HOW WE SEE IT! Flooded with water issues

With Bryan Littlely and Shaun Hollis

Last updated:
Cartoon: Shaun Hollis

There has, for very obvious reasons, been plenty of talk - and plenty of stories - about the weather so far in 2025.

Big rains, and big floods are commonplace in Far North Queensland. Water is a big issue… both too much of it and too little of it.

Just check out the happenings across Cape York at the minute, with roads cut off and tourists travel plans to make it to the Tip dashed in many cases.

It is, of course, nothing unexpected… it is monsoonal season and it has rained like this for as long as there have been crocs roaming the region!

That is why it is so frustrating and concerning to see that water - the drinking and life essential type as opposed to the flooding and life threatening type - remains a big issue here.

It was big news, and a big talking point, last year when Douglas Shire Council put in place the framework and triggers for emergency water restrictions should ever again we be faced with such a disaster as happened in the wake of Cyclone Jasper.

It is right to applaud Douglas Shire Council for works done since the devastating and distressing situation caused by Jasper to build our region’s water security. But securing adequate water supplies in this region really is not something that should have been left for a disaster to trigger action on.

Ironically, water has caused delays for the construction and planned opening of the Port Douglas Splash Park, with water needing to be removed from the site so water can be pumped back onto the site for play.

Of course this project, once determined to be going ahead and funded, needed to start at some time, even if there is a large proportion of the community who say it is not what is needed in Port.

Surely, though, planning could have been better to not start the work in the wet season where generators are needed to run 24/7 at the irritation of neighbouring businesses and residences to pump water away.

Also, with health authorities very outspoken about the high dangers of “mud disease” melioidosis, I can’t help but wonder what risk there may be to the contractors hard at work fighting the sludge to get this project done on time.

Love the idea of the Splash Park or hate it, I doubt many people consider it an essential item that warrants anything other than a mild disruption to local residents for it to be completed on time. Let’s hope that is all that the change of plans is.

 

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