Many locals and delegates have gathered in Cloncurry on Monday February 17, for the official opening of the Carl Katter Bridge.
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The Carl Katter Bridge, on Hudson Fysh Drive, was a single lane bridge connecting the town of Cloncurry with the airport, industrial estate and sale yards - but was condemned after the original paperwork could not be found when conducting a safety audit on the bridge.
The Carl Katter Bridge had been a project that Cloncurry Shire Council had been working on for several years but came to fruition after a grant from South32 and $2.5 million dollars funding from the Federal Government's Bridge Renewals Program.
Cloncurry Shire Council Mayor Greg Campbell said the new bridge was build higher and wider.
"This will now enable two lanes of traffic to cross at the same time safely. This includes heavy vehicles," Cr Campbell said.
"With some good planning at the start it also allowed us some extra money to put some work into the approaches and works on the foot bridge."
Delegates Senator Susan McDonald, Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz, Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter also attended the official opening.
"Having them here reinforces how they see infrastructure being important, and the importance of Cloncurry," Cr Campbell.
"Roads are the lifeblood of the bush. If we haven't got a good road and rail systems our product doesn't get to market and other goods and services don't get in.
"Since the bypass got built this route isn't as critical as it use to be but when the river is running, like it is at the moment.
"This bridge comes back to being very critical on the national freight network, but locally it's still a critical link from town to the airport, industrial subdivision and saleyards."
The naming sign of the original bridge was presented to the Katter family with Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter filling in the history how how the bridge was named.
"My grandfather (Carl) never drank at all but this one particular night he got drunk, which really surprised me when I heard the story," Mr Katter said.
"Anyway this one night he missed the bridge and took part of the bridge out and they had been trying for years to get the bridge properly built.
"Of course when he wrecked it the bridge got rebuilt, so Ronny's father said it's only right it should be named after Carl because he sacrificed his life to get the bridge rebuilt."
The vehicle procession across the newly opened bridge was lead by a eight deck cattle truck, followed by vehicles that worked on the bridge.
Senator for Queensland Susan McDonald said it was important to name things for people.
"Communities like Cloncurry are made up of families, and as you drive around if it is the saleyards or bridges that are named after families who have lived here for a long time or have been an important part of the community," Senator McDonald said.
"I do think it is important to acknowledge the people of our community that make us special and strong and make us go on forever.
"And as the mayor said earlier today, your grandfather doesn't have to be buried in the cemetery for you to be a local, which is also true. We welcome people to live amongst us and grow our communities."
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
