Ingham area faces more severe weather with dump closed and resupplying continuing
Ingham’s mayor has provided an update about the closed landfill as the community attempts to resupply and prepare for more severe weather and flooding. Get the latest.
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As the Ingham region braces for more severe weather and flooding on Saturday, residents will need to pursue alternative methods for disposing of their waste after the Ingham landfill was taken offline, but the water supply remains suitable to drink.
With water levels dropping in the region, Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo said there were only two small pockets of farms still cut off – Liborios Road at Upper Stone and Lannercost Extension.
He encouraged residents to take advantage of the break in the weather and dropping water levels to either relocate or restock while they had the opportunity before the severe weather returned.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe weather warning at 10.36am on Saturday for heavy rainfall between Tully and Ayr over the weekend, including Ingham, Palm Island, and Lucinda.
“Significant rainfall may develop over the weekend about the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and the Cassowary Coast, with a monsoon trough in place, rich tropical moisture and onshore flow expected to strengthen,” the BOM said.
“Enhanced rainfall due to widespread showers and isolated embedded thunderstorms is possible throughout the weekend, with extremely wet soils and river catchments leading to a higher than normal vulnerability to flash flooding.”
Heavy rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding was forecast for parts of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and the North Tropical Coast this weekend.
“Six-hourly rainfall totals between 140 to 200mm are possible. Isolated 24-hourly rainfall totals up to 250mm are possible,” they said.
“Rainfall is expected to increase from later today, with isolated heavy falls possible through the remainder of the weekend, before easing early next week.
“Heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.”
In its latest major flood warning for the Herbert River on Saturday morning, the BOM warned that renewed major flooding was possible at Halifax from Sunday morning, with renewed moderate flooding possible at Gairloch, Ingham pump station, Abergowrie Bridge and Gleneagle from overnight Saturday into Sunday.
“Heavy rainfall has been observed across the Herbert River catchment over the last week, particularly over the lower reaches of the catchment. Further heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast for the remainder of the weekend,” the O
Minor to moderate flooding continues along the Herbert River.
Renewed river level rises and areas of minor to major flooding are possible along the Herbert River with forecast rainfall, however the river levels are not expected to reach the levels seen earlier this month.
Herbert River to Nash’s Crossing:
Moderate flooding may occur along the Herbert River to Nash’s Crossing. The river level at Gleneagle was expected to be above the minor flood level (4.50m).
The Herbert River at Gleneagle is likely to remain around the minor flood level during Saturday. The river level may reach the moderate flood level (8.50m) overnight Saturday into Sunday, with forecast rainfall.
Herbert River downstream of Nash’s Crossing:
Moderate to major flooding may occur along the Herbert River downstream of Nash’s Crossing. The Herbert River at Abergowrie Bridge is currently at 6.75 metres and falling, above the minor flood level (6.00m).
The Herbert River at Abergowrie Bridge is likely to remain around the minor flood level (6.00m) during Saturday. The river level may reach the moderate flood level (10.00m) from Sunday morning, with forecast rainfall.
The Herbert River at Ingham Pump Station (Alert gauge) is currently at 8.34 metres and falling, below the minor flood level (10.00m). The Herbert River at Ingham Pump Station may reach the minor flood level (10.00m) Sunday morning. The river level may reach the moderate flood level (11.00m) from late Sunday morning, with forecast rainfall.
The Herbert River at Gairloch (Alert gauge) is currently at 7.99 metres and steady, below the minor flood level (9.50m). The Herbert River at Gairloch may reach the minor flood level (9.50m) Sunday morning. The river level may reach the moderate flood level (10.50m) from late Sunday morning, with forecast rainfall.
The Herbert River at Halifax is currently at 4.56 metres and falling, above the moderate flood level (4.50m). The Herbert River at Halifax may remain around the moderate flood level (4.50m) during Saturday. The river level may reach the major flood level (5.00m) Sunday morning, with forecast rainfall.
Ingham landfill taken offline
Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group warned on Friday that the Ingham landfill site was not operational but the council’s waste services team was working to restore normal services and provide clean up services to residents.
“The Ingham landfill site has been heavily impacted and will not be fully operational for some considerable time. Access will be restricted to essential transactions only,” the group said.
“Until further notice there is no access to the warrens hill landfill site for general public or commercial waste producers.”
It was expected to take until Sunday or Monday until the landfill had its operationality restored.
In the meantime, Mayor Jayo encouraged residents to take their food waste and nappies to dump in skips positioned at the Ingham Showgrounds (Grandstand entrance), Forrest Beach at closed former tip, Wattle Street, or Halifax Transfer Station.
Further skips were being sourced for placement in other township areas which have now become accessible.
Mr Jayo said residents should stack their flood damaged goods on the footpath immediately adjacent their properties, not blocking the street, and contractors would pick them up as soon as access was restored to the landfill.
He said the landfill suffered “extensive damage” that would need to be repaired.
There was extensive water in the refuse, which was now regarded as “leachate” and would need to be appropriately disposed of, for the council to meet its environmental conditions.
