Recovery efforts underway with flood damaged store to be rebuilt in the remote Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal

Work is underway to rebuild a critical community store in a remote Indigenous community that was devastated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the Far North floods.

Wujal Wujal mayor Bradley Creek and Communities Minister Leanne Enoch stand outside the community store which was badly damaged during the Far North floods.

Work is underway to rebuild a critical community store in a remote Indigenous community that was devastated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the Far North floods.

Wujal Wujal, located 170km north of Cairns, was among the worst hit communities by the dual natural disasters with homes and critical community infrastructure extensively damaged by the heavy rain and flooding that followed the cyclone in December.

Since then QBuild has started repairs to the town’s supermarket which will include replacement of the cold room, store generator and retaining walls, as well as reflooring, re-sheeting of walls and electrical repairs, Communities Minister Leanne Enoch said.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers have taken their specialist skills and equipment off-park to support the ongoing clean-up of Wujal Wujal following severe flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Supplied

“A lot of residents in Wujal Wujal rely heavily on the store’s easy access from within the

community on a daily basis,” Ms Enoch said.

“I’m pleased to report that work to repair the store has already begun and we’re looking at

interim options to provide access to food and other essential items until repairs are

completed, and the store has reopened.”

Life after the floods has been challenging, Wujal Wujal mayor Bradley Creek said, with hundreds of residents displaced following the natural disaster.

Wujal Wujal mayor Bradley Creek and Communities Minister Leanne Enoch stand outside the community store which was badly damaged during the Far North floods.

“It has been a very rough time for my people of Wujal Wujal,” Mr Creek said.

“We are grateful that the Queensland Government has been working with the elders, council and community elders to have the community cleaned up.

“The road to recovery is four-to-five weeks away. All government agencies are working together so all essential services are up and running before the community returns home to Wujal Wujal.

“Rebuilding the store will return a sense of normality for the community which has been

through so much.”

Landslides run for hundreds of metres down cliff faces and into the ocean on the Bloomfield Track between Wujal Wujal and Cape Tribulation.

More than 50 QBuild staff have been involved in efforts to rebuild critical infrastructure in the town, Public Works Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.

“Often among the first boots on the ground after a natural disaster, QBuild teams from around Queensland continue to assess and repair damaged social housing and key public infrastructure in Wujal Wujal like the Police Station, Health Unit and the local store,” Ms Scanlon said.

“We’ve helped families from across the community with accommodation and we’ll continue to work with the community as they rebuild.”

Financial assistance is available for Far North Queenslanders impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or call the 24-hour Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 for more information about personal hardship assistance.

Originally published as Recovery efforts underway with flood damaged store to be rebuilt in the remote Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal