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

To mark Get Ready Week, DSC is providing a snapshot of what has been achieved since the region was devastated by last year’s natural disaster.

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 our water reservoir levels to recharge much quicker when needed.
  • Two temporary ultrafiltration units are located at Whyanbeel. They will provide an improved reliability of water production during challenges and in times of demand.

New filters installed at Mossman and Whyanbeel Water Treatment plants

A look inside the new filters installed at Water Treatment Plants

PIPE NETWORK

  • 3 km of water mains have been repaired and upgraded since TC Jasper.
  • Leak detection and repair work along over 300km of 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 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 at critically low levels, 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.
  • Council has purchased 15 portable, 1150L water tanks which can be delivered to locations impacted by unexpected long outages.
  • Council has purchased a drinking water tanker to enable delivery of drinking water to portable tanks/high risk sites.

Despite these improvements, Douglas Shire Council is encouraging its residents to consider their own water security measures during Get Ready Week due to lasting impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the flooding in December has dramatically changed the shire’s natural environment, putting ongoing stress on our water network.

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

“In the lead-up to the wet season we are encouraging people to ensure they have containers and are able to store adequate supplies of drinking water for their family needs, and visit  Council’s Disaster Management and Preparedness web-page.”

Rocky Point reservoir can now be sent along the network to Wonga Beach


 

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