Part of the coastal Captain Cook Highway has reopened more than a month after the cyclone made landfall in north Queensland before it lingered over land causing severe flooding.
The road is one of the key connections between Cairns and Port Douglas, with Cairns the air hub for the popular leisure and business events destination Port Douglas.
On Saturday the stretch of road between Buchans Point, near Palm Cove and Oak Beach, near Thala Beach Nature Reserve, reopened, reconnecting a key section of the coastal drive between the two destinations.
More than 30,000 tonnes of mud and debris have been cleared from the road since the cyclone.
“Many tourism staff travel north for work, so the opening of the Great Barrier Reef Drive on the Captain Cook Highway also reconnects businesses in Port Douglas with their staff,” said Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen.
A $24.25 million Tourism Recovery and Resilience Program is helping visitor economy operators in the area recover from the flooding and damage caused by the tropical storm.
Visitors are being encouraged to visit the area to help businesses recover from the weather event over what is typically one of the busiest periods for the region.
Port Douglas has a strong conference and incentive offering, with key properties like Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas, Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa and Oaks Port Douglas Resort all offering event space and trips out to the Great Barrier and into Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest unique experiences for incentive groups.
