Case study: Informing flood risk for remote communities
19 December 2025
In December 2023, Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused record breaking flooding in three rural and remote communities in Far North Queensland, devastating Cook Shire Council, Douglas Shire Council and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council.
These communities were impacted again by the North Queensland flooding event in 2025, highlighting the need for improved flood intelligence and risk management.
To address this, QRA developed the $7.73 million Far North Queensland Flood Risk Management Package to help these areas undertake flood risk management activities in the Bloomfield River catchment.
Key activities under the Far North Queensland Flood Risk Management Program include:
- increased flood intelligence to be better prepare for, and respond to, flooding events
- up-to-date data to support flood studies and risk assessments
- relevant data to support councils’ local planning schemes and disaster management
- increased capacity and capability within councils and state agencies around flood risk management
- enhanced community awareness, understanding and management of their flood risk.
By providing critical data and resources, the program is helping these remote communities build resilience and better prepare for future disasters though embracing local leadership in decision making. This program is in line with Queensland’s Flood Risk Management Framework which recognises that QRA’s role in flood risk coordination includes engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils to meet their specific needs.
Last updated: 19 December 2025
QRA Reference: QRATF/25/8716