Master plan a blueprint for locally led disaster resilience
Nestled between the rainforest and the coast in tropical Far North Queensland, the Wujal Wujal community faces significant natural disaster risks.
Located on the banks of the Bloomfield River, the town is particularly vulnerable to rising waters during the wet season.
Its vulnerability was cruelly exposed in December 2023 when ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper devastated the area causing unprecedented damage to infrastructure and displacing many residents for six months.
Recognising the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to recovery and future preparedness, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council launched the Wujal Wujal Master Plan Review.
Developed in partnership with Meridian Urban and Water Technology, this transformative planning initiative prioritised flood resilience while honouring the cultural values and aspirations of the community.
Jasper and its subsequent flooding highlighted longstanding deficiencies in land use and infrastructure planning, triggering the need for a master plan that embeds resilience into the community fabric.
Guided by a multi-agency, consultative approach, the updated master plan combined disaster risk reduction with community-centric design.
The review included geotechnical assessments, disaster response modelling, and extensive engagement with local community members.
Importantly, the plan incorporated traditional knowledge and cultural insights, ensuring the township’s future development reflects both environmental realities and the deep cultural heritage of the Kuku Yalanji people.
A cornerstone of the plan is a flood-responsive, spatial framework addressing priorities such as land use planning, infrastructure alignment, and cultural presentation.
Innovative measures included flood-resistant infrastructure designs and the introduction of nature-based solutions like riparian vegetation planting and natural water flow controls.
The timing of the master plan review was critical, allowing implementation of early resilience measures in advance of the 2024–25 wet season.
Preliminary outcomes were put to the test in early 2025, when improved safeguards around key community infrastructure withstood heavy rainfall and flooding.
Beyond its technical and planning successes, the master plan has unified Wujal Wujal around a shared vision of recovery, growth, and sustainability.
It will serve as a blueprint for guiding future land use and a catalyst for long-term systems change, ensuring the township remains a safe, connected, and culturally grounded community.
The Wujal Wujal Master Plan Review was recognised as the winner in the Local Government category at the 2025 Queensland Resilient Australia Awards.
It also took out the Planning Institute of Australia’s Award for Excellence in the Climate Change and Resilience category at the 2025 Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence.
And finally, the Wujal Wujal Master Plan Review took out Highly Commended honours in the National Local Government category at the National Resilient Australia Awards, held in late 2025.
This award winning project will help mitigate future risks in Wujal Wujal while preserving the area’s breath-taking natural environment.
