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Rainforest village back in business after deluge destroyed road

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Paluma, a rainforest village near Townsville, has reopened to visitors after more than a year of restricted access due to a washed-out road.
  • Torrential rain in early 2025 caused significant damage to the main access route, turning the once-vibrant community into a "ghost town."
  • Businesses and residents are welcoming the return of visitors as road repairs progress, bringing life back to the community.

A rainforest retreat nestled in the mountains north of Townsville is buzzing with life again as Paluma welcomes back visitors after a year-long closure. The village, a gateway to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, had its access severely restricted when torrential rain in early 2025 washed away its main road.

There was a really good vibe here, then the road shut, and it has been a ghost town.

— Carolyn RichardsPaluma Ivy Cottage owner describing the impact of the road closure on the village.

"There was a really good vibe here, then the road shut, and it has been a ghost town," said Carolyn Richards, owner of Paluma Ivy Cottage. The village experienced more than two meters of rain in just two days in February 2025, causing extensive damage to Mount Spec Road.

As repairs on Mount Spec Road continue, the permit system has been lifted, allowing travelers to access Paluma via hourly pilot vehicles between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Businesses that had been struggling during the closure, like Ms. Richards' cottage, reopened over the weekend. "I was actually really nervous reopening because it is familiar, but it is not, and we didn't know how we would go," Ms. Richards shared, "But it has been a fabulous day."

I was actually really nervous reopening because it is familiar, but it is not, and we didn't know how we would go.

— Ms. RichardsCarolyn Richards expressing her apprehension before reopening her business.

Beyond the financial strain, residents like potter Len Cook highlighted the social cost of the isolation. "It was literally weeks where I wasn't speaking to anybody unless I went to Ingham or Townsville," Mr. Cook said. He expressed his joy at seeing familiar faces again, stating, "It puts a smile on my face and their face too, so it's good."

But it has been a fabulous day.

— Ms. RichardsCarolyn Richards reflecting on the successful reopening day.

The return of visitors was celebrated with music from the Wattle n Gum Bush Band, and the annual winter markets are set to resume on Sunday. Event organizer Wilfred Karnoll of the Paluma Community Association emphasized the need for continued visitor support, noting, "It's great to see the village has some life back into it again." While Mount Spec Road is not expected to be fully repaired for several months, the reopening marks a significant step towards recovery for the resilient community.

I was fortunate I wasn't relying on income from my pots to survive over that terrible time.

— Len CookPaluma potter Len Cook discussing his financial situation during the closure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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