Tropical Cyclone Jasper, Palmerston Highway Reconstruction

The project comprised temporary and permanent design for the remediation of two major landslip sites on the Palmerston Hwy (Millaa Milla – Innisfail) which is a critical freight route between the Atherton Tablelands and the Cairns coast. The project is located in the highly sensitive World Heritage Daintree Rainforest. The permanent repairs, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), included extensive geotechnical stabilization across two major landslips. Downslope repairs comprised an anchored, contiguous bore pile wall to intercept the deep-seated failure plain above the basalt bedrock. Upslope repairs comprised a combination of a micropile wall and more than 6,500 metres of soil nails and high-tensile mesh to stabilize slopes up to 20 metres high and 75 metres wide.

FSG led and managed a multi-disciplinary team of civil designers, drafters, surveyors and environmental scientists to deliver this technically complex project on budget and ahead of time.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the completion of works marked a critical milestone in Far North Queensland’s recovery. “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 rainforest environment, all while keeping traffic moving throughout.”

State Member for Hinchinbrook Wayde Chiesa said the completed works were a testament to the commitment of both governments to the recovery of Far North Queensland. “The Atherton Tablelands is the agricultural powerhouse of Far North Queensland, and the Palmerston Highway is its connection to the coast, so having this route fully restored is absolutely critical for our producers, our businesses and our communities,” Mr Chiesa said.