Bloomfield Track
Encyclopedia
The Bloomfield Track, which is also known as the Coast Road, is a controversial four-wheel-drive road in Far North Queensland
, Australia
. The road's construction through untouched wilderness was the cause of protests and blockades in the early 1980s.
The road was completed in 1984, connecting Cape Tribulation to Cooktown
. This route is an alternative to the Mulligan Highway
further inland. It passes over the Donovan and Cowie Ranges. To reduce the environment impact the road was designed with few switchbacks and bends on the climbs resulting in patches of steep gradients over the ranges. The track itself is 30 km in length.
The road is only partially sealed and may be impassable after heavy rains. Access to Bloomfield Falls
and the aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal
is provided by the road which also crosses the Bloomfield River
. Tourism along the Bloomfield Track has been popular. Visitors are drawn to the pristine rainforest, swimming holes, creeks and beaches.
supported the road's development. Environmentalists opposed the road on the basis that it would bring unwanted development to an area of high environmental significance. Blockades against bulldozers brought police and arrests were made. This resulted in national and international attention to the issue. The campaign to protect the Daintree Rainforest
through which the road passed eventually resulted in the area being declared a World Heritage site. The Queensland Government opposed the World Heritage listing. It took the issue to the High Court of Australia
to stop it but was unsuccessful.
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The road's construction through untouched wilderness was the cause of protests and blockades in the early 1980s.
The road was completed in 1984, connecting Cape Tribulation to Cooktown
Cooktown, Queensland
Cooktown is a small town located at the mouth of the Endeavour River, on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, for repairs in 1770. At the 2006 census, Cooktown had a population of 1,336...
. This route is an alternative to the Mulligan Highway
Mulligan Highway
The Mulligan Highway is a new state highway in Queensland, Australia. It runs for approximately 270 km between Mareeba and Cooktown, on the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula where it terminates....
further inland. It passes over the Donovan and Cowie Ranges. To reduce the environment impact the road was designed with few switchbacks and bends on the climbs resulting in patches of steep gradients over the ranges. The track itself is 30 km in length.
The road is only partially sealed and may be impassable after heavy rains. Access to Bloomfield Falls
Bloomfield Falls
The Bloomfield Falls are near Cape Tribulation, close to Wujal Wujal, north of the Daintree National Park in Queensland, Australia.The waterfall is on the Bloomfield River....
and the aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal
Wujal Wujal
Wujal Wujal is in northern Queensland, Australia. Wujal Wujal is the name of a relatively small Aboriginal community on the north and south sides of the Bloomfield River. It has an area of 19.94 square kilometres of land. At the 2006 census, Wujal Wujal had a population of 326.It is located...
is provided by the road which also crosses the Bloomfield River
Bloomfield River
The Bloomfield River is a river situated in Queensland, north of Daintree. The river enters the sea north of Cape Tribulation and is noted for its Bloomfield River cod fish species, found only in the river...
. Tourism along the Bloomfield Track has been popular. Visitors are drawn to the pristine rainforest, swimming holes, creeks and beaches.
Protests
Douglas Shire Council and the Government of QueenslandGovernment of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
supported the road's development. Environmentalists opposed the road on the basis that it would bring unwanted development to an area of high environmental significance. Blockades against bulldozers brought police and arrests were made. This resulted in national and international attention to the issue. The campaign to protect the Daintree Rainforest
Daintree Rainforest
The Daintree Rainforest is a tropical rainforest on the north east coast of Queensland, Australia, north of Mossman and Cairns. At around 1200 square kilometres the Daintree is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest on the Australian continent...
through which the road passed eventually resulted in the area being declared a World Heritage site. The Queensland Government opposed the World Heritage listing. It took the issue to the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
to stop it but was unsuccessful.
External links
- Cairns and Far North Environment Centre "Wet Tropics Rainforests" history - including a 1980's history of the blockading and construction of the Bloomfield track Accessed 22 November 2009