Palm Island community applauds funding for cyclone shelter after 30-year wait

After facing floods, cyclones and landslides without proper shelter, Palm Island's vulnerable community has secured crucial funding for disaster protection.

Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey with Senator Nita Green and Townsville Acting-Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey said his community has responded positively to the news that a disaster shelter has finally been funded for the small island.

Through the third iteration of the Disaster Ready Fund, the federal government has committed $14.6m of the $17m total cost for a cyclone shelter – which residents have been calling on for decades.

“It’s been on the cards in our community for the last 30 years,” Mayor Lacey said.

With disaster season in its early days, Mayor Lacey said his remote island community residents have faced their fair share of severe weather.

“As we know when weather events do come along and particularly cyclones, we’re really, really vulnerable,” he said.

Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey with Senator Nita Green and Townsville Acting-Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney. Picture: Nikita McGuire

“We’re a resilient bunch of people, and we’ll shelter up when we need to shelter up.”

The announcement comes almost two years after the 4000-person community was hit hard by ex-Tsropical Cyclone Kirrily.

The island also faced the brunt of the 2025 flood event, with a landslide cutting off power and water supply – with crews needing to be ferried over to the island.

Mayor Lacey said that while the community doesn’t have issues with major flooding, their biggest worry was the “tidal inundation.”

Ergon Energy and Palm Island crews have worked to restore services to the island after a massive landslide on the eastern side of the island. Pictures: Supplied.

“We’re the only, we’re the only local government shire in the country that lives within the Great Barrier Reef …,” he said.

“So it’s really important that we get it right, and this investment gives us that opportunity to get it right and make sure that any future event in our community is well organised and well prepared.”

Mayor Lacy advised the planning work for the shelter was ongoing, with discussions being had over land mapping and the size of the building - with a timeline to be announced at a later date.

Originally published as Palm Island community applauds funding for cyclone shelter after 30-year wait