Your Douglas News - March 2024

YOUR DOUGLAS NEWS

Mountain of work still ahead for DSC

“MUD ARMY” SALUTES JUSTICE GROUP

MOSSMAN Elders Justice Group manager

Christine Lynch says it took a “mud army” to clean-up their Front Street office following the devastating flooding in December.

“We had my family, we had friends, colleagues, other service providers and our landlord came in with some helpers as well,” Christine recalled.

“We were very fortunate that we could get in and clean as soon as we could.

“I called them my mud army and it was an amazing mud army.”

Christine said the Mossman Elders Justice Group became a vital meeting place with so many other service providers closed down because of flood damage.

“Our mob knew they could come in here, knowing we could direct them for support,” she said.

“We also had a group of ladies from our women’s group that wanted to come in here, catch up and just hang out or have a cup of tea.

“They needed that support and friendly face given the trauma many had experienced.”

Christine’s can-do attitude following the floods epitomised why she was named the Douglas Shire Citizen of the Year.

“If I could, I would have taken my name off that certificate and put everyone else’s name on there as well because this is a team effort,” she said.

“I work with amazing elders and colleagues who’ve supported me from the day I started with the justice group. It’s like a family in here.”

The Mossman Elders Justice Group provides its clients with cultural support for court matters.

This includes presenting cultural reports at sentencing and bail applications, assistance to the courts in managing community-based offences, and networking to implement crime prevention initiatives.

Douglas Shire Citizen of the Year Christine Lynch received plenty of assistance in cleaning up the Mossman Elders Justice Group office following the flooding on Front Street in December.

Whether it’s restoring safe access to Noah Range (pictured), finding ways to improve water security or providing support for isolated communities, the Douglas Shire Council continues to lead the recovery process following TC Jasper and the floods that followed.

work to do but we’re committed to rejuvenating our Shire.

the latest information by visiting the Douglas Shire Council website or following us on social media.

Douglas residents changing water habits but Level 4 restrictions remain

WATER consumption in Port Douglas and Mossman has dropped by 26 per cent since Level 4 water restrictions were introduced across the Douglas Shire.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said residents should be congratulated for their community-minded approach to water following TC Jasper and the flooding that followed in December.

” A big thank you to those of you who’ve made small changes to your daily routines to ensure our reserves of drinking water remain as high as possible,” Mayor Kerr said.

“By taking shorter showers, packing away the garden hose and sprinklers and generally using water more sparingly, our community is making a big difference to water consumption.”

Level 4 water restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future as we take steps towards improving the Shire’s water security.

• Council, with the support of external

Creative Recovery Space set to

open

DOUGLAS Shire Council is set to open a new bi-weekly ‘Creative Recovery Space’ at the CWA Hall in Mossman from March 11.

The aim of this space is to provide community members with a range of creative activities and support services that foster connection, wellbeing, resilience building and healing in the aftermath of TC Jasper and the associated flooding event.

Arts, culture and creativity have a profound role to play in responding to the challenges raised when communities face adversity.

The creative recovery program will operate for six months and aligns to the broader objectives and aims of the human and social recovery principals of disaster recovery and resilience.

Activities will include a music program for kinder kids, placemaking art workshops, creative mending, weaving workshops, adult music jams, theatre sports, circus skills as well as off-site satellite events across the region.

Stay tuned via the Douglas Shire Council website or Facebook page as activities are announced or to find out more!

Why can’t untreated water be sent through the pipes when the treatment plants shut down?

WATER SECURITY FAQs

Why are there still problems?

The record 4.2 metres of rainfall that has fallen since Tropical Cyclone Jasper has had a dramatic impact on our natural environment. The weather caused extensive landslips and as a result there is more mud and debris slipping into the water catchment than ever before. This is causing high turbidity which means the water treatment plants cannot run at normal production rates.

High levels of sediment in raw water has affected the water treatment processes by blocking filtration units, resulting in more frequent cleaning.

Although clean drinking water is still produced, the production is slowed

down or periodically shut down. During these events, the treated water reservoir levels drop, and if not addressed quickly, can lead to a complete water outage.

What is Council doing to improve water security?

Council has a greater emphasis on protecting the treatment plants’ filters from further damage

We have increased programs to include more regular cleaning of debris and silt from intakes and treatment plants

Investigations and works are underway for additional treatment processes, alternate water supplies and improvements to the water network

with sediment from landslips

Sending untreated water to the network would require prolonged boil water notices for the whole water supply. Additionally, this has potential to cause damage to water network and household appliances.

Why are Level 4 water restrictions still in place?

Water production rates at the treatment plants have reduced (because of the increased mud and debris). If the treatment plants are forced to shut down, the Council’s treated water storage will only last for a few days. Water restrictions are in place to prolong the treated water reservoir levels.

Council understands the pressure water restrictions put on our community and they will be lifted once the Shire’s water security has improved.

Are resorts and commercial operations facing the same water restrictions as households?

Yes. Council is regularly monitoring the water consumption of resorts and will be fining operators who are continually ignoring the restrictions in place.

A water treatment plant filtration unit affected

One of the landslips affecting Rex Creek intake

Mud and debris clogging water treatment filters

Sediment build-up at the Whyanbeel intake.

A Creative Recovery Space will open in Mossman on March 11.

Native rescue heroics from Mossman sparky

BRYDIE Maro remains determined to open an emergency wildlife clinic after witnessing firsthand how TC Jasper, and the flooding that followed, impacted on local animals.

The Mossman rehabilitation volunteer was busy caring for exhausted, injured and displaced birds, snakes, bandicoots and other animals for weeks after the disaster struck.

“Initially we had a lot of birds in that had blown out of trees and then we had a run of seabirds that came in,” she recalled.

