Mayor’s Message:
On Tuesday, March 28, 2017 Tropical Cyclone Debbie smashed the Whitsunday region and our recovery five years later is a story about the courage, spirit and resilience of our community.
For 48 hours torrential rain and winds up to 260 kilometres per hour smashed Airlie Beach, Bowen, Proserpine and wreaked havoc as far west as Collinsville.
We live in a country of cyclones and flooding rains, and in 2017 it was the turn of the Whitsunday Region, and its 35,000 plus community and thousands of stranded tourists, to struggle against what mother nature could throw at us.
As Mayor of the Whitsundays I am in awe of the amazing community spirit of our residents that were always willing to lend a hand to a mate or neighbour in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Debbie.
Mates helping mates is Our Whitsunday Way, but when a disaster as massive as Tropical Cyclone Debbie hits, it is up to community leaders to unite and lead the recovery.
In total, Debbie caused $2.4 billion in damage and fourteen deaths across Australia, primarily as a result of extreme flooding making it the most expensive and deadliest cyclone to hit Australia since Cyclone Tracey in 1974.
Looking back, 2017 was shaping up as a bright year for the Whitsunday Region with strong economic growth forecast.
We had record tourism numbers, one of the fastest growing regional airports in the country and possibly the largest-ever mine, rail and port development in Australia’s history.
But then mother nature threw us a curve ball!
TC Debbie was a horrific experience for our community but the support of the military, SES and emergency services was huge and we’re indebted to them for their dedication to serving our community in its hour of need.
The mission to source Federal and State Government funding to assist us to restore and build resilience into our region’s infrastructure and rebuild community assets has been a long journey.
However, five years later I am proud of the efforts of my Council to lead our region’s recovery and the relentless lobbying and advocacy to secure over $250 million in funding for new capital projects and restoration works.
This funding allowed us to improve key infrastructure, leading to increased resilience and making our community Stronger than Before.
We also brought forward several major projects to make our Whitsunday region better than ever.
We had only started to emerge from the shadow of Debbie when the world-wide Covid-19 pandemic struck.
2022 is hopefully the year our community can regain its mojo and it is off to a flyer with a new airline in Bonza announcing direct flights to Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Newcastle and the $18.8 million state of the art Proserpine Entertainment Centre officially opened on Tuesday.
My Council is confident that the Whitsunday Region is perfectly positioned for a bright and prosperous next decade and beyond.
Mayor Andrew Willcox
Whitsunday Regional Council
Projects Completed Since Cyclone Debbie
• Airlie Beach/Cannonvale Sustainable Water Pipeline and Cannon Valley Reservoir tanks $21.3 million
• Cannonvale Lakes boardwalk and landscape upgrades $700,000
• Bowen Sewage Treatment Plant $27million
• Increased capacity for network capability Ergon upgrades $360,000
• Airlie Beach Lagoon facility upgrades $2.5 million
• Bowen Front Beach Seawall rebuild $1 million
• Collinsville Water Park and Swimming pool upgrades $2.3 million
• Bi-Centennial boardwalk upgrades $900,000
• Proserpine Main Street upgrade and Proserpine RV Park $2.9 million
A washed-up boat on Airlie Foreshore with trees damaged by the cyclone and two sunbathers nearby
Mayor Andrew Willcox flying over the region shortly after the cyclone
Left to right: Major General Chris Field, Nicky Oatley, Sandy Oatley, Glenn Burke (all Hamilton Island), Steve O’Connell, Ian Haughton, Mayor Andrew Willcox, Inspector-General Emergency Management Alistair Dawson and Nathan Blain.
Volunteers clearing roads to allow emergency service vehicles through
Cannonvale Beach Park clear-up after the cyclone
Mayor Andrew Willcox discussing progress with Major General Chris Field
