Douglas Shire Council operates three drinking water supply schemes that source water from highly protected catchments and treat water to Australian Drinking Water Guideline standards.
Raw water for all the Douglas Shire Council schemes is sourced from remote intakes in rugged, weathered and granitic terrain, located in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest
Many of the extraction locations are in pristine rainforest and relatively untouched by human activity.
Once extracted, raw water is treated at Council’s treatment plants and then stored in treated water reservoirs so it is “on tap” when required at homes, schools and businesses throughout the region.
Rex Creek Intake
Mossman, North Mossman, Port Douglas, Craiglie, Newell Beach, Cooya Beach, Cassowary and Mowbray communities are supplied with water from Rex Creek. This water is treated at the Mossman Water Treatment Plant and reticulated under gravity through 185km of pipes.
- Total connected properties: 5687
- Estimated population: 13,030
The Mossman/ Port Douglas Scheme has a much higher demand, and there have been occasions in October/November when water supply from Rex Creek becomes less reliable.
Water restrictions are regularly imposed during September, October and November. Douglas Shire Council is currently looking at options for alternative intake for Mossman/Port Douglas Scheme.
Rex Creek Intake shown with 360 degree view.
Little Falls Creek Intake
Whyanbeel, Miallo, Bamboo, Rocky Point, Port Douglas Views and Wonga Beach communities are supplied with water from Little Falls Creek. This water is treated at the Whyanbeel Water Treatment Plant.
- Total connected properties: 711
- Estimated population: 1635
Whyanbeel Intake shown with 360 degree view.
Intake Creek
The Daintree Township is supplied from Intake Creek. This water is treated at the Daintree Water Treatment Plant.
Total connected properties: 34
Estimated population: 85
Daintree Intake shown with 360 degree view.
Water Storage
Port Douglas-Mossman Scheme:
There are two reservoirs located at the Mossman water treatment plant:
- Mossman – 1.8ML
- Port Douglas – 5ML
There are three reservoirs that service Port Douglas:
- Crees Road Reservoir – 20ML
- Craiglie Reservoir (Hope St) – 10.1ML
- Flagstaff Reservoir – 2.2ML
These reservoirs are designed to provide 3 to 7 days’ water supply to the community in the event intakes become blocked during severe weather, or water treatment plants are offline.
They are not built to provide long-term water supply, but rather provide additional storage capacity for the Port Douglas scheme.
Port Douglas Water Supply Reservoir (Crees Road)
At an estimated cost of $13.5 million, the construction of a new 20ML water reservoir in Craiglie completed in November 2018 was the single largest capital works project undertaken by Douglas Shire Council since de-amalgamation. The reservoir is located on land in Craiglie off Ferraro Road which was purchased by Douglas Shire Council specifically for the water reservoir.
Cress Road Reservoir shown with 360 degree view.
Cress Road Reservoir shown with 360 degree view.
All three reservoir can be gravity fed from the Mossman WTP, but Flagstaff can additionally be fed from the Craiglie Reservoir pump station or Port Douglas Pump station.
Whyanbeel
- Whyanbeel Clearwater – 3.5ML
- Rocky Point Reservoir – 1ML
Daintree
Water is reticulated, under gravity to the Daintree scheme directly from the 400KL treated water reservoir at the plant – there are no additional reservoirs.
Daintree groundwater bore is used as a contingency water source for water security during drought conditions, or when the Intake Creek is unavailable (e.g. damaged in adverse weather events).
Daintree rainwater system is used as a contingency water source during adverse heavy rainfall events. Rainwater catchment is set on the Daintree WTP roof and feeds into the raw water tank. Rainwater supply is only available during rain events
