Lower Herbert Halifax Lions Club

24/05/2026

Congratulations Ed!

Congratulations DGE Ed Morris, getting one step closer to becoming our District Governor. 👏👏👏. Angie & Ed are attending the Lions Australia Convention in Adelaide over this weekend. 👍

28/04/2026

UPDATE on 1 MAY 2026 @ 2.29PM

Council advises that the scheduled blasting works on Mount Fox Road were completed safely and successfully today (Friday, 1 May 2026) within the planned construction window.
✅ Following final safety inspections and clean‑up works, Mount Fox Road reopened to traffic at approximately 3:00pm, three hours ahead of schedule.
Ongoing traffic conditions remain as follows:

⛔ Mount Fox Road will be closed from 8:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday, from 23 March to 15 June 2026 (weather permitting).
🚦 Rolling closures will be in place between 3:00pm and 5:00pm, which may cause delays of up to 30 minutes for residents.

✅ The road will be OPEN:

Outside these hours
On weekends and public holidays
Over the May Day long weekend

Please plan ahead and allow extra travel time where required.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

****

UPDATED on 28 APRIL 2026 @ 5.38PM

🚧 BLASTING NOTICE – MOUNT FOX ROAD UPDATE 🚧
Hinchinbrook Shire Council advises that controlled blasting will take place on Mount Fox Road on Friday, 1 May 2026, between 8.00am and 6.00pm, as part of ongoing road upgrade works.

🔴 Mount Fox Road will be closed to all traffic during blasting, clean‑up operations and required safety checks.

The road will remain under traffic control and will not reopen until the site has been assessed and confirmed safe.

If the closure needs to be extended, further updates will be provided.

Motorists and residents are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.

ℹ️ Closure times remain unchanged once the blasting work is complete, with Mount Fox Road open on weekends and public holidays. More info:
https://www.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au/public-notice-march2026-mount-fox-road-update/

These works are jointly funded by the Commonwealth–State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in association with Hinchinbrook Shire Council.

📞 For enquiries, contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on (07) 4776 4600.

Council thanks the community for their patience and will continue to keep residents informed.

30/03/2026

Congratulations to all who attended the 201Q2 District Youth of the Year on Saturday. It was a great night and all competitors did an amazing job representing their schools, local Lions Club and community.

16/03/2026

🚧 Council advises residents that landslip and remediation works will be undertaken on Mount Fox Road from 23 March 2026 to 30 November 2026, weather permitting.

⛔ To safely carry out these works, Mount Fox Road will be closed from 23 March 2026 to 15 June 2026 between 8:00am and 3:00pm, Monday to Friday, weather permitting.

🕒 The road will remain open outside of these times including weekends and public holidays.

🚗 Following the road closure period, the road will remain open; however, the following traffic conditions will apply for the remainder of the construction period:

⏱️ Expect delays of up to 30 minutes
🚧 Follow all traffic signage and obey speed limits
🗺️ Consider alternative travel times to minimise inconvenience

🙏 Council acknowledges the inconvenience these works may cause and sincerely thanks the community for its patience and understanding as we deliver important improvements to this transport corridor.

🏗️ These works include resilience building, remediation activities, and slope stabilisation efforts.

🤝 The project is being delivered under the joint Commonwealth–State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in association with Hinchinbrook Shire Council.

📢 Council will continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.

📞 For more information, contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on (07) 4776 4600.

Mt Fox Rural Fire Brigade | Mount Fox and Local Community

02/03/2026

Residents are reminded that sand and sandbags remain available for those wishing to make their own preparations.

Community members can access sand and sandbags at the following locations:

📍 Ingham – Car park on the corner of McIlwraith Street and Townsville Road (behind Council’s Main Office)
📍Trebonne - Trebonne State School car park, Kehls Road
📍 Cordelia – Carr’s Farm
📍 Halifax – Lancini’s Farm Shed, Scott Street
📍 Lucinda – Lions Park, Patterson Parade (near the Coastguard)
📍 Taylors Beach – Progress Park
📍 Forrest Beach – Near the post office on the corner of Leichhardt and Willow Streets

Residents are encouraged to keep any existing sandbags in place and store unused sandbags in a dry area to ensure they remain intact, as they can deteriorate quickly when wet.

Sandbags remain a key component of wet-season preparedness. Even if they are ultimately not required, having them ready provides valuable protection and reassurance while weather conditions continue to evolve.

25/02/2026

Our district has been exceptionally well represented by these young ladies; the Hinchinbrook community has every reason to be bursting with pride.

16/02/2026

2026 Ingham Pharmacy Sunday Roster

Open 9am-12pm

Please keep an eye out on this page we will post about any changes/adjustments we might make throughout the year.

