CASSOWARY Coast residents could be hit with a 9 per cent rates rise if the Federal Government does not help pay for a replacement bridge in the heart of Innisfail, its mayor has warned.

Cr Bill Shannon was already predicting a rates rise of 5 per cent for the financially-challenged shire – but said an $8 million shortfall in cash for Jubilee Bridge could push that figure up another 4 per cent.

The news has led the Innisfail Chamber of Commerce to call an urgent public meeting for worried Cassowary Coast Shire residents.

The limit on Innisfail’s ageing Jubilee Bridge has been slashed and engineers warn it will be closed during significant floods this wet season.

Cr Shannon said the bridge was sinking.

His council has been pleading with the Federal Government to add $8 million to a $12 million State Government
commitment to replace the bridge.

But the requests have so far come to nothing.

Queensland Senator Jan McLucas yesterday said the Federal Government’s infrastructure program was fully
allocated.

She suggested the council apply for Black Spot funding.

Federal Kennedy MP Bob Katter said he would stress there were safety issues with the narrow bridge as well as the dangers of 8000 more vehicles a day using the town’s southern intersection with the Bruce Highway if Jubilee Bridge was closed.

But he said Black Spot funding was only likely to amount to $1 million.

Cr Shannon said the bridge’s future was cloudy.

"We want to build a new one but there comes a time when you have to consider whether you can afford it or not," he said.

He said the council had a deadline to use the State Government cash and it was "crunch time" for the shire.

"We don’t know the exact costs yet but we are expecting to have to take out a loan," he said.

The chamber of commerce’s public meeting is at El Arish Progress Hall from 6.30pm on February 16.

Questions to put to the council at the meeting can be emailed to secretary@innisfailchamber.com.au.

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