‘Brown stuff’: Former Yarrabah mayor calls for improved essential service

A milestone moment for Cairns’ $472m water infrastructure project has raised questions about essential services in a nearby Indigenous township, with a community leader calling for improved facilities.

Former Yarrabah mayor, Percy Neal still holds concerns about the town’s water supply. Picture: Brian Cassey

A milestone moment for Cairns’ $472m water infrastructure project has raised questions about essential services in a nearby Indigenous township, with a community leader calling for further improvements to facilities.

Cairns Regional Council celebrated the halfway point on construction of its new water security facility this week with the state and federal government tipping $390m in for the upgrades.

Aerial view of Yarrabah. The seaside township is the largest Aboriginal community in Australia, with more than 2,500 residents. Picture: Brendan Radke

But former Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council mayor Percy Neal said he hadn’t poured himself a glass of Adam’s ale from a tap in his hometown for at least four years.

“Just the other day, it was undrinkable,” Mr Neal said.

“There was brown stuff and it just wasn’t the right colour. Our family, we buy bottled water. Sometimes it’s white, like milk.”

In 2023, dangerously high levels of lead was detected in tap water at Yarrabah schools, along with health services and in some homes.

Around $1.2m for the town’s water treatment plant and a further $3.2m for water and waste projects was invested by the state government soon after.

But Mr Neal said residents were still reluctant to drink the town’s water.

“I don’t drink it because of all that stuff that happened,” he said.

“We need proper water, so the whole community can have confidence and safety in our water supply.

“Some people drink it because there’s nowhere else to get it. I’m lucky.”

Stage One of the Cairns Water Security Project has reached 50 percent completion, with infrastructure work on the site north of Gordonvale progressing past the first stages of construction. Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith, Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, Member for Barron River Bree James and Member for Mulgrave Terry James pose next to a large water valve to mark the project milestone. Picture: Brendan Radke

Member for Leichhardt, Matt Smith said improving Yarrabah’s infrastructure was a work in progress.

“I’m very, very aware of what was going on in Yarrabah to the point where they were trucking in water,” Mr Smith said.

“There were issues with more lead than there should be as a consequence of the type of pipes that were used and the kind of sealant that was used in the construction 30 or 40 years ago.

“So it is an ongoing issue. But it’s not just Yarrabah. There are a lot of places that have these old copper piping and that soldering which can cause this issue.

“So I think it’s going to have to be a much larger conversation than just Yarrabah.”

Mulgrave MP Terry James said he supported efforts to improve services in the largest Indigenous community in Australia.

“The state government is working with the Yarrabah Council to do exactly that,” he said.

“I’m sure that we’ll get through that and support Yarrabah.”

Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council weren’t immediately available for comment.

Originally published as ‘Brown stuff’: Former Yarrabah mayor calls for improved essential service