Community
30 January, 2025
No date for dump to reopen
THE Portsmith transfer station and the Cairns Regional Council’s buy back shop are to remain closed until further notice after a fire last week badly damaged the Bedminster processing plant.

Firefighters remain at the scene as the fire is still smouldering. There was no mention of the event at Wednesday’s council meeting, the first of the year.
A council spokesman said kerbside collection of household rubbish was as normal and being processed before being trucked up the Kuranda Range to landfill south-west of Mareeba. The recycling system was not affected by the fire, he said.
The spokesman said the closure of the transfer station and the shop was to “prioritise safety, allow management of the fire within the waste stockpile to ensure it does not reignite, and continue to process our kerbside waste collection”.
He said the council had deployed additional staff to the Smithfield and Gordonvale transfer stations (open seven days a week from 8.30am to 5.15pm) to assist with potential extra demand.
The spokesman said investigations were continuing into the cause of the fire.
“Investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire at the Bedminster advanced resource recovery facility on January 23,” the spokesman said.
“Queensland Fire and Rescue crews have contained the fire and remain on the scene to monitor any possible reignition.
“Due to structural collapse, the fire is still smouldering and producing visible smoke, which may affect the surrounding areas over coming days.
“Onsite crews are monitoring the smoke with results indicating that the emissions do not pose a public health risk.
“Residents in smoke affected areas – especially those with health conditions, those over 65, infants and children, and pregnant women – are advised to close windows and doors and keep respiratory medications close by if required.
“(The) council is working closely with the Queensland Fire Department and the operator of the advanced resource recovery facility to ensure the site is secure and safe, and to determine when the Portsmith transfer station can be reopened to the public.”