Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said Tablelands Futures Corporation had been approved for $75,000 in funding under the Queensland Regional Development Initiative.

Member for Barron River, Steve Wettenhall, said the trial service would operate three times each week day (excludes Saturday and Sunday) for three months (July to September) and a decision on whether to extend this period would then be made depending on patronage levels.

"It really is a case of use it or lose it. I have heard the call from Redlynch Valley Estate residents for a bus service to the estate – and urge residents to remember it will continue only if enough people use it," Mr Wettenhall said.

Mr Wallace joined the Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall at the base of the range today to announce the first instalment of the Bligh Government's Safer Roads Sooner program out of the recent State Budget.

Minister Wallace said up to $500,000 would be spent boosting visibility and safety for motorcyclists on the popular tourist road. 

"The safety improvements will include raised reflective pavement markers, audible tactile line marking and extra guardrails at specific locations on the range," he said.

Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said strong representations by himself and other Far North MPs has paid off - with Steve writing to the Premier, Treasurer and Health Minister to consider these concessions in the budget.

Cassowaries have come out the big winners as a new national park is created and a further seven expanded in north and far north Queensland.
Acting Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk today joined the Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall at Barron Gorge National Park to announce more than 7,650 hectares worth of new national parks areas in the north.
Among them is the new Macalister Range National Park, part of the Wet Tropics Heritage Area about 25 kilometres North West of Cairns, covering more than 5,000 hectares of important cassowary habitat.
"This is good news for an iconic Australian bird and the many people who have been working hard to ensure its survival," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"Another four of the new protected areas also serve as vital habitat corridors and ecosystems for cassowaries and other rare, native species."
Ms Palaszczuk said the announcement was the latest in the Bligh Government's series of national park expansions in Queensland.