Community
14 February, 2025
‘End scavenging’
CAIRNS Mayor Amy Eden is demanding that supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths establish warehouses in the region to prevent shelves being stripped bare when the Bruce Highway is cut every wet season.
The big brands have distribution centres in Townsville to supply the Far North as well as north-western and central Queensland.
But, Cr Eden said this week, that wasn’t good enough.
“Every single year, like clockwork, the wet season hits, the Bruce Highway gets cut and our supermarket shelves are stripped bare,” she said.
“The past week hasn’t been grocery shopping – it’s been a scavenger hunt.
“Families, the elderly and businesses have been left scrambling for basic essentials. It’s not just frustrating, it’s completely unacceptable. This isn’t a one-off. It happens every time the Bruce Highway is cut by flooding.
“Cairns isn’t just any city, we’re the supply hub for the Cape and all of Far North Queensland. When our shelves go empty, entire communities suffer.
“I welcome the much-needed plans to fix the Bruce Highway, but let’s be real: that’s a long-term fix. Cairns needs action now.
“That’s why this week I’m writing to both sides of federal politics and the CEOs of Coles and Woolworths to demand a fair deal for our region.
“The time for excuses is over – Cairns needs dedicated warehousing and storage facilities,” Cr Eden said.
“These supermarket giants rake in billions in profits every year, yet they can’t plan ahead for a predictable annual event? That’s a failure of logistics and a failure of responsibility to the people of FNQ.
“This is not in any way a criticism of the hard-working local staff, who often cop the brunt of anger from shoppers due to the bigger picture failings of supply. I commend and thank local staff at our supermarkets who work in challenging conditions when the shelves are empty.
“If Coles and Woolies won’t step up, then the federal government must step in and regulate them to do so. The two big supermarket chains can build or rent – that’s their choice – but they should not be allowed to ignore the clear and urgent need for Cairns to have the food security it deserves.”
Woolworths said a combination of their Townsville and Brisbane regional distribution centres played a critical role in supplying the Far North.
“While flood waters are starting to recede, road closures continue to affect the flow supplies north of Townsville,” a Woolworths spokeswoman said in a statement on Monday.
“As soon as the Ollera Creek Bridge reopens we’ll be able to resume our regular delivery routes and start sending a stream of trucks into our stores from Ingham right up into Cairns. We have multiple truckloads of groceries on standby ready and positioned up along the inland route to take advantage of any available access points into Cairns.”
On February 11, a post on Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s Facebook page said the council would continue to focus their energy on resupply efforts after the reopening of the Ollera Creek Bridge on Monday night.
The council has provided free cleaning supplies for Cardwell residents, debris removal at Port Hinchinbrook and with official teams on the ground visiting the hardest hit areas and assessing damage.
The Cardwell recovery hub has remained open despite initially having a closing date on February 11.
After losing their home on Roma St, the Churton family is gearing up for the long recovery road ahead.
“The hardest part is having to explain to your children that they have to leave their home, the place where they can be themselves, the place where they feel safe,” said Deb Churton.
“Our goal right now is to give our kids a level of normality. Our insurance CGU has been great but it’s still going to be approximately 12 months before we can return home.”
Ms Churton owns a painting business alongside her partner Brent. They have two children, Elle, 8, and Aston, 6. Their home was flooded on Sunday, February 2 as they attempted to help other neighbours.
“Around 10pm on February 2 our neighbour’s home started to flood, we told her to come to our house because we’re 1.2m off the ground, but since this had never happened before to them, we decided to also evacuate to be on the safe side,” she said.
“Thankfully we did because the water got about three inches high above those 1.2m.
“While I was preparing to evacuate, Brent (husband) was outside trying to help the neighbours, that’s when he got on his boat, it lifted off the trailer, that’s how high and fast the water was coming in.”
The Churtons were rescued by friends near the Cardwell railway station and they’re currently living with friends but they’re looking at living on their property in a caravan.
“We still don’t know if living there is viable, my son is on the spectrum so he really relies on the routine, it’s going to be a tough road ahead,” she said.
“Cassowary Coast Regional Council were great for the recovery after Jasper but they haven’t been great with keeping people safe during these tragedies,” she said.
“When we got our warning message it was way too late, we received it at 7.30pm when SES were already too busy evacuating people which is why we had to evacuate ourselves.
“There were not enough sandbags. They should’ve been way more prepared well before we had an emergency warning.
“The overall community feel is that this could’ve been avoided.”
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council was contacted for comment.
