by Mat Churchill

The crossing on the Bloomfield River has suffered "irrevocable damage" by high waters and one local resident has called on the Council to act fast to repair the damage.

Mike D'Arcy of D'Arcy of Daintree 4WD Tours said the effects of the damage are wide-ranging in the short and long term. 

"The irrevocable damage was confirmed to me yesterday (Tuesday) by the Shire Engineer of Cook Shire. I have not yet been able to ascertain the knowledge or approach of the Cairns Shire, and have been endeavouring to do so," Mr D'Arcy said.

"I drove up the track to Woobadda. It was clear to this point, thanks to the enormously hard work by the local Council staff and a couple of builders from south of the river. They did a great job, and I and I am sure many others would like you to pass on our deep felt appreciation.

"I did not attempt to go through Woobadda. Two of the builders described it as hairy with two deep ditches pushing water half way up the windscreen. They also described the track between Woobadda and the Bloomfield crossing as hairy, with landslips down the concrete strips and trees down."

Mr D'Arcy said a substantial number of the Wujal Wujal community live south of the Crossing at Degarra and Thomsons Creek along with many of the staff from the various government authorities.

"Keeping the Bloomfield Track and roads between Cape Trib and Cooktown open is absolutely crucial to the community and business interests of all people.

"In no lesser way, tourist access to these iconic destinations is also vital to Cairns and Port Douglas," Mr D'Arcy said.

"The Degarra and Wujal Wujal communities are at least temporarily split, with access, I am led to believe, only possible by a flying fox.

"The new Indigenous Cultural Centre at Wujal promises to be a real job creator and tourist destination for the people of the area. Further delays in making it accessible from the south from will be damaging also to business operators on the Daintree Coast, Port Douglas and Cairns."

Mr D'Arcy wrote to Division 10 Councillor Julia Leu and Cairns Regional Council Mayor Val Schier to ask for a quick response in addressing the issue. He asked the two local Government representatives to:

• Acknowledge that you (Mayor Schier and Cr Leu) understand the impact and gravity of the problem;
• Take measures to ensure that Bloomfield Track will be kept open and viable at least as far as the Bloomfield River crossing. Currently, this includes some filling at Woobadda, landslip removal and tree clearance;
• Ensure that short and long term solutions for the Bloomfield River crossing will be addressed as a legitimate and high priority; and
• Relevant State and Commonwealth authorities and Task Forces will where necessary be involved in the processes.

However, Lawrence Mason of Mason Tours says that the Bloomfield Track, by its very nature, is going to be challenging during the wet season.

"Water over the bonnet is part and parcel of the Bloomfield Track. There's no point in filling in a little bit of crossing because the next time it floods…it'll wash whatever you've put in there out again.

Mr Mason said that having a suitable vehicle to undertake the Bloomfield Track in deep water is essential.

"It's a 4WD track and it's the wet season. If you operate an unmodified, cheap little vehicle then you won't be able to get through."

"Saying Cowie Range is "hairy" because there's some small landslips and trees on it, from my point of view, is laughable. We've just had a record breaking cyclone and I reckon the Bloomfield Track held up pretty bloody well.

"I agree with him (Mr D'Arcy) that you've got to fix the Bloomfield causeway which is 0.3m, but we keep the weather records up here and March is statistically the wettest month of the year. Now I don't see how the hell you can do anything."

"Personally I don't support the upgrading of the Bloomfield Track, I know people of Wujal Wujal would hate me for saying that, but we need some 4WD adventure tracks that are adventurous," Mr Mason said.

At the time of reporting Cairns Regional Council had yet to respond to Mr D'Arcy's requests.