It happens every year.

The space invaders from the Ironman Cairns with their bike leg throwing everything into chaos for a day, in a Shire that depends on tourism and has a welcoming reputation.

From 5.30am to 5.30pm yesterday no one could get into Port Douglas, Mossman, or the Daintree or get out of it, without undertaking a three hour plus trek across the tablelands with increased traffic flow.

It defies logic that one event can hold us all to ransom every year. Yet it does and we have to cop it sweet. A major arterial road like the Captain Cook Highway closed to all except a group of elite sports people who
bring nothing in the form of revenue to our Shire. They simply ride to the outskirts, turn around and go
back to Cairns.

Claims of valuable international TV coverage are puzzling because viewers see nothing of Port Douglas, just the edge of town in an industrial area.

Plane silly

Never mind if you’ve got to catch a plane or make your way to Port Douglas from the airport to enjoy a holiday. Just how many interstate and international travellers got caught out yesterday is anyone’s guess.
Sure, Newsport and Douglas FM gave locals plenty of notice of the road closure, but it’s the visitors who suffer most at a time when we’re hard at work restoring numbers after Covid.

Here’s a suggestion, why don’t they run it from Palm Cove to Cairns and close off a few roads there? No, the bike riders must enjoy the spectacular views of the Coral Sea. Nonsense! Most of them are too busy going like the clappers to even notice their surroundings. To them it’s all business while business dries up in our Shire for the day and tourists are left lamenting. Mayor Michael Kerr is another who remains frustrated

“I’ve been arguing this case for many years, and I’ve also had the Ironman people in to ask them if there was any way they could adapt to actually have a half marathon which finishes in Port Douglas so at least we’re getting something from it but no success, the Ironman disappoints me but unfortunately the highway is a state road and we suffer the consequences of it,” he said.

Iron clad

It seems the organisers of this thing have no intention of changing the route. We’re stuck with an event that gives nothing back to the Douglas Shire and looks like it never will.