Getting to mainland Australia’s northernmost point is difficult at the best of times but constant ferry breakdowns at the final river crossing has made it all the harder.
The Jardine River ferry is the only way to reach the top of Cape York over land and it has broken down for the fourth time in as many weeks.
It left hundreds of travellers like grey nomad Julie Jenkins stranded in vehicles for kilometres either side of the river crossing.
She said reaching the tip of Australia’s mainland has long been on her bucket list — being stranded overnight on a remote highway in a kilometres-long line-up of traffic wasn’t.
“I’m sure the people on the side who are waiting to come across are just as annoyed.”
Hit to tourism season
The region, known for its rugged national parks, pristine waterways, secluded beaches and rich Indigenous culture, attracts about 150,000 tourists a year.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland estimates tourism is worth $175 million annually to Cape York.
The ferry is operated by the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) and costs $250 for a return ticket to transport a car and caravan.
The run of breakdowns has made for an inauspicious start to the region’s busy dry-weather tourism high season.
“You’re a tourist and you’re spending your dollars in the region,” Ms Jenkins said.
Ms Jenkins said she had diligently researched the trip and was aware of the ferry’s recent woes, which she was monitoring on her travels.
She said she was frustrated by the lack of communication from NPARC.
“Surely the could’ve had a sign up [at Bamaga] … there’s nothing [about] the road conditions; there’s nothing to say if the ferry is working or not.”
The ferry has since been repaired and was operational again from Friday morning following Thursday’s breakdown.
Bridge concerns traditional owners
Ms Jenkins said the issues could be avoided if the ferry, a 12-hour drive north of Cairns, was replaced by a bridge.
NPARC Mayor Robert Poi Poi said the latest ferry breakdown was due to a broken hydraulic pump.
“I’m sorry it’s put [travellers] in that situation but sometimes remotely, we can’t help it and we’re trying our best to get it up and running as soon as we can,” Councillor Poi Poi said.
He said the 40-year-old ferry was well past its use-by date and the council had started a feasibility study on a replacement.
Councillor Poi Poi said a bridge was unlikely due to concerns from the region’s traditional owners.
“Definitely out of the question unless we sit around the table properly to discuss with the traditional owners on a way forward,” he said.
Councillor Poi Poi said the ferry fees were due to the high running costs, which included an estimated $1.2 million worth of repairs over the past 12 months.
Calls for additional ferry
State MP for the area David Kempton said the ferry needed replacing.
“It’s not surprising but it certainly is disappointing … the ferry certainly needs replacing, it’s just not reliable anymore,” he said.
Mr Kempton said a two-ferry system could improve traffic flow and benefit tourism.
“Two smaller ferries that continually run backwards and forwards that’ll get the traffic through quicker and if one breaks down, you’ve always got a back-up,” he said.