Reticulated water supply suitable to drink
To counter misinformation swirling around the community, Mr Jayo reassured residents that there was nothing wrong with the reticulated water supply and it didn’t need to be boiled before consuming.
Restocking and relowering process underway for Ingham, including fuel
Due to the bridge across Ollera Creek being cut, Mr Jayo said the Ingham region had been reliant on helicopters to resupply the area, with choppers flying for 12 hours on Friday during the break in the weather.
“We managed to get food into all of the communities, as well as fuel. One of the big problems that we’ve had because of the loss of power is the extensive demand for generator fuel, so we managed to get fuel into all our other communities,” the mayor said.
“Fortunately, the substation has been restored, and Ergon is proceeding around the district, energising the various areas once all their safety inspections and reporting has been completed.”
With people at their “wit’s end” about running and resupplying generators, he hoped the power would be restored all over the district by tomorrow.
“The Caltex service station was resupplied this morning by truck from Townsville,” he said.
“We have resupply occurred at Andy’s Roadhouse, and there’s also sufficient fuel at the Shell service station,
“So we have three service stations operating, and they have adequate stocks in place now.”
With the northern road now clear, he said they were looking to bring supplies in from that direction.
Wait continues for power restoration in Halifax
For over a week, residents in Halifax have had to survive without power, with some making do rationing fuel for their generators and others going without a generator altogether.
Halifax farmer and former councillor Andrew Lancini said on Saturday that locals were celebrating after access reopened that morning to Ingham, allowing them to stock up on supplies and refuel.
In recent days, he had been responsible for helping to distribute fuel that was barged in through Lucinda, with queuing residents “in good spirits and quite happy”, despite the challenges they had faced, thanks to the community sharing resources to help those less fortunate.
Hinchinbrook Community Pharmacy owner and member of the SES Andrew Giliberto said that the community had been pretty good over the last week but because everyone was so self-sufficient, he said “we kind of get a little bit forgotten in the process”.
“There are a fair few people without generators, and there’s been a lot of generators that have been running dry over fuel. A lot of people who would have otherwise been all right, had the power not gone off, have run out of food (because they didn’t) have basic cooking facilities,” Mr Giliberto said.
When the township had its communications knocked out on Monday, he offered his business’ connection to Starlink satellite internet as a way to keep the lines of communication open with the Local Disaster Management Group.
The rear of his pharmacy was subsequently transformed into a “comms centre” for the past week, as there wasn’t another permanent public facility available for the role in Halifax.
“They’re using it to co-ordinate their efforts. Basically, now that things are starting to calm down, it’s not used as much, but it’s still there, available if they do need it,” he said.
“We need some kind of co-ordination centre, because, although it’s serviceable what we’ve got here, it is literally just a lean-to out the back of my shop. It’s a solid piece of roof and it’s a bare area, but it’s still outside, more or less.”
Ergon Energy spokeswoman Emma Oliveri said at 8am on Saturday, there were approximately 4500 customers across North Queensland without power and crews are working in challenging conditions to progressively restore power where it is safe to do so.
“We have already restored power to 28,300 customers (85.7 per cent) out of a total of 33,000 customers impacted across the severe weather event,” Ms Oliveri said.
“Getting substations and the backbone high-voltage network back up and running were significant steps in the restoration effort, but all feeder lines need to be inspected for faults and crews are going door-to-door disconnecting any homes that have been inundated before they can safely re-energise.
“This is painstaking work, but it is necessary for your safety. Crews have already identified around 300 homes or businesses that cannot be safely reconnected until the property owners have arranged an inspection by a licensed electrical contractor.”
Small business support
Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $250,000 to support essential recovery efforts and Essential Working Capital Loans of up to $100,000 to help with immediate operational costs have been activated for businesses in Hinchinbrook Shire.
To apply visit the QRIDA website at www.qrida.qld.gov.au.
Council disaster operations call centre
If you need assistance with urgent flood-related medical or food resupply that you’re unable to organise for yourself, Council’s Local Disaster Call Centre is operating all weekend 6am-6pm.
Please don’t assume we know of your individual needs.
To log your request for assistance, please call 4776 4600.
Please be patient while the team, including partner agencies, works through the list of requests.
For financial hardship support please call Community Recovery on 1800 173 349.
For disaster counselling support contact Lifeline on 1800 116 671.
For more information please follow the Hinchinbrook Disaster Dashboard: disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au
Previously – February 6:
The Ingham substation has been switched back on, but Ergon Energy says the job is not done yet.
Crews will still need to patrol all feeder lines for faults, isolate customers where it is unsafe to re-energise, and complete emergency repairs where necessary before power can be restored.
Emergency Manager Chris Hooper said aerial surveys, ground patrols and customer reports had identified fallen powerlines, including across waterways.
“If you’re cleaning up, stay well away from fallen power lines and report them to emergency services on triple-0,” he said.
