The petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House that Mackay Sugar plans to transport about 700,000 tonnes of sugar cane in B Double trucks from Atherton Tableland to Mossman Mill, employing QUBE Logistics as contractor, needing about 40,000 cane truck movements, resulting in a truck driving through Mount Molloy and Julatten every six to eight minutes, day and night, all week, for about six months each year, which will severely impact the well-being of all residents including pensioners, also local businesses and visitors. 

Health authorities (WHO & EPA, USA) state sleep interrupted by traffic noise increases risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, tiredness and failure of concentration. Fatigue increases stress, traffic and work accidents. Congestion and noise jeopardises local businesses during prime tourist season.

Danger to children travelling in school buses to local schools or to Mareeba or Mossman is increased due to large numbers of big trucks on narrow and winding sections of road, including Rex Range.

Increased night-time traffic exacerbates road kill – echidnas, quolls, owls, pythons and more.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to amend any permits granted to Mackay Sugar and QUBE Logistics so no cane is transported through Mount Molloy and Julatten between the hours of 9pm and 6am nightly, and no cane trucks traverse the road between Biboohra and Mossman between 7am and 9am, and 2pm to 4pm, on school days.