Minute With The Mayor Acting Mayor Mary Brown 22 July

With two-thirds of the region underwater, the damage to homes, farms, roads, and businesses has been widespread and long-lasting.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council has worked closely with emergency services and government agencies to coordinate clean-up operations, facilitate community recovery support across a diverse range of services, advocate for additional grant assistance for impacted community and industry sectors, and liaise with insurance representatives to encourage timely claim processing.

Thousands of insurance claims have been lodged. While many residents are still navigating assessments and temporary housing, progress is being made — albeit slower than many had hoped.

Understandably, there's been a mix of good progress and growing frustration. For many, the return to normal routines has taken longer than expected.

The recovery process is complex, involving multiple layers of assessment, funding approvals, and coordination between local, state, and federal bodies.

One of the key milestones in our recovery journey is the upcoming transition in the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements works program, a joint initiative between the Australian and Queensland governments.

We’re now moving from the emergency works phase — which focused on restoring access — to the next phase of the reconstruction of our roads, where the goal is to rebuild infrastructure to its pre-event standard.

Contractors and suppliers should keep an eye out for tenders being released over the coming months.

Council is also facing similar insurance challenges as residents, with infrastructure assessments still underway for key facilities such as the Visitor Information Centre and the JL Kelly Theatre.

Despite the delays, recovery efforts are progressing.

For those still needing support, the Hinchinbrook Information and Referral Centre at 73–81 Lannercost Street remains a vital resource and will remain open until September.

The Centre offers financial counselling, wellness coaching, business assistance, and access to grants and recovery programs. For help navigating your recovery journey, call 4776 3479.