Crossing repairs coming for FNQ's Mitchell River

Carpentaria Shire Council will receive more than $22 million to repair the vital Mitchell River Crossing along Dunbar Koolatah Road

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The funding will allow Council to get on with their flood recovery efforts, knowing their reconstruction costs will be covered.

The existing damaged bed-level crossing has been closed since December 2022 due to high water levels and extensive flood damage in the aftermath of the severe monsoon event.

The crossing links rural properties between Koolatah and Maramie to business centres such as Normanton and Mareeba.

The route is also crucial for tourist traffic and community connectivity to north-west Queensland.

The closure has also severely impacted freight in the region, particularly livestock transport that currently needs to deviate more than three hours.

Repairing this crossing will be a huge boost for the region, especially local cattle properties and FNQ communities like Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and Weipa.