions.
“The Far North grows the finest produce on the planet. With repairs to the Palmerston Highway now complete, our farmers, agricultural producers and residents on the Tablelands can send their wares to the rest of Australia more efficiently,” he said.
“The Albanese Labor government has worked hard to keep Far Northerners moving, and with this road restored to a pre-cyclonic state, it’s another step towards total recovery and our future resilience.”
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said the completion of works marked a critical milestone in Far North Queensland’s recovery.
“The Crisafulli government, alongside the Commonwealth, is getting on with the job of rebuilding Far North Queensland’s road network so the communities, businesses and freight operators who depend on our regional road network,” he said.
“The Palmerston Highway is a vital connection for the farmers, freight operators and communities of the Atherton Tablelands.
“This has been a remarkable effort, which saw significant slope repairs occur within a limited road corridor and World Heritage Wet Tropics rainforest environment, all while keeping traffic moving throughout.”
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