Hite’s Haulage owner Paul Hite drove the first truck across the bridge while watched by Senator Ian Macdonald, Assistant Minister of State Jennifer Howard, and State MP Rob Katter. 

The $3.5 million bridge about 40 kilometres north of Julia Creek was funded by the three levels of government. 

McKinlay Shire mayor Belinda Murphy said the new bridge was wider, and 1.5 metres higher than the former one, which had been built about 60 years ago.

“We should get a lot more flow. It’s easier and safer for road trains to get across,” Cr Murphy said. 

$1.7 million was funded by the federal government, and the state government paid $1.4 million under the community resilience funding, she said. There was “ministerial discretion” to ensure the council received state government funds. 

The old bridge often flooded over in the wet season, causing difficulties for landowners who needed to transport cattle. Landowner Brett Hick said the river divides his family’s property in half. 

He said it flooded three months each year if there was a proper wet season. 

“In my lifetime there’s been one in 30 years it hasn’t actually run over,” he said.

“Even the bridge wasn’t wide enough. Some machinery could not make it over. It was too narrow.”  

“We have got an airplane, and that makes it easier.” 

Also at the opening was Deborah Keats, who took a photo with her children Richard and Lilly on the bridge. The family lives 50 kilometres north of the bridge and are cut off from Julia Creek when it floods. 

Richard and Lilly attend the School of the Air. But they only saw their friends and classmates several times a year when the school organises activity days in Julia Creek. 

They missed out when the bridge flooded over, Mrs Keats said. “They need that social interaction,” she said. 

Flooding also stopped the postman from delivering their mail and groceries.