Hinchinbrook flood disaster: Public council facilities still closed

Hinchinbrook remains without vital public infrastructure more than three months after the devastating flood disaster. Read why>>

Fairford Rd, Ingham. Photographs from the flooding in Hinchinbrook on Thursday resulting from torrential overnight downpours. Picture: Cameron Bates

Hinchinbrook remains without a public library, gallery, theatre and its iconic tourism information centre more than three months after the devastating flood disaster due to ongoing wrangles over insurance.

The Hinchinbrook Shire Council executive would only confirm that the JL Kelly Theatre, Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre, Tyto Regional Art Gallery and Hinchinbrook Shire Library remained closed due to “damage sustained during the February 2025 flood event”.

The council executive would not answer questions seeking more detailed information about the extent of the damage to the important council assets, the estimated cost of the damage, when repairs would begin and the expected reopening dates.

The main Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre building remains closed and is operating out of a shipping container during the peak holiday season. Picture: Cameron Bates

Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo, however, was more forthcoming saying the council was “still waiting on insurance assessors to finalise matters”.

“We aren’t any different from other people around the district,” he said, referring to the ongoing battles residents and businesses are having with their respective insurers in the aftermath of the deadly floods.

Two people lost their lives in the historic flooding that inundated vast swathes of the district and caused heavy, as yet uncalculated, losses to property and crops.

The entrance to the Hinchinbrook Shire Council TYTO Regional Art Gallery and Hinchinbrook Shire Library, both of which have been closed since the flood disaster. Picture: Cameron Bates

Despite a procession of visits from government ministers and officials promising immediate fixes, recovery efforts continue to encounter bureaucratic hurdles and a number of businesses have only just reopened while others remain closed.

Mr Jayo said the theatre, which hosts concerts and movie screenings, suffered significant damage from “severe flooding”, including to the seating, as well as extensive damage from hazardous mould.

The shuttered Hinchinbrook Shire Council-operated JL Kelly Theatre runs regular movie screenings for local children as well as shows for adults but has been closed since the flood disaster. Picture: Cameron Bates

Asked whether the flooding was the result of heavy rain or rising ‘floodwaters’, the three-term mayor said the council was still engaged in robust discussions with the insurer.

“We’re still arguing with the insurer; we believe it was a combination of both and different levels, that argument is still occurring … before works can be undertaken.”

Mr Jayo said that in regards to the library and gallery in the Tyto conference and events precinct in the Ingham CBD, the council was waiting on tradies to fix the airconditioning systems that had failed during the flood event and the mould set in.

“We’ve got to wait for part to come from god only knows where and once that is repaired we can deal with the mould.”

Happier times. Students from Ingham State School get involved in the robotics and coding workshop at the Hinchinbrook Library. Picture: Cameron Bates

He said the mould constituted a significant health risk.

“Just look inside the window, it is closed for (the public’s) safety so the mould doesn’t get into their lungs,” he said.

“We are still waiting on insurance companies to resolve that issue before we can commence, so at the present time … we can’t estimate how long they will be closed.”

Mr Jayo said the tourist information centre was also closed due to mould, but was still providing a service to visitors out of a shipping container at the front of the building during the beginning of the peak tourism season.

“Obviously because mould has some significant health risks, we can’t expose the public to that.”

He said the council was yet to arrive a total estimated cost, saying it “was all in the hands of the insurers”.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Ramon Jayo outside the iconic Ingham Visitor Information Centre in 2020. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Jayo said he was committed to reopening the vital facilities as quickly as possible.

“We are maintaining pressure on our insurance company toward getting the rehabilitation done.”

The council is insured by the Local Government Mutual Services, established by the Local Government Association of Queensland.

The Ingham library and gallery during the flooding. Picture: Cameron Bates

An LGAQ spokesman confirmed it was a trustee of the LGMS, set up 31 years ago to provide insurable risk coverage to councils.

“With 73 of 77 Local Government Areas impacted this year due to three extreme weather events that covered most of the state, it’s been a busy time for LGMS and all commercial insurance operators.

He said it had been in regular discussions with the Hinchinbrook Shire Council since the floods and had sent loss assessors to Ingham.

“We understand that LGMS has been in contact with the council about the results of the damage assessments, and is working with them on a payment figure in order to resolve the matter.”

Originally published as Hinchinbrook flood disaster: Public council facilities still closed