‘Proud of this community’: Deputy Mayor praises actions of Charters Towers residents

Charters Towers is entering its third week of critical water restrictions after the town’s main source of water was damaged by flood debris. Read what council did to avoid a boil water notice.

The weir flooding over - February 5, 2025.

Charters Towers is entering its third week of critical water restrictions after the town’s main source of water was damaged by flood debris.

The town of roughly 11,800 normally gets its water through a central ‘intake valve’ that sits in the Burdekin River at the nearby weir.

On February 3, the intake valve failed as the Burdekin River reached major flood level and rose beyond it.

Charters Towers Regional Council believes the rapidly rising floodwaters brought debris down river that clogged up and damaged the intake valve - something that often happens during major floods.

Residents were issued a ‘conserve water now’ alert and told to avoid washing clothes, only have three minute showers, and only flush toilets ‘if it’s necessary’.

Charters Towers deputy mayor Kate Hastie said she's lived on the banks of the Burdekin River for 33 years. "I saw myself the size of the debris floating down, and the level came up so quick."

Charters Towers Regional Council deputy mayor Kate Hastie said she was proud of how the community responded to the emergency situation, which impacted over 4,300 households.

“Everyone jumped on board and did it, and I understand it was not easy for those with kids,” Cr Hastie said.

“Council is absolutely thankful to the community getting behind these alerts, people were telling their neighbours and telling family who weren’t on social media and really helping us.”

The weir normally.

The weir flooding in January 2020. Picture: TRACEY SMITH

The weir on February 2, 2025. The day before the intake valve was critically damaged.

Cr Hastie said once the intake valve was critically damaged, the entire town was dependent on what was left in council’s reservoirs.

“We had to go to level 5 water restrictions to ensure that we didn’t fall to a boil water status,” she said.

“We engaged quite a few contractors to help us pump water out of the Boughton River and Gladstone Creek and we would truck that water to Pajingo Dam to feed into our water treatment plant.”

Thanks to a team of trucks working around the clock bringing water to the treatment plant, Charters Towers was able to avoid a boil water notice and kept a supply of safe drinking water in the town’s pipes.

The Burdekin River flood marker at the Macrossan Bridge - the recent flood peaked above 19m, placing the 2025 flood higher than the 2011 event.

The trucks continued for two weeks, until on Saturday, February 15, the river level dropped low enough for crews to install a temporary water line below the weir.

“The temporary line allowed us to fill our reservoirs again,” Cr Hastie said.

“That was fantastic and it allowed us to drop to level 4 restrictions so people could do their laundry and prepare for their week.”

However, on Sunday when crews went to restart the pump on the temporary water line, the pump failed.

“We’ve spent all of Monday trying to fix it,” Cr Hastie said.

“We really want to encourage the community to stay vigilant and keep an eye on the alerts, because we are not out of the woods yet.”

On Wednesday, February 19, the water restriction was furthur reduce to level 2.

When talking to Charters Towers residents, a lot said they were finding it OK living under level 5 water restrictions and had full rainwater tanks and bore water to rely on.

Long-time local Charles Baron said the restrictions didn’t worry him much.

“I also wasn’t worried much when we started running out of food because I was well stocked up at home,” Mr Baron said.

“It’s only me at home, so it’s quite easy. Whenever the river runs high, we all know there will likely be a water shortage.”

Lorraine Hooley said her family placed large 5L water bottles out to collect rain during the weather.

“We’re still using them,” she said of the bottles.

“The restrictions don’t worry us at all.”

Mum-of-two Klearetti Westcott said the restrictions were a bit stressful for her as she tried to care for a baby and toddler.

“The most stress was from figuring out how to make bottles of formula and keeping the kids in clean clothes, their clothes get very dirty and go mouldy quick,” she said.

“When the restrictions lifted, I think I did five loads of washing.”

On Wednesday, Council announced a move back to level two water restrictions, saying that they had installed a larger temporary pump line which will allow increased capacity to the reservoir.

Originally published as ‘Proud of this community’: Deputy Mayor praises actions of Charters Towers residents