Hinchinbrook floods 2025: New emergency alert for Herbert River
The Queensland government has vowed to reopen disaster-impacted Hinchinbrook schools as quickly as possible and step up support as the Shire faces potential new flooding.
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The Queensland government has vowed to reopen disaster-impacted Hinchinbrook schools as quickly as possible and step up support to individuals and businesses as the Shire faces potential new flooding.
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, joined in Ingham by Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek and Small and Family Business Minister Steve Minnikin on Wednesday, said he was “very concerned” about water levels in the upper catchment of the Herbert River.
BOM reissued a major flood warning for the Herbert at midday on Wednesday, with Palm Creek that dissects Ingham continuing to rise, the Bruce Highway again cut at the Seymour River north of Ingham, and parts of the Shire again left isolated, including Halifax and the Lower Herbert.
It confirmed that major flooding was occurring at Halifax, “with renewed rises expected from Thursday as upstream floodwaters arrive”.
Mr Dametto said, “we are watching rivers rising right across the whole electorate right now”.
“We are seeing waters come up in the Lower Herbert right now: Taylors Beach, Macknade … are closed and shut off right now … and also the Abergowrie Bridge, that’s over as well.”
He reminded residents that during the devastating 1967 flood, one of the largest in the Herbert district, the sun was shining when the disaster struck.
Mr Langbroek, speaking at largely shuttered Ingham State High School, said there were about 10 state schools in North Queensland that remained closed in the wake of the flood disaster.
“It’s been a very, very big effort on the ground from senior staff working together with QBuild in a long process, making sure that safety is the number one component for our students and parents when they are coming back to school.”
He said about 65 state schools had closed during the severe weather event and flooding, with less than a dozen still closed.
Mr Minnikin gave the Australian Defence Force and Department of Transport and Main roads a shout-out for re-opening the severed Bruce Highway at Ollera Creek.
“It was a tremendous, tremendous effort and then you get here and you see the great groundwork being done by the education minister and his team,” he said.
“It’s been quite heart wrenching … when you go to the (Hinchinbrook Community Recovery Hub) you can actually see the despair on people’s faces, this is their hour of need … they need the helping hand of government and community working together.”
Mr Minnikin also hailed the efforts of Mr Dametto, the council and state the federal governments working together to overcome adversity.
“Its times like this where your really are proud to be an Australian, particularly a Queenslander.”
He said the number one priority during a disaster was “protecting life”.
“But eventually, when the sun shines and the water recedes there will be a point in time when small business … face their hour of need.”
Mr Minnikin said there were a range of grants and state government assistance available for small businesses.
“Assistance is there, in your hour of need, we will be there, that our hour of need is right now.”
He said the disaster would have longer-term implications, vowing to return to North Queensland.
“As the minister for small business, I will be back, because I want to make sure … that we are here until the job is done.”
Mr Dametto said for people or businesses experiencing trouble applying for state of federal hardship grants or having applications knocked back “please ring the phone number on the website”.
“We’ve been told by the minister that there is a little bit more discretion from those people that actually have to work on the phone with you, instead of online,” he said.
“And also the Recovery Hub is open at the TAFE here in Ingham but also the Cardwell Community Centre.”
The Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group issued an “emergency alert” just before 1pm for localised flooding that could occur today and tomorrow.
“Prepare to move to higher ground if required,” it said.
“Conditions could change quickly.”
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Originally published as Hinchinbrook floods 2025: New emergency alert for Herbert River
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