Fridges, washing machines, farm gates and water tanks are among the items littering rivers following the flooding that devastated the Douglas Shire in December.
The riverbed from Silky Oaks to the mouth of the Mossman River is also significantly higher than before TC Jasper while the sediment is slowly moving downstream from Mossman Gorge.
Douglas Shire Council Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said there were fears the rubbish could end up on the Great Barrier Reef and the build-up of sediment could have consequences for the town of Mossman in the upcoming wet season.
“The flooding that followed TC Jasper has already had a significant impact on our pristine river system and to learn fridges, washing machines and other flood debris is being found lodged in riverbanks and tangled in trees is heartbreaking,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
“The high sediment levels are also concerning on several levels.
“Anichs Bridge has flooded almost 30 times since the cyclone, impacting trade for businesses and leaving the community at risk in case of emergency.”
Council will be applying for funding under the $20 million Clean-up Program jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments to support Queensland communities recover from natural disasters in December 2023 and January 2024.
“We need the community’s help to assist Council secure this much-needed grant,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
“Council is asking people to complete an online survey which will take about three minutes to complete.
“Responses will not only highlight the extent of the problem in our rivers but demonstrate community support for the clean-up.”
The survey, which closes on August 9, can be found on the Douglas Shire Council website: Daintree and Mossman Rivers Clean Up Survey (douglas.qld.gov.au)