“With the temporary bridge over Ollera Creek open, we will now be able to get vehicles, equipment and people into Ingham by road to fast-track restoration.
“We will also be able to transport additional generators by road instead of air or barge, as well as crews to connect them at critical sites where network supply cannot be restored quickly.
“Crews are continuing to reconstruct the overhead network at Ollera Creek to get the power back on to Mutarnee and Paluma.
“We are so grateful to the community for their support at a really challenging time.”
‘Slim chance’ power could be switched on as groceries given away
There is a “slim chance” power could be restored to disaster-struck Ingham on Thursday,
Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki, speaking in Ingham, said that there was a “slim chance” the Ingham Substation would be “reenergized today”.
“And if it is, it will be one of the quickest ever to be reenergized,” he said outside the crippled substation on Thursday.
“We have Ergon crews working around the clock to get the substation back up and running and we have over 100 Ergon staff around Ingham ready to help with any connection faults.
“This community has suffered so much over the last few days and Ergon and the State Government is throwing everything in support of them.”
Mr Janetzki paid tribute to Ergon Energy employees who had already re-established power to 20,000 home and business across North Queensland in the wake of the weather disaster.
Attempts to restore power are underway today.
Ergon Energy area manager Katrina Lennon was asked that if the chances for Thursday were “slim” what were the chances for Friday.
Pointing at the Ingham Substation, Ms Lennon said: “Until that’s reenergized, I can’t commit to a date.”
“We are forecasting (that) we will get it on as soon as possible.”
She said that when it was switched on, “it will be a staggered approach”.
“Not everyone’s lights are all going to come on at once,” she said, adding that priority sites would come on line first.
This comes as a Coles $100,000 grocery giveaway in flood-ravaged Ingham failed to attract the expected crowds on Thursday morning.
Carol McDonough was one of the first recipients to collect free food at the event, held in the rear of Woolworths Ingham, after she was able to leave Forrest Beach for the first time since the disaster struck.
She said she was given a box of pizza bases by Coles staff members distributing 18 pallets of refrigerated and freezer food, including deli goods, meat, eggs, milk, chilled pet food, drinks and desserts (including some confectionery).
Ms McDonough said she was sharing her products with other people, swapping pizza bases for frozen vegetables and confectionary.
“It’s the first day that we’ve been able to get into town, there is still a bit of water over the road but we can get in,” she said.
“We’ve had no food, no power, no phone, no communications whatsoever.”
She said the situation was extremely trying for Forrest Beach residents, who had banded together to support each other in a time of crisis.
“I’ve got elderly neighbours each side, plus by husband’s parents are elderly, we’ve got them as well, so we’ve just been going backwards and forwards to their houses with fuel and food and just doing the best we can.”
Ms McDonough said she had been cut off from the world and the extent of the flooding hit six days ago.
“I’ve only just found out about what has happened here but at Forrest Beach it’s been good, the pub and the fish shop put all their food together and every day they’ve been providing lunch for people down there,” she said.
“And for the people who have nothing, they have been delivering to their houses.”
Communities in Halifax, Taylors Beach, Lucinda, Macknade and Cordelia remain cut-off.
The Hinchinbrook Shire Council building, home to the Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group was without power on Thursday morning.
The council confirmed that the generator supporting the supply of potable water to homes was “temporarily offline and is being attended to by technicians”.
“Please limit mains water use to drinking and hygiene only to ensure the limited supply serves the wider community until the generator is back online.”
The Ingham Airstrip is now open to light aircraft in daylight hours only.
Telstra Regional General Manager Rachel Cliffe said it was restoring services, with almost 85 per cent of its mobile sites now back online.
“The remaining impact continues to be due to power outages following the intense rain and flooding in the region, and these areas are still inaccessible by road,” she said.
“We have a chopper loaded and ready to go today, weather depending, to take technicians and generators to sites in and around Ingham, so they can bring more services back online.”
Coles Ingham to give away ‘food and essential goods’
Coles Ingham are distributing $100,000 worth of food to the flood-ravaged Hinchinbrook community in the Woolworths carpark at 11am on Thursday.
“While our Ingham store remains closed, Coles is giving away $100k worth of refrigerated food that it was able to get into the area on Tuesday,” a Coles spokesman confirmed on Wednesday night.
The food has been stored in a fridge-freezer at Woolworths, which has a working generator running overtime.
“We know that the Ingham community is doing it tough at the moment, and we have been working extremely hard to get some food and essential goods into the area for the community,“ the spokesman said.
“We are a proud part of the Ingham community, and with our store closed it was a no-brainer for us to donate it to those in need.”
The spokesman said the Coles team was “excited to be able to give this food out to anyone in the Ingham community who needs this”.
The 18 pallets worth of refrigerated and freezer food, includes, deli goods, including meat and cheeses, eggs, milk, chilled pet food, drinks and desserts (including some confectionery).
It is understood that there will be an Ingham Police presence to maintain order.
“We want to thank the local authorities for their support in achieving this,” the spokesman said, “and their help in managing the distribution of this donation to the community.”
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