WRONG TURN

Google Maps campaign continues

CANEGROWERS’ campaign to secure corrections and updates to Google Maps is continuing, with the tech giant’s legal team saying the company would investigate problems with data on its mobile app.

Growers have reported an increase in the number of drivers becoming lost and ending up on cane farms while following Google’s GPS system in recent years, with one of the latest incursions resulting in a courier truck carrying a cargo of crocodiles becoming bogged on a Tableland cane farm.

Grower Trevor Adil is no stranger to finding bewildered drivers on his farm outside Mareeba, but it’s the first time he’s had one carrying a potentially lethal cargo.

“We've had a few instances of people trespassing on the farm while following Google Maps, but I don’t think we’ve ever had any carrying 5-metre crocs before, and I hope never to again,” Trevor said.

“The guy was heading to a crocodile farm that backs onto our property and Google Maps was telling him he could follow a certain road through the farm to get there. That road comes to a dead-end and very clearly turns into a narrow farm track.

“Once he realised he’d gone the wrong way, he tried to turn this big Pantech truck around and ended up coming up over the end of an irrigation channel.

“In the end he got stranded while trying to turn around on a sharp embankment and had to be pulled out by the neighbour. It was on a pretty serious lean but thankfully it stayed upright and none of its occupants escaped.”

According to CANEGROWERS legal advisor Chris Cooper, the Tableland region is a hotspot for drivers becoming lost while following Google Maps.

“I have been receiving increasing numbers of complaints from growers and district offices about inaccurate maps leading to potential accidents from wayward travellers,” Mr Cooper said.

“The biggest problem areas to date are Rocky Point, Mackay, Burdekin and Tableland.

“Unsuspecting, inexperienced drivers going through private cane farms poses a real risk, with property damage and personal injury a real possibility.

“Concerned growers have contacted Google through the fault reporting process but there has been no changes made and incidents have continued.

“I have taken the matter up with Google’s legal team which has advised that the Google mapping section will investigate.

“As far as I am aware no corrections or changes have been made at this stage, but we remain hopeful that Google will address the dangerous problem and we will continue to support our growers in seeking a solution and taking any action if an incident occurs.” •

Pictured: Wohlsen Road in Rocky Point is a prime example of where Google Maps gets it wrong. The area highlighted green is a no through road that joins a private farm track (yellow area) which runs through cane paddocks and ends at the grower's home.