Rangers join Wujal Wujal flood clean-up

Issued: 1 Feb 2024

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers have taken their specialist skills and equipment off-park to support the ongoing clean-up of Wujal Wujal following severe flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Seven QPWS park rangers travelled on the Marine Vessel Reef Ranger from Cairns and eight QPWS park rangers drove south from Cooktown to the remote Indigenous community last week to clear flood debris including fallen trees, mud and general litter.

The QPWS crew spent five days in Wujal Wujal as part of clean-up efforts coordinated by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and Council.

QPWS Cape York Manager Nick Smith said it was rewarding to help a community in need.

“Rangers have a high level of experience using chainsaws and removing fallen or hazardous vegetation, so we were happy to take these skills into Wujal Wujal to cut up large and dangerous trees scattered through the community for safe removal by contractors,” Mr Smith said.

“We also cleared as much mud and flood debris as we could from the local sporting field and the main bridge over the Bloomfield River before our deployment ended.

“Both on and off-park, recovery from Jasper is far from over, but it was great to get the opportunity to make a difference in such a severely impacted community.”

A QPWS vehicle will remain in Wujal Wujal to assist the recovery team with the ongoing transportation of crew members for the next month.

QPWS has previously provided community recovery support following significant natural disasters including Cyclone Yasi and Cyclone Oswald.

Clean-up and recovery works are continuing across impacted sections of Far North Queensland national parks.

Some key tourism areas, including Mossman Gorge and the Din Din Barron Falls lookout, have reopened to the public.

Members of the public are reminded to check Park Alerts before planning to visit any protected areas in disaster-impacted communities.