Residents in small north Queensland communities are feeling the ongoing impacts of one of the region's wettest years on record. For the past three months, landslides have hampered access to several small towns relying on tourism to keep business afloat.
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00:00Deep in the North Queensland bush is Hidden Valley.
00:06It's tropical, remote and attracts visitors from across the world.
00:11We normally spot this little guy in Running River there when we do our platypus spotting here.
00:17But after a sodden few months, the community's businesses are suffering.
00:21So far this year we've had nearly five metres of rain, so we've really, really copped it.
00:28The main tourist road to Hidden Valley and Paluma has been closed since February due to landslips.
00:34The back road in doubles the travel time. It's rough and not suited to coaches.
00:39We had a lot of cruise ships booked in, so we're looking well over $100,000 for that period of time.
00:45If we don't get that permission to use this range for our busy period,
00:50we're looking well over $200,000 to $300,000 in losses and we can't afford that.
00:55Paluma is normally teeming with daytrippers and groups of students on camp.
01:00The village is now quiet, with hospitality businesses shuttered.
01:04Usually it's a happy, vibey little place with lots of people sitting around having their coffees and slices of cake.
01:11And it's all packed up now.
01:13A transport and main road spokesperson says that crews have been drilling and blasting large boulders into smaller pieces that can be then moved.
01:22But with safety assessment and geotechnical work ongoing, the department was unable to provide a timeframe for the reopening of the road.
01:30Potter Lencook has lived in the village for nearly four decades.
01:36While he hasn't sold a pot since January, it's the social interaction he misses the most.
01:42Well, there's no doubt it will survive up here. It's just...
01:45I've just had to try our patience out, that's all, I think.
01:49Patience that is being stretched thin as the weeks go on.
01:53Getting the road sorted. That's all we need. That's all we ask for.
01:56As a taxpayer and a ratepayer, we just want a decent road, for God's sake.
02:00We're lucky to see the beach on Instagram.
02:02Peace out.
02:03It's impossible.
02:05I swear to God to make you Yankee.
02:11It's impossible.
02:18Again to get the ocean like an nurser's GUHA.
02:23But before hallowiku, there's no by nothing.