General News
14 March, 2026
Help is at hand
A FREE temporary bus and ferry service and other urgent assistance began this week for stranded locals needing to cross the Daintree River after last week’s disastrous flooding.
The surprise inundation on Thursday night, 4 March, caused by Tropical Low 29U, saw the Daintree River rapidly rise by over half a metre above its flood level to almost 14 metres.
Dramatic footage from a local operator showed the Daintree River Ferry lifted from its moorings leaving it suspended on a single cable, while a number of popular river tour vessels were jettisoned downstream, with one found the following day upturned further down the river and another discovered out to sea.
Tourism infrastructure along the riverbank also took a hit with many buildings significantly impacted or submerged.
Douglas Shire Council workers, specialist contractors and emergency services have been working through the week to secure both the stranded ferry and the surrounding approaches to the river – the latter proving an “unacceptable risk” to allow the interim bus and ferry service to begin until Wednesday.
A one-way Ocean Safari boat transfer from Cape Tribulation to Port Douglas was also operating to take visitors and residents needing to go south. Passengers had to book directly with the vessel and make their own way to Cape Tribulation Beach.
Also on Wednesday, the bus service was suspended for a short time while workers moved an additional cable to the ferry to restore the broken one.
The Daintree River Ferry, meanwhile was not expected to be up and running for another two weeks, according to a statement from the council.
It said the ferry was undergoing safety inspections, including a legally required full internal hull structure inspection.
Debris continued to be removed from both the up and downstream cables and work was also progressing on the engineered land anchor system for the drive cable.
Member for Cook, David Kempton who visited the area on Wednesday for a second time, said there were three stages to reactivating the ferry.
“At the moment it is undergoing the assessments and safety work,” he said. “Then it will move into the repairs stage once it is fully assessed.
“Once it is back up and running, the third stage, and a very important one, will be to futureproof this crossing.”
Business operators nervous about missing out on the annual influx of tourists during the Easter break and the beginning of school holidays, were also being considered should the ferry re-start be delayed.
“We have a barge on standby, which we could use over that tourism period,” Mr Kempton said.
He had also visited residents on the Cape Tribulation side of the river and was aware of the need to transfer fuel and other essentials across as soon as possible.
He applauded the council’s monitoring and “timely updates” on the crossing progress, as well as the communications around what services and support was available to stranded residents and visitors.
As well as the bus and ferry transport, which catered to both community and school transfers, residents on the north of the river have been notified of cancellation of Wheelie bin services, with catch up services to be available following restoration of the ferry.
Restrictions had also been placed on waste acceptance criteria at the Cow Bay Transfer Station because of limited storage and contingencies collection services were being explored.
Australia Post had set up a portable collection point at the southern bus terminal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7.00am to 2.00pm where customers can collect or send their mail.
Medication supplies and delivery were also being arranged.
Mayor Scomazzon said during the week that she understood the strain the river disconnection was placing on the community.
“This is a difficult and frustrating situation and I want to thank everyone for their patience,” she said in a statement.
“We will continue to provide clear, timely updates as work progresses.”
State Minister for Emergency Management Ann Leahy said Douglas Shire Council had been granted state and federal disaster recovery funding.
She said the funding would cover the disaster response, clean-up, emergency repairs and the reconstruction of essential public assets, including emergency fuel resupply.
Details on bus service timetables, resident support services and updates on the repair progress can be found on the Douglas Shire Council website.