“I think they were all blown off course and they were just exhausted.

“Then there were the snakes as well.

“I think they’d just been washed out and then slid into people’s homes to try and find a dry spot.”

Brydie’s acts of kindness were not confined to the animal kingdom.

The electrician was also lending a hand around Mossman, even though her own home had been damaged.

“I knew my house had flooded but I thought, ‘Well there’s not much I can do about that now so I just left it for a couple of days,” she said.

“So, I went into town and did all electrical safety checks with a few of the businesses and the CWA to get them back up and running.”

Even before TC Jasper, Brydie saw the need for an emergency clinic for injured wildlife. To donate money towards the clinic, head to Brydie’s the GoFundMe page.

Mossman’s Brydie Maro is raising funds for an emergency wildlife clinic.

LAND SECURED FOR COW BAY HEALTH CENTRE

A NEW primary health care centre for residents north of the Daintree River is a step closer thanks to a land transfer agreement between Douglas Shire Council and Queensland Health.

The 10,000sqm site at Diwan, near the current Cow Bay Primary Health Care Centre, will be home to the new modern health facility, helicopter landing pad and staff accommodation.

The new centre will feature improved clinical spaces for visiting specialised staff, as well as the latest in medical technology so that health care workers can continue to deliver the best care possible.

Tender for the new primary health centre’s builder closed last month, with construction expected to begin later this year, finishing in early 2025.

The State Government remains committed to replacing and upgrading ageing health infrastructure across the state.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said she was pleased the government had this excellent news to share.

“The existing Cow Bay PHC does an incredible job serving its community, but we know it’s ageing, and the time is right to replace it and build a brandnew one,” Minister Fentiman said.

“These new works will ensure the new centre can meet modern clinical standards and together with new staff accommodation, help attract and retain key heath staff.

“It will also provide our hardworking health staff with the modern facility they deserve, to continue meeting the health needs of the Cow Bay community.”

Douglas Shire Council Mayor Michael Kerr the land settlement occurred on 31 January.

“The Cow Bay Health Care Centre currently provides a number of vital services to the community north of the Daintree River and we are pleased to have supported Queensland Health on this vital infrastructure upgrade.”

Cow Bay Primary Health Centre Director of Nursing Michele Lamond said the new centre will be delivered from a much more comfortable, larger and more modern facility that is wheelchair friendly.

“We have a close connection with our community, and we will continue to offer the same healthcare services to residents, but from a much nicer space with all the conveniences,” she said.

DEGARRA RECOVERY CONTINUES

DEGARRA’S new fleet of caravans are a symbol of resilience as the Douglas Shire continues to recover and heal following TC Jasper.

The Bloomfield River community was devastated by flooding in midDecember; the rapidly rising water leaving a staggering trail of mud and debris.

The survival story of Bill and Michelle Dunn made national headlines and understandably left the couple traumatised. When the river broke its banks, the pair swam out of their kitchen window, were clinging onto trees for hours, before being saved by a neighbour in a tinnie.

A sense of relief was soon replaced by despair as the community was left isolated and with no support. The breaking point came when caravans, earmarked for Degarra, were delivered to Bloomfield, three hours walk from where flood victims were trying to salvage what they could from their destroyed

Rates are due but we are here to lend a hand

HOME and business owners have until next Wednesday (March 6) to pay their accounts.

Douglas Shire Council has endorsed a range of financial relief measures including rates assistance to support ratepayers who have been impacted by Cyclone Jasper and the subsequent flooding disaster event.

The financial relief measures for the year ending June 30, 2024, include:

1. Promote the Rates Financial Hardship Policy and provide assistance to affected ratepayers in completing the application for assistance.

2. Waived rates dishonour admin fees from 11 December 2023 to 31 January 2024 for Douglas Shire residential ratepayers.

3. Refund all venue hire fees, caravan park fees and ferry travel where cancellation is due to Cyclone Jasper flood disaster event for the period of 11 December 2023 to 31 January 2024.

4. Rent relief – may be provided, on request, for Council commercial

tenants suffering financial stress or hardship due to the effects of Cyclone Jasper flood disaster event, upon provision of sufficient evidence of this hardship (excluding peppercorn leases, Government entities) for the period 11 December 2023 to 10 January 2024.

5. Waive special refuse for commercial properties north of Daintree River from 11 December 2023 to 31 March 2024.

6. Waive roadside waste collection fees for commercial properties north of Daintree River from 11 December 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Water notices have also been issued and they have until March 26 to pay their accounts.

Anyone in the Douglas Shire who has not received their Rate or Water notices, or is having difficulty paying their account, is asked to contact Council immediately on Ph: 4099 9444.

Payments can be made via various methods, outlined on Council’s website.

properties.

Due to advocacy by Douglas Shire Council, the caravans were finally relocated to Degarra in mid-January. Finally, residents had a roof over their head and a place to

call home!

While Degarra is no longer grabbing headlines, it is still a priority for Council.

Over the past month we’ve ensured the vans are connected to

DONATE TO PEOPLE DONATE TO PEOPLE IMPACTED BY TC IMPACTED BY TC JASPER JASPER

GIVIT has partnered with the Queensland Government to manage donations of essential goods and services for people impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper through the GIVIT Queensland Storms and Flooding Appeal.

GIVIT is a national not-for-profit platform working in the Douglas Shire Community to facilitate the donation of essential items for people still doing it tough.

100% of publicly donated funds received by GIVIT for this appeal will be used to purchase essential goods and services for people impacted by this disaster.

GO TO

www.GIVIT.org.au

power and rainwater tanks. We’ve provided essential supplies to residents, continue to coordinate the removal of debris and the cleanup of the homes that survived the disaster.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr with Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Minister for Disaster Recovery Nikki Boyd.