Councillor Column Councillor Andrew Carr 11 November

I thought I would like to give an update on the Hinchinbrook Drainage Advisory Group.

As a result of the February flooding events, the Council Disaster Recovery Groups were activated. From these initial meetings, stakeholders put forward the idea of forming a group to create a forum to look at drainage throughout the Hinchinbrook Shire. Hence, the Hinchinbrook Drainage Advisory Group was formed.

Some of the stakeholders in the group are:

HSC – Hinchinbrook Shire Council
HRIT – Herbert River Improvement Trust
LHWMA – Lower Herbert Water Management Authority
HRCG – Herbert River Catchment Group
QCAR – Queensland Cane Action Reserve
WILMAR – Wilmar Sugar Australia
DTMR – Department of Transport and Main Roads
QR – Queensland Rail
DPI – Department of Primary Industries
DETSI – Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
SARA – State Assessment and Referral Agency


One of, but definitely not the only, areas of concern was blockages of mangrove drains and the inability to maintain these vital and fragile areas back to functioning waterways.

The group has held monthly meetings and onsite visits to examples of these areas. From these visits, it helped the government departments gain a better understanding of the matters relating to mangrove maintenance works required in the Lower Herbert Catchment.

The group has identified four trial sites, which involve Queensland Government department tenure, landholder onsite drains, as well as HRIT and LHWMA infrastructure. All of these sites require maintenance in the mangrove areas.

Recently, the group was successful in gaining support from the DPI to conduct well-overdue maintenance at these four trial sites. Works will still require a development application submitted through the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA).

Once the sites have received maintenance and been rehabilitated, they will serve as an example of a workable process that can be used throughout our Shire to deliver consistent and sustainable results.

Once again, it is great to be able to pick up a copy of Hinchinbrook Life and read through what will be happening throughout our Shire. Thank you for the opportunity once again.