27/01/2026

Wet season is upon us and we have had plenty of time to prepare. Enjoy the day!

When the Ingham Pump Station gauge reaches 8.99 m, access to the Lower Herbert via both the Anabranch and the Halifax Washaway may be closed later today.

At present, the Ingham Pump Station is reading 8.44m and is rising steadily.

River gauges upstream of the Ingham Pump Station are also reflecting steady increases.

Residents of the Lower Herbert are urged to closely monitor river heights when planning travel to and from the area, as continuing rainfall may affect road access.

The Bruce Highway remains closed at two locations north of Ingham upon advice from the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Council’s local roads on the Disaster Dashboard will continue to be updated twice daily at 7am and 2pm.
As always, please stay vigilant and continue to monitor:
👉BOM updates
👉Council’s Disaster Dashboard

For more information on continued preparedness, flood awareness mapping, rainfall charts and road closures visit https://disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au or call (07) 4776 4600.

Mayor of Hinchinbrook Shire Council Ramon Jayo
Chair of the Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group

08/01/2026

PLAN, PREPARE AND DO NOT PANIC 🙃

*** THIS ADVICE IS NO LONGER ACTIVE ***

⏰ Issued: 7.00am Friday 9 January 2026
🔄 Next update: as the situation changes.
Hinchinbrook LDMG advises people in the following location:
• Hinchinbrook Shire
to PREPARE NOW for severe weather expected to begin impacting from today.

🌧️ What are we expecting?
The Bureau of Meteorology advises:

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast to develop north of Townsville from Friday afternoon and extend south overnight Friday and into Saturday.

Six‑hourly rainfall totals 100–170 mm likely.
INTENSE RAINFALL possible with isolated falls above 250 mm.
24‑hour totals 150–250 mm likely, isolated falls above 350 mm.

🌬️ DAMAGING WINDS (55–65 km/h, gusts around 90 km/h) expected along exposed coastal areas during Friday and throughout Saturday, especially in showers and thunderstorms.

⚠️ Prepare now because conditions may become dangerous.
For storm help, call SES 132 500 or use the SES Assistance QLD app.
Potential impacts:
• Very heavy rain making driving dangerous — flash flooding possible.
• Strong winds causing debris — fallen trees, damaged powerlines, and potential power outages.

🛟 What you need to do:
• Keep essential medications close by.
• Park your car under cover and away from trees, powerlines, and drains.
• Secure or put away outdoor items (furniture, trampolines, roofing iron).
• Charge mobile phones and power banks.
• Let friends, family, and neighbours know.
• If anyone in your home uses powered medical equipment (e.g., dialysis machine, ventilator), plan now where you will go if power is lost.

⛺ If you are a tourist, visitor, camper or caravanner:
• Campers and caravanners should consider packing up now or secure your campsite.
• Be ready to move if conditions worsen.

ℹ️ For more information:
• Council Disaster Dashboard: disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au
• Listen to your local ABC Radio: 630 AM
• Power outages: www.ergon.com.au
• Latest weather, warnings, rainfall & river heights: Bureau of Meteorology QLD
• Road closures: QLD Traffic website or phone 13 19 40

07/01/2026

Being Prepared and nothing happens is better than not being prepared and having something happen 🤗

The Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group advises the community that rainfall levels are being monitored closely.

With current monsoonal weather activity and the potential development of a tropical low in the Coral Sea, this is a timely reminder of the importance of preparedness.

Flooding and cyclonic systems are often linked, and residents are encouraged to review their personal preparedness for both risks.

Residents should consider the following:

• 🧭 Know your risk, prepare a plan and pack an emergency kit.
• 💧🥫 Ensure adequate food and water supplies for at least seven days.
• 💊 Keep medications up to date and accessible.
• 🔌⚡ Prepare for potential power disruptions, including sufficient generator fuel if applicable, charging phones and portable devices.
• 🏠🍃 Secure loose items around properties and remove potential flying hazards.
• 🌳🛠️ Cut trees away from roofs and clean gutters.
• 🌊 Be aware of storm surge risks, particularly in coastal areas.
• 📋 Have contingency plans in place for household isolation if required.

Previous events, including those in February last year, highlighted the challenges that can arise when power and communications are disrupted.

While similar conditions are not expected, preparedness remains the most effective response. Since then, infrastructure resilience has been strengthened, and community awareness has improved.

Many new residents have joined the district in recent years. Understanding local seasonal risks and acting early helps reduce potential impacts. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and take practical steps now.

Reliable information and resources are available through the Disaster Dashboard at
https://disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au
and Get Ready https://getready.qld.gov.au
websites.

Mayor of Hinchinbrook Shire Council Ramon Jayo
Chair of the Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group