General News
12 March, 2025
Disaster report ‘comprehensive’
A NEW report which keeps a record of disaster recovery funding and remediation work across the Mareeba Shire has been welcomed by council.
The January Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) report, will be a continuing record of funds and projects provided by the federal and state governments after a natural disaster.
“We desperately need this funding when it comes to disaster repairs and projects, otherwise we’d have to impose on our ratepayers and we don’t want to do that,” Mayor Angela Toppin said at the meeting.
“This is a very comprehensive report.
“The remediation works date back to weather events from 2022. There are just so many.
“It’s easy to lose track when you go right back to 2022 and some of the projects are so major they take years to complete.”
In February 2022 a low-pressure trough caused significant damage across the shire including to the Gamboola Crossing, nearly four hours west of Mareeba.
“The 300m bridge is an important link between the Burke Development Road and the Peninsula Development Road,” Mayor Toppin said. “We are delighted to report that the practical completion of this $16m project was reached in November 2024.”
Council also received DRFA to undertake the Gully Betterment program to restore and improve gully crossings across the shire to make them resilient for the future. The report said this work was completed in December last year.
The report also updated works for damage caused by cyclone Jasper flooding in December 2023. Cobra Creek crossing on Emerald End Road was washed way during the floods, cutting off water supply and road access to over 100 properties.
Mayor Toppin said the repairs had been extensive with a temporary track installed while bridge works were undertaken. This was expected to be completed this month.
Multiple landslips had also occurred around Kuranda after it received over two metres of rain.
“The DRFA supported repairs to the Barron Falls Road site, with a safety guard rail being completed [in January].
Works at Jarawee Close were also expected to be completed in March, and the Bushy Creek Bridge on Mt Lewis Road, Julatten, which was washed away during the floods, had now been reinstated and reopened to traffic since December.
Mayor Toppin said there had been no activation of DRFA for the current wet season, but council would continue to work with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority to ensure funding could become available.
