Minute With The Mayor 19 August

Mayor Ramon Jayo

There’s been a lot of conversation lately about development near our coastal areas and how we manage flood risk in a region like ours.

So let’s break it down, and while we’re at it, give you the info you need to stay safe and in-the-know.
Earlier this year, Council made the decision to refuse a development application near the Forrest Beach foreshore.

Why? Not because we don’t welcome growth — quite the opposite. But we have a responsibility to ensure any new development is safe, sustainable, and future-proofed.

In this case, the plans didn’t provide enough clarity on design, infrastructure, or how future residents would be protected from coastal hazards that result from cyclones and ensuring the coastal dune systems are protected.

Council’s role isn’t just to say “yes” or “no” — it’s to guide developers to meet standards that protect our community today and tomorrow.

The applicant has since appealed Council’s decision. Mediation was heard in the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane on Wednesday, 13 August 2025. We’ll continue working with them to refine the proposal and make sure that, if development goes ahead, it aligns with sound planning principles and community expectations.

If you’ve lived in Hinchinbrook for more than a season, you know that flooding is part of our reality, especially with the Herbert River catchment at the heart of our landscape.

Council operates a comprehensive network of rainfall and river height stations feeding data directly into our systems in Ingham. These include:
· A dedicated sensor network in the Halifax and Lower Herbert area.
· Six automated flood cameras on key bridges along the Herbert River, updating every 30 minutes during daylight hours.
· Seven highway cameras, north and south of Ingham, managed by TMR.
· The Bureau of Meteorology’s 30 rain gauge stations across the district.

And all of this info? It's live and accessible on our Disaster Dashboard. We’ve learned a lot from the major flood earlier this year. It exposed some tech challenges:
· Poor connectivity in some 4G areas.
· Low image quality, especially at night.
· Cameras only operating during daylight and only updating every 30 minutes.

We’re not just sitting back. Right now, Council is reviewing new systems to boost our flood monitoring capabilities. One option we’re exploring uses laser-based sensors instead of cameras — these detect water over roads and measures depth with precision, even at night, without relying on constant image feeds. This could give our Local Disaster Management Group much better visibility in critical situations.

For our community, I cannot stress enough that you must follow our official Disaster Dashboard online at www.disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au and also follow the Hinchinbrook Disaster Information page on Facebook. It’s the only Council-authorised source on social media for disaster updates, road closures, weather alerts, and emergency instructions.