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Community

29 October, 2024

Lots of drops to drink

TEN months after Cyclone Jasper and the floods that followed, Douglas Shire Council (DSC) has improved water security for its community.


A council worker checks out the Rocky Point reservoir which can send water thought the network to Wonga Beach. Picture: DSC
A council worker checks out the Rocky Point reservoir which can send water thought the network to Wonga Beach. Picture: DSC

Among the improvements are new water treatment filters, two temporary ultrafiltration units, 3km of water main repairs and upgrades, leak detection and repair work over a 300km network, new pipes, improved storage and extra water tanks.

Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said, despite the improvements, the council was encouraging residents to consider their own water security measures due to the lasting impacts of Cyclone Jasper.

She said the flooding in December had dramatically changed the shire’s natural environment, putting ongoing stress on the water network.

“Council’s water team has done an amazing job to fix and improve the water network but there are still challenges ahead,” Cr Scomazzon said.

“Sediment levels in our catchment remain higher than they were pre-Jasper and during extended rain events we may be forced to reduce water production levels to protect our treatment plants from damage,” she said.

Cr Scomazzon said in the lead-up to the wet season the council was encouraging people to ensure they had containers and were able to store adequate supplies of drinking water for their family needs. For further details visit https://bit.ly/3zVwo1U 

Snapshot of the council’s water works: 

Water treatment plants

192 new filters have been installed at Mossman and Whyanbeel water treatment plants. The filters have increased water production capacity by 20 per cent which will allow water reservoir levels to recharge much quicker when needed

Two temporary ultrafiltration units at Whyanbeel. They will provide an improved reliability of water production during challenges and in times of demand.

Pipe network

3 km of water mains have been repaired and upgraded since TC Jasper

Leak detection and repair work along over 300km of the council’s pipe network has prevented the loss of an estimated one million litres per day of drinking water

A pipe connecting Mossman/Port Douglas and Whyanbeel water networks has been installed and tested, providing an alternate water supply option for Wonga Beach, Rocky Point, Miallo, Bamboo and surrounding areas

Diverting the council’s critical water main pipelines underground (under-boring) at Crees Creek (Port Douglas) and Leonardi Bridge (Whyanbeel) will protect these assets from damaging flood waters.

Storage

Water from the Rocky Point reservoir can now be sent along the network to Wonga Beach when levels are critically low, with a combined capacity (Whyanbeel and Rocky Point reservoirs) of five million litres, a 40 per cent increase in storage relative to pre-Jasper

Water tanks have been installed at public amenities to ensure toilets and showers are available to the community if necessary.

15 portable, 1150L water tanks can be delivered to locations impacted by unexpected long outages

The council has bought a drinking water tanker to enable delivery of drinking water to portable tanks/high risk sites.

Read More: Port Douglas

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