Labor delivers funding to improve water security for Douglas Shire Council
- $10 million funding secured for key water security project from the Albanese and Miles Labor governments
- Will fund a new water intake on the Mossman River to better manage severe weather events
- Forms an important part of Douglas Shire Council’s Water Security Strategy
More water security is coming to Douglas Shire Council as the Australian and Queensland governments fund a second water supply intake on the Mossman River.
The $16.4 million intake is supported by $5 million from the Albanese and Miles governments, helping Douglas Shire Council deliver this important water infrastructure project.
Currently, the Douglas community relies on water from a single source, Rex Creek. The catchment surrounding Rex Creek suffered landslips and erosion during ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which made it very difficult to treat water supplies into Mossman and Port Douglas.
The project was a key item in Council’s Water Security Strategy, which included a suite of demand management and infrastructure measures to bolster water security.
Council will wrap up procurement and project planning activities by November 2024, with construction expected to kick-off by May 2025, weather permitting. The project is expected to support 15 jobs
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon thanks the Ministers and local member for delivering the funding.
“This $10 million from Canberra and Brisbane is $10 million our ratepayers don’t have to stump up for” she said.
“I want to thank Minister’s Plibersek and Butcher and our local Member Cynthia Lui for delivering this vital funding, it is an important part of our Shire’s Water Security Strategy. We’re ramping up demand management, leak prevention and education activities: this second intake is a critically important piece of the puzzle!
“I thank everyone for their patience – we want to get this right, we want to make sure we have water security for our residents and our important tourism industry moving forward.”
