January 2025 Flood Event Important Information

Upcoming Events or Information Sessions

• Nil. 

On this page 

• Disaster Dashboard; 
• Disruptions to Council services and facilities;
• Waste services; 
• Cleaning up your home; 
• Water quality; 
• Power outages;
• Community and financial support;
• Disaster Recovery Replacement Certificates; and
• Helping others in our community 

Disaster Dashboard 

Our Disaster Dashboard has the latest information on road conditions, weather warnings and power outages. 

Disruptions to Council services and facilities 

The following services are closed until further notice: 

• JL Kelly Theatre (Please note some events have moved to the Hinchinbrook Shire Hall. For upcoming events, please visit Council's website, Events Calendar page.);
• Hinchinbrook Shire Library; 
• Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre; and 
• TYTO Regional Art Gallery.

Please be advised there may be delays in responding to customer enquiries.  

Halifax Library Sub-Branch Operating Hours:

• Monday to Friday 10.00am to 2.00pm
• Saturday 9.00am to 12.00pm

If the matter is urgent, please phone Council on 4776 4600. 

Waste services 

Council wishes to advise residents that the final kerbside bulk waste collection for flood damaged items from both town streets and rural properties will be commencing on Monday 31 March 2025.

 Flood damaged waste must be placed for collection prior to this date.

 This is strictly flood damaged waste from inside and immediately outside your home, business, sporting facility or community group facility.

• It includes - furniture, white goods, carpets, etc from the flood event which began in February 2025;
• Please separate steel from other goods if possible;
• It does not include - green waste, general clean-up waste, building materials, asbestos, car batteries, tyres, gas bottles, engine oil, paint, chemicals or other hazardous or regulated materials. These items will NOT be collected by the collection crews; and
• Please contact your insurance company and meet their record requirements before your bulk flood waste is collected.

Process:

• Place items on the footpath adjacent to your property in a manner that does not interfere with street traffic movement – Council personnel cannot enter your property; and
• Fridges and freezers must be emptied.

Residents are reminded that both the Halifax Resource Recovery Centre and Warrens Hill Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre are now open and that wheelie bins are being serviced as per the usual schedule.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation.

Assistance for this service is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Wheelie bin collections 

Wheelie bin collections have now returned to normal schedules, subject to safe access. 

• Please do not overload wheelie bins as the trucks can only manage 70kg loads; 
• Empty any water before adding waste;
• Do not overfill your bin – you should be able to close the lid; and 
• Stack flood damaged goods separately for kerbside collection. 

Kerbside collections (flood damaged waste only) 

Flood damaged waste is being collected from Monday 17 February 2025. 

Collection has started in Taylors Beach, Halifax and Cordelia areas. 

This service: 

• Is only for flood damaged waste (from 3 February onwards) from inside and immediately outside your home, business, sporting facility or community group facility; 
• Includes furniture, white goods, carpets (if possible, please separate steel from other goods); and
• Does not include green waste, general clean-up, waste, building materials, asbestos, car batteries, tyres, gas bottles, engine oil, paint, chemicals or other hazardous or regulated materials. These items will not be collected by the collection crews. 

Please contact your insurance company and meet their requirements for records before your bulk flood waste is collected. 

To access the kerbside collection service: 

• Place items on the footpath adjacent to your property in a manner that does not interfere with street traffic movement (Council staff cannot enter your property); and 
• Empty fridges and freezers.  

Some items may be collected by different crews at different times. Council will arrange several collection rounds for those people not yet ready to use the service. 

Public access to waste facilities  

Warrens Hill Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre and the Halifax Resource Recovery Centre reopened to the public on Sunday 23 February 2025. 

Both facilities are operating as business-as-usual basis and accept domestic green waste, general waste, and scrap metal. 

Regulated waste such as mattresses and tyres will attract the usual fees. 

Residents may use their (two) free domestic general waste vouchers, or the usual disposal charges will apply. Tax receipts can be provided on request for potential insurance claims. 

Opening hours: 

• Warrens Hill Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre; and
• Halifax Resource Recovery Centre

Please note, Council and contractor staff are doing their best at this difficult time for our community.  

High traffic flow is expected on the day and your patience will be appreciated. 

Cleaning up your home 

Washouts 

Tips from the Townsville Hospital and Health Service  

• Wear boots, gloves and appropriate clothing: flood waters are heavily contaminated with hazards including dirt and debris and can carry harmful bacteria including those causing uncommon diseases like melioidosis and leptospirosis. Contaminated water and mud can be serious health risks for people, particularly vulnerable community members like the sick, elderly or diabetics. Don’t rush the cleanup. Please leave it to fit and healthy people;
• Cover up any wounds: No matter how minor the wound, clean it immediately, apply antiseptic, and apply a waterproof dressing; 
• Cleaning mould requires gloves and preferably a face mask: Mould is something residents may notice over the coming days. It can be smelly and unsightly, but it is not a serious health hazard unless you have an underlying allergy, serious lung issues or immune suppression. Avoid cleaning up mould if you have medical risks; and
• Apply insect repellent, and wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing and closed-in footwear: It's important to protect yourself from mosquitos and any other hidden animals around your home. 

