Queensland: Vital transport links across flood-affected North Queensland are expected to reopen within 48 hours, but increased freight costs may impact retailers and consumers.
Supermarket shelves from Cairns to Mount Isa are running low due to major road closures that have disrupted supply chains in and out of Townsville, a crucial distribution hub for the region.
A key section of the Bruce Highway was cut off earlier this week after a bridge north of the city was washed away.
Communities in Ingham and Halifax, situated between Townsville and Cairns, have had to rely on helicopters for food deliveries, while fuel and generators have been transported by barge to the nearby town of Lucinda. Panic buying has added to the strain, with police called to manage crowds at a Woolworths in Ingham.
Inspector Jason Brosnan confirmed officers had been deployed to maintain order amid the rush for essential goods. Cardwell Mayor Teresa Millwood also voiced concerns about dwindling food supplies in her flood-hit town.
Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon said transport operators had been forced to wait in locations such as Mackay and Emerald for floodwaters to recede. He described the disruption as particularly severe this year, with Townsville isolated on all sides due to closures on the Bruce Highway, the Gregory Developmental Road, and other key routes.
However, Mahon remains hopeful that the Gregory Developmental Road will reopen within two days, enabling trucks to take a 400-kilometre detour via the Atherton Tablelands to deliver supplies to Cairns, Innisfail, and other affected areas.
Authorities are working with the Australian Defence Force on a temporary bridge repair to restore emergency access to Ingham, but there is no clear timeline for a full reopening.
Meanwhile, the cost of transporting goods has already risen. Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers CEO Rachel Chambers reported that some freight companies had introduced a 12% flood levy due to longer detour routes, adding significant time and expense to deliveries.
Efforts to restock supermarkets are underway. Woolworths has flown in food, water, and baby formula to Ingham from its Townsville base and dispatched 30 trucks waiting at flood-affected locations. Its Townsville warehouse was replenished on Tuesday, allowing supplies to reach Charters Towers, Mount Isa, and Mackay.
Coles is coordinating with suppliers and transport partners to maintain deliveries where possible. While its Ingham store remains closed, the company has donated $100,000 worth of food for distribution through local authorities and emergency services.
Smaller independent grocers, such as Jonsson's Farm Market in Cairns, have seen a surge in demand amid supermarket shortages. Store manager David Harris reported the busiest trading day in the store’s 13-year history, with supplies still arriving from the Atherton Tablelands, though some produce remains unavailable.
The flooding has also disrupted the delivery of medicines across North Queensland. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia confirmed that while most areas are still receiving stock from wholesalers in Townsville and Cairns, Ingham remains a challenge.
Queensland Guild Vice President Kate Whalan urged residents not to wait until they run out of medication, assuring them that pharmacies are working with emergency services to facilitate deliveries by air and sea if necessary.
