Cairns Regional Council mulling extension of water mains to supply Yarrabah across Trinity Inlet

Yarrabah’s water quality issues have caught the eyes of Cairns’ councillors, who are now proposing a gallant but likely expensive solution to help the neighbouring community.

Cairns councillors are mulling a gallant but likely expensive solution to Yarrabah’s water quality issues after an agreeable meeting with the state’s water minister.

According to deputy mayor Terry James, Cairns Regional Council has proposed a 10km extension of its Bessie Point water main to augment Yarrabah’s water supply.

Deputy mayor Terry James said finer details of the proposal were still being investigated by the council’s water and infrastructure team. Picture: Isaac McCarthy

Cairns water infrastructure and Yarrabah are separated by a steep mountain range.

Mr James said the idea was in its absolute infancy and could not comment on the proposal’s likely design.

“We put it to the minister we could help with Yarrabah’s water problems as the end of our pipeline is 10km away. With a bit of funding we could extend that,” Mr James said.

“There’s a lot more work to do on the detail. The feasibility is being investigated as we don’t know yet whether we would go over, through or around the range.

Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews said has recently campaigned for state-funded improvements to his town’s trunk infrastructure. Picture: Nuno Avendano

“This was an idea that came from our water people who are working with (Yarrabah Shire Council) all the time, providing technical advice.

“We’re keen to help them out if we can.”

A health alert sent to staff at Yarrabah’s Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services on May 17 stated elevated copper levels had been detected in the town’s water.

The email recommended staff undertake cautionary blood tests as Tropical Public Health Services director Dr Richard Gair said staff and patients visiting the Gurriny Yealamucka Health centre had been advised to drink bottled water until rectifications were completed.

Cairns Regional Council is mulling the idea of extending its water mains to help with Yarrabah's troubled water supply, according to deputy mayor Terry James. Picture: File photo

Yarrabah’s mayor Ross Andrews, deeply concerned about his town’s ageing and degenerating utilities infrastructure, sought an audience with the state’s politicians while they were in the Far North for regional parliament in May, hoping to garner some budget guarantees to aid the socio-economically beleaguered town.

He has since repeated his calls for assistance from the state government after some Yarrabah residents revealed water supply to their homes was unreliable.

Mr James could not comment on the likely expense of a potential water mains extension.

He was also unable to say how an augmented water system would impact water bills for Cairns residents.

According to Cairns Regional Council’s website a 3km Kamerunga water main project cost $6m, and a 2.5km project near Palm Cove and Clifton Beach, completed in 2015, cost $5.8m.

Drinking water recently sourced from a kitchen tap at an Indigenous health centre in Yarrabah. Picture: Supplied

A trunk water main project from Clifton Beach to Paradise Palms, planned for completion in 2025, is expected to cost $3.3m.

Mr James said both councils were in communication with the state government concerning the idea.

“The minster sounded very interested,” he said.

Mr James said potential demand from Yarrabah for Cairns’ water supply was unlikely to place undue strain on the network.

“The project would be adjunct to our (water security stage 1 project) involving the Mulgrave River,” he said.

Yarrabah mayor Ross Andrews was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Cairns Regional Council mulling extension of water mains to supply Yarrabah across Trinity Inlet