Councillor Column Councillor Andrew Carr

The Herbert River catchment is the largest in the Wet Tropics region and the longest coastal river in North Queensland. The Herbert River Improvement Trust (HRIT) area is on the lower catchment flood plain which experiences regular flooding events due to the significant local rainfall, as well as the impacts of rain in the Upper Herbert catchment which extends approximately 200km north of the Hinchinbrook Shire with an area of over 10,000 km2. The river’s substantial historic shifts and mobility across the lower floodplain present unique management challenges, with legacy wetlands, flood channels and tributaries, and groundwater flows creating a river system unlike any other connected to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

The HRIT was established in 1942 under the River Improvement Trust Act 1940 in response to recurring major flood events. As a statutory body, it operates with public funding to provide vital flood mitigation and river management services, often at no cost or significantly reduced rates. The Hinchinbrook Shire Council remains the primary fund provider, with funding indirectly levied across the community. The Queensland Flood Risk Management Framework recognises the crucial role of River Improvement Trusts in both flood risk management and disaster recovery efforts.

The primary role of the HRIT is to plan, design, finance, undertake and maintain improvement works to benefit the community within its ‘river improvement area’ – the Hinchinbrook Local Government Area. Today, HRITs role has expanded beyond flood response to include preventive and restorative actions, aligning with the State’s emerging focus on climate resilience and coastal hazard adaptation, in coordination with local government and the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG).

HRIT’s mission is clear; to improve water flow in rivers and tributaries within the Hinchinbrook Shire, correct erosion, and provide effective flood mitigation. Since its inception, the Trust has undertaken river improvement works at over 500 sites, including major flood mitigation projects such as the Ripple and Catherina Creeks’ flood gates, the Foresthome flood channel, and the Halifax Town Levee. Additional projects have focused on streambank repair, stabilisation, and revegetation, from major river systems like the Herbert and Stone Rivers to smaller creeks throughout the region.

The recent flooding event in the Hinchinbrook District has once again highlighted the importance of HRIT’s work. The Trust is currently inspecting and assessing widespread damage to rivers and streams, with plans to secure grant funding from relevant State Government departments, potentially under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the HRIT Secretary via email admin@hrit.com.au. A  list of HRIT members and their contact details is available on the Hinchinbrook Shire Council website.

Recovery will take time, but as a community, we will rebuild. Please take care of yourselves listen to each other and do not suffer in silence.