Water works delay Wujal Wujal’s quest to return to country, Premier speaks to elders

Queensland’s Premier has apologised to a Far North Indigenous elder whose community was wiped out during last month’s record floods as disaster recovery groups seek to rebuild the devastated township.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles says he is “frustrated” with disaster recovery efforts in Far North Queensland. Picture Glenn Campbell

Premier Steven Miles has apologised to a Far North Indigenous elder whose community was wiped out during last month’s record floods as disaster recovery groups seek to rebuild the devastated township.

But more than a month on Queensland’s leader said he still can’t give the remote Indigenous community’s hundreds of displaced residents a timeline of when they can return home.

A raging torrent ran through Wujal Wujal in southern Cape York last month forcing the entire community to be evacuated with assistance from the Australian Defence Force just days before Christmas.

Since then, clean-up efforts have sputtered with a “frustrated” Mr Miles visiting the Wujal Wujal this week seeking answers.

And while electricity has returned, other critical water infrastructure remains in disrepair, the Premier said.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has pledged not to forget the Far North's flood victims, even as Tropical Cyclone Kirrily approaches the coast.

“We think that the infrastructure is capable of delivering non-potable water but at the sewerage treatment plant, we expect that the pump will fail quite quickly,” Mr Miles said.

“I understand how frustrating this is – I’m frustrated too.

“It’s why we haven’t been able to give a firm timeline on when it will be safe to return.

“The timelines given to me … keep shifting between two, four, six, eight weeks.”

Wujal Wujal residents Marie Shipton, Auntie Kathleen Walker, Coraleen Shipton and Uncle William Harrigan after being evacuated last month to Cooktown's Disaster Centre.

The delays echo concerns recently raised by Queensland water consultant Alex Ung, who feared fixing the town’s damaged sewerage system would be time consuming and expensive.

“The issue is there were some manhole covers that were blown off and a lot of mud has entered the sewerage network,” the Unganco executive director said.

“That would be the biggest risk. If it’s full of mud, it needs to be flushed or pushed through.

“It may have hardened. If that happens it turns to concrete.

“They’d have to clear all that pipe with pressure hoses and vacuum pumps.”

Wujal Wujal resident and former mayor Peter Wallace says he is concerned for his community’s young people following the Far North floods. Picture: Brendan Radke

On Tuesday, respected Wujal Wujal community members Auntie Kathleen Walker and former mayor Peter Wallace raised concerns about the impact the floods have had on their community.

Ms Walker said residents had grown tired of waiting while Mr Wallace feared gambling and alcohol had already taken a grip on displaced youths living in Cairns and Cooktown.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles visited remote communities devastated by December's Far North floods on Tuesday with hundreds of displaced residents in the region still unable to go back home.

In response, Mr Miles said he reached out to Auntie Kathleen on Wednesday morning.

“I’ve apologised to her that she felt that way,” the Premier said.

“I guess I was so focused on the practicalities of getting the town back up-and-running and so I’m sorry that the elders felt like I haven’t communicated sufficiently with them.

“What I assured Auntie Kathleen was that everyone is absolutely focused on getting them back to country, back to their community as quickly as we possibly can.

“No-one would ever want this for their community. It’s a terrible and frustrating situation to find themselves in.

“If they’ve felt frustrated by the lack of information, I’m sorry about that. I share their frustration.”

Wujal Wujal is one of eight remote Indigenous communities Mr Ung helped establish a shared assets database under a Federal Government grant last year.

Originally published as Water works delay Wujal Wujal’s quest to return to country, Premier speaks to elders