COMPLETE CALAMITY: Embarrassing state of Douglas Shire water supply again exposed for all to see

22/1/24 Michael Warren: https://www.newsport.com.au/articles-archive/2024/january/complete-calamity-embarrassing-state-of-douglas-shire-water-supply-again-exposed-for-all-to-see

UPDATED: 12.01PM, Monday, 22/1

Douglas Shire Council just released a statement regarding the current water issue. It read:

Continuous heavy rainfall has caused high turbidity at the water intakes, affecting the performance of water treatment plants at Mossman, Whyanbeel and Wonga.

Last night Council was forced to turn off water supply to Port Douglas following a severe drop in water reservoir levels. Council is working to increase the treated water reservoirs to a level which allows the water supply to be turned back on.

“Staff are working hard to find short and long-term solutions to this current supply issue,” Council said in its prepared statement just moments ago.

“We realise this is a challenging time for both residents, visitors and businesses but we ask for your patience while we get the water running again.”

Council said it hoped Whyanbeel reservoir was at a sufficient level by midday today for water to be sent slowly through to Wonga, Rocky Point and Miallo residents.

The ongoing status of Douglas Shire water supply and accessibility has reached embarrassingly calamity proportions with access either turned off or reduced across the Douglas Shire over the past 24-48 hours.

The ongoing water crisis across the Shire has been exacerbated by Douglas Shire residents’ frustration of the perceived ineffective, non-transparent messaging style of Douglas Shire Council.

Many residents took to social media last night to query why the Shire continues to have water issues that leads to snap water restrictions or situations and scenarios that sees access to drinking water immediately turned off, with little to no notice.

“The water supply to Port Douglas will be turned off shortly until further notice,” Council said in a last minute, late night statement 13 hours ago.

“A dramatic drop in the reservoir level a short time ago suggests there might be a major leak in the pipeline.

“We’ll continue to keep you updated on the Port Douglas supply, and developments across the broader pipeline network, including Mossman, Whyanbeel and Wonga.”

This morning just a few hours ago Council released a further statement about the embarrassing water calamity across the Shire.

“Whyanbeel Water Treatment Plant is producing at the moment,” the statement started.

“We are aiming to have the reservoir at 35% before turning water on to Wonga, Rocky Point and Miallo.

“The Mossman Water Treatment Plant was turned off overnight due to turbidity and we will try to turn the plant back on this morning.

“There is no ETA for turning the water back on in Port Douglas but engineers will be on site today to find a temporary solution while a permanent solution is found.

“We appreciate this is a difficult time for everyone. We’ll be providing updates as soon as new information comes to hand.”

Instead Council instructed residents at Wonga and Port Douglas to get bottled water at Wonga State School and Douglas Community Hall.

It’s one thing to have no water, but Douglas Shire residents are collectively fed up and understandably frustrated about the lack of notice regarding water being turned off, and the state of the Council run Douglas Dashboard.

Council encourages residents to check it for the latest information, but when they do – the information is usually inaccurate, outdated and not applicable to the current situation. Another frustration was that local residents received texts or information about the water being turned off, after it had been done, meaning some residents couldn’t get last minute supplies together.

As is stands, there is a disaster meeting happening this very moment where the issue of local water availability is currently being discussed.

Douglas Shire Councillors’ frustration has reached fever pitch regarding the water situation with many lamenting the lack of information they have received from within Council about why, once again, locals are being subjected to water issues.

The ongoing poor state of Douglas Shire water infrustrature has continued to be in the spotlight following last December’s Ex Tropical Cyclone and the ensuing heavy rain event.

Since then the local system has been plagued by breakages, blocked pipes and other issues which have caused snap closures and residents’ access to their water.

No more was this clearly demonstrated then last night where some locals received a random late night email telling them to fill up water containers as soon as possible.

Under the headline emergency Alert for Port Douglas, Craiglie and Mowbray locals received an email at 9.21pm last night from QFES.

It read: An Emergency Alert (Watch and Act) has been issued from the Douglas Shire Council. Increased rainfall has caused unexpected water production issues resulting in loss of water services, which is occurring now. People in Port Douglas, Craiglie and Mowbray will be impacted. You need to fill water containers now.

Over the weekend Newsport received copious amounts of emails from bewildered and angry readers who expressed their frustration that once again their access to water had been severely limited or turned off altogether with little to no notice.

Newsport understands an expert team from Brisbane is being sent up to assess the Douglas Shire water situation. To further complicate the matter DSC CEO Rachel Brophy is currently in Degarra and not on the ground locally to directly address the issue.

Newsport understands a lack of maintenance and aging infrastructure are two reasons behind the Shire’s ongoing water issues.