Water quality  

Water supply 

All Hinchinbrook Shire town water supplies are safe to drink and do not need to be boiled. 

Tank water and pools 

The Queensland Government has information about tank water and pools after a flood event. 

Power Outages 

Information about current power outages is on Council’s Disaster Dashboard. 

Learn more about power restoration from Ergon Energy.

Community and financial support 

Mental health support 

Disasters are upsetting experiences for everyone involved.  

The emotional toll that disaster brings can sometimes be even more devastating than the financial strains of damage and loss of home, business or personal property.  

Recognise that recovery takes time, and it is okay to ask for help. 

Support is available from: 

• Lifeline’s dedicated Community Recovery Lifeline Hotline on 1800 116 671; 
• Lifeline's crisis hotline on 13 11 14; 
• Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636; 
• Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349; and
• or if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person call 13 YARN. 

Rates due date extended 

Council has extended the due date for payment of the Second Half Yearly Rate notices to Wednesday 30 April 2025.

This applies to both email and postal rate notices. 

If you may have difficulty making payment, please contact Council as soon as possible to discuss a payment plan. 

Contact 4776 4600 or email revenue@hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au 

Community Recovery Hubs 

If you have been impacted and need assistance, please contact the 24/7 Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349. 

The Queensland Government’s Community Recovery Hubs also help people impacted by the recent flooding and rainfall to access support and assistance. 

They are located at: 

Go to qld.gov.au/DisasterHelp for an up-to-date list of all hubs, including locations and opening times. 

Mobile Laundry Facilities

Mobile laundry facilities are no longer available in Halifax. 

Financial Support 

Personal hardship assistance grants are available people directly impacted to meet their immediate essential needs for food, clothing, medical supplies and temporary accommodation. 

Affected community members may be able to apply for the following, subject to meeting eligibility requirements: 

• Emergency hardship assistance; 
• Essential household content grant; 
• Structural assistance grant; and 
• Essential services safety and reconnection scheme. 

More information is available at qld.gov.au/DisasterHelp 

Small business, primary producer and not for profit grants 

Support is available for farmers, small businesses and not for profit agencies in the Hinchinbrook region. 

• Grants of up to $25,000 are available for primary producers, small businesses and not for profit agencies;
• Grants of up to $10,000 are available to rural landholders or lessees of at least 10 hectares who sustained direct damage but are not eligible for other DRFA primary producer assistance; and
• Disaster Assistance Loans and Essential Working Capital Loans have been activated for businesses in Hinchinbrook Shire. 

These loans are designed to support small and family businesses to re-establish operations relating to: 

• Repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment; 
• Repairing or replacing buildings; or 
• Restocking inventory to resume operations.

Eligible small and family businesses can apply for: 

• Disaster Assistance Loans: up to $250,000 to support essential recovery efforts; and 
• Essential Working Capital Loans: up to $100,000 to assist with immediate operational costs, including wages, rent, and creditor payments. 

To apply, go to qrida.qld.gov.au or call 1800 623 946. 

Commercial fishers and aquaculture 

Commercial fishers and aquaculture businesses impacted by high rainfall and flooding in northern Queensland can now apply for Extraordinary Disaster Recovery Assistance Grants up to $25,000 for on-property recovery costs. 

Assistance also includes: 

• Concessional loans up to $250,000; and  
• Essential working capital loans up to $100,000.

More information is available at daf.qld.gov.au/flood 

Primary producer surveys 

The Department of Primary Industries encourages primary producers to report any damages or losses to your farm through the Disaster Impact Survey. 

These reports help determine if you will need extra support during recovery. 

To access the survey and find out more on the range of assistance available, go to business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/alerts/north-qld-floods-agribusiness or call 13 25 23. 

More information is also available at qrida.qld.gov.au/primary-producers 

Disaster Recovery Replacement Certificates

It may be possible to get one of your Queensland certificates without paying the application fee if you are experiencing financial hardship and have an immediate need for it. Each request is considered on its own merit.

A separate application must be completed for each person needing a fee-waived certificate.

If your application is approved, we will send your certificate for free by standard post.

For further information or to replace your certificate, please visit https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/certificates/disaster-recovery-replacement-certificates 

Helping others in our community 

Donations 

GIVIT has partnered with the Queensland Government to manage donations of essential goods and services for people impacted by severe floods in North and Far North Queensland. 

The organisation received $500,000 from the Queensland Premier to manage donations for this disaster through the North and Far North Queensland Floods 2025 Appeal. 

Uncoordinated and unrequested donations can hamper recovery efforts, so please do not take or send unrequested donations. 

People who want to help should visit GIVIT.org.au to: 

• See exactly what’s needed by people affected by this disaster; 
• Donate goods that have been requested; 
• Donate money to aid this recovery; 
• Offer goods through the GIVIT online warehouse; and
• Offer services or volunteering.  

Where possible, GIVIT uses donated funds to purchase items from local providers to support the economic recovery of impacted regions. 

Charities, outreach teams, recovery organisations and community groups can also register for free to request donations of goods, vouchers and services. 

^{Last updated: Monday 17 March 2025.}