Daintree Village FNQ
Extract from Douglas Shire Council public notice:
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper made landfall on December 13, 2023 but it was the associated weather event that followed which had devastating consequences for the Douglas Shire.
3.2 metres of rain was recorded in less than a week and a total of 4.2 metres in the space of two months.
The entire Shire was impacted with major flooding, landslips, overnight evacuations, homes destroyed, water infrastructure, and roads collapsing.
https://douglas.qld.gov.au/cyclone-jasper/ Cyclone Jasper
Blaze Aid started a camp in the new year at the community oval and began repairing farm fences. The camp running with mostly backpackers. The conditions are not the best but everyone is pitching in. Tents are set up in the community hall and meals come out of a very basic kitchen. All the cooking and cleaning is done by the backpackers. There are no service clubs in Daintree Village, its a very small community.
The facilities at the camp are basic. Men have a shower setup in the public toilet block, the urinal area as it has a floor waste, and with a portable camping gas shower connected to the handbasin tap. Fortunately a warm shower is good enough in this weather. Whilst the ladies have a bush dunny looking tin-hut to shower in. The basic kitchen has only one sink with just a cold water tap. All the hot water comes from an electric jug. But as I say everyone is pitching in and I've not heard a word of discontent.
I arrived in April and the weather, hot, humid and wet. Being rained-off happens all too often as does getting bogged in the paddocks. The work is dirty and difficult. Gumboots everyday.
At the moment the camp has about 18 backpackers, an experienced camp co-ordinator from WA and now me. Tools and trailers are adequate but there are only two cars. Getting people to the fence line is a daily issue.
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| Clear sky but still water everywhere |
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| No work today |
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| Bogged yet again |
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| At least they are dry |
