Cassowary Coast in great shape ahead of the wet season

Published on 10 December 2025

Ahead of the wet season, the Cassowary Coast Regional Council has been working hard throughout the year to ensure the region’s roads, drains, floodways, and rainfall and river gauges are in the best possible condition.

Extensive and vital improvement works have aimed to improve safety, connectivity, drainage capacity, and early warning systems to prepare the region to withstand heavy rainfall and severe weather events.

Over the past two months alone, the Council:

• Held two free dumping weekends to support residents to clear their homes and yards.
• Ran four disaster preparation information sessions for the community in Cardwell, Tully, Innisfail and Mission Beach, with strong turnout from new residents.
• Is installing 34 flash-flood sensors in Mission Beach, Ellerbeck, Cardwell, Silkwood, Mourilyan and Innisfail, which will feed live data into the Cassowary Coast Disaster Dashboard to support early warnings.
• Cleared 9,242 metres – around 9.24 kilometres – of drains, culverts and floodways to improve stormwater flow.
• Delivered coastal replenishment works to restore and protect foreshore areas following TC Jasper and the February severe weather event. Works have been completed in Cardwell and are underway in South Mission Beach. Works will next commence at Wongaling Beach, Mission Beach, Bingil Bay, Cowley Beach, Kurrimine Beach, and finally Etty Bay.
• Recently restored the Council-managed section of the Dunk Island walking track – improving safety, accessibility, and visitor experience ahead of the wet season. This included restoring three bridges and fully rebuilding one bridge, upgrading two beach access points, resurfacing more than 1,500 metres of walking track, clearing debris, and repairing erosion and washouts. Council has also secured funding to repair walking tracks at Kennedy, Cutten and King Reef.
• Cleaned up inorganic material from 40 kilometres of Liverpool Creek and undertook a large-scale beach clean-up from Port Hinchinbrook to the Tully River mouth associated with the previous year event.
• Maintained 80 kilometres of unsealed roads to improve road smoothness and safety, and repaired potholes and road edges using almost 25 tonnes of patching mix.

Chief Executive Officer Andrew Graffen said the Council is also very close to completing extensive road and landslip works funded through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements in response to TC Jasper.

This includes repairing around 3,000 damage sites, repairing 6,000 square metres of sealed roads, and completing 450 kilometres of formation grading.

“I’m confident in saying that we’re in the best possible shape ahead of whatever may come our way in the next few months,” Mr Graffen said.

Mayor Teresa Millwood said the Council’s commitment is absolute in working to ensure the Cassowary Coast is Australia’s most liveable tropical community.

“Every day, the Council is out there maintaining our beautiful environment, enhancing public safety, preparing for the wet season, and responding to the community’s reports of damage and other concerns,” Mayor Teresa Millwood said.

“I want to assure the community that we’ve thrown absolutely everything apart from the kitchen sink to ensure our region is in the best possible shape.

“I understand some people’s resilience has been tested over the years, including earlier this year with the flooding event that affected the Cardwell and South Mission Beach communities, and in the wake of TC Jasper in 2023.

“We are a hardy and practical community, and in the face of increasingly unpredictable and severe weather events, preparation is our best protection.

“Preparation includes ensuring you’re getting information from trusted sources – like the Cassowary Coast Disaster Dashboard.

“The Disaster Dashboard disaster.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au has the latest weather warnings and updates on road conditions, power outages, and recovery efforts.

“Bookmark the Dashboard and check it regularly – before, during and after any emergency,” Mayor Millwood said.

While Council’s preparation efforts support people across the region, household preparation is just as important. Householders should:

• Have a current emergency plan.
• Keep an emergency kit ready (water, food, medications, batteries, documents).
• Know flood risks, local evacuation routes, and safe meeting points.

Clearing gutters, trimming trees, and securing outdoor items before the wet season are simple yet powerful steps to prevent and reduce damage.

“Protect yourself, your family and your property this season – remain alert, be prepared, follow official advice, and stay informed,” Mayor Millwood said.

For further information contact Council at 1300 763 903 or email enquiries@cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au.