RELATED:
- <link march landslides-close-captain-cook-highway-between-port-douglas-and-cairns>Landslides close Captain Cook Highway between Port Douglas and Cairns
- Rain dump causes carnage for Port Douglas homes, businesses 


12:55 UPDATE: Police have opened the Captain Cook Highway to one lane of traffic and are escorting cars north and south-bound as appropriate, according to Sgt Damian Meadows, Office in Charge, Port Douglas.

But Meadows has cautioned drivers to allow additional time if they need to travel to Cairns. “This is going to be a slow process and if we get more rain, there is the possibility that the Captain Cook Highway may have to be again closed,” he said.

The deluge from the significant rainfall has damaged pavements and left considerable debris on the roads and the fear is that more rain will create more landslides. More than a dozen landslides forced the closure of the highway yesterday.

Meadows confirmed that the road from Port Douglas to Mossman is open, but motorists will not be able to drive into the Daintree because of flooding and road closures. He added that four schools are closed: Daintree, Miallo, Wonga Beach and Alexander Bay.

Meanwhile, Douglas Shire Council Mayor Julia Leu is urging everyone to only use water for critical purposes to ensure drinking water supplies are available.

‘This could impact residents for the next two days so it is absolutely vital businesses and residents limit their water usage,” she said.

The recent deluge has caused high turbidity levels that are slowing down the water treatment process, required to make clean and safe water. 

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