Bloomfield Track
| Bloomfield Track Queensland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Driving along the Bloomfield Track, September 2009 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Rural road |
| Length | 30 km (19 mi) |
| Opened | 1984 |
| Major junctions | |
| North end | Wujal Wujal |
| South end | Cape Tribulation |
The Bloomfield Track, which is also known as the Coast Road, is a controversial four-wheel-drive road in Far North Queensland, Australia. The road's construction through untouched wilderness was the cause of protests and blockades in the early 1980s.
The road was completed in 1984, connecting Cape Tribulation to Cooktown. This route is an alternative to the Mulligan Highway further inland.[1] It passes over the Donovan and Cowie Ranges.[2] To reduce the environment impact the road was designed with few switchbacks and bends on the climbs resulting in patches of steep gradients over the ranges.[2] The track itself is 30 km in length.
The road is only partially sealed and may be impassable after heavy rains. Access to Bloomfield Falls and the aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal is provided by the road which also crosses the Bloomfield River. Tourism along the Bloomfield Track has been popular. Visitors are drawn to the pristine rainforest, swimming holes, creeks and beaches.[3]
Access
The track begins at Cape Tribulation and winds it's way north through the Daintree Rainforest, crossing many creeks in the process then it ends at the aboriginal community Wujal Wujal. Though 4wd is recommended, 2wd vehicles can traverse the track in winter with minimal difficulty. Prior to 2013, access to Wujal Wujal via the crossing on the Bloomfield River was quite risky as flash flooding and high tides would block the small causeway crossing the river. This could trap travellers on the southern side until the river level went down. Following the 2011 floods an almost 4m high concrete bridge was constructed across the river, reducing the need to monitor the tides and the bridge makes crossing safer year round.
Protests
Douglas Shire Council and the Government of Queensland supported the road's development.[4] Environmentalists opposed the road on the basis that it would bring unwanted development to an area of high environmental significance. Blockades against bulldozers brought police and arrests were made. This resulted in national and international attention to the issue.[4] The campaign to protect the Daintree Rainforest through which the road passed eventually resulted in the area being declared a World Heritage site. The Queensland Government opposed the World Heritage listing. It took the issue to the High Court of Australia to stop it but was unsuccessful.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ Lee Mylne (22 September 2006). "The new rush". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
- 1 2 "The end of the road". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
- ↑ "Coast Road". Cook Shire Council. Archived from the original on September 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
- 1 2 3 "Daintree Blockade". DaintreeCoast.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
External links
- Cairns and Far North Environment Centre "Wet Tropics Rainforests" history - including a 1980's history of the blockading and construction of the Bloomfield track Accessed 22 November 2009
- Niemeyer, Simon and Blamey, Russell (2005) Deliberation in the Wilderness: the Far North Queensland Citizens’ Jury. (A report considering future management options for the Bloomfield Track) Land & Water Australia, Canberra. Accessed 22 November 2009
Coordinates: 15°51′27.64″S 145°19′35.65″E / 15.8576778°S 145.3265694°E