Recovery Roadshow heads to Townsville’s hardest hit communities

Face-to-face sessions are set to improve preparedness in Townsville’s most geographically isolated communities ahead of the extreme weather season.

“If we’re better prepared, we can make our community feel more comfortable and safe.”

This is the sentiment of Paluma and District Community Association President, Ross Murray, following Townsville's record-breaking 2025 rain event, which left Paluma isolated from its primary coastal access route for weeks and reliant on lengthy alternative routes following extensive landslips on Mount Spec Road. Nineteen months on, the township is still recovering from the devastating effects of the torrential rainfall, with significant repairs still underway on the major road.

Paluma has been identified as a critical geographically isolated location during emergency weather events, alongside Magnetic Island, Rollingstone and Cungulla, by Council. Now the team is preparing to take its Recovery Roadshow to these areas to help bring the community together, strengthen local connections and build recovery and resilience networks for future severe weather events.

Mayor and Townsville Local Disaster Management Group (TLDMG) chairperson Nick Dametto said the roadshow was an opportunity for residents to find practical tools and support in one place.

“Townsville experienced a year’s worth of rain in the span of three weeks in 2025, and our geographically isolated communities really felt the impact of the recovery period as critical infrastructure like roads were repaired,” Cr Dametto said.

“In the wake of that weather event, our team has been able to identify ways to better connect with residents in these areas, including through the new Recovery Roadshow.

“The roadshow will bring our recovery experts to Paluma, Magnetic Island, Cungulla and Rollingstone to help residents better understand local hazards, recovery processes, how to prepare for severe weather and the support available following damaging weather events.

“I encourage residents to attend the roadshow, meet our recovery and resilience team and come away with valuable information.”

For Mr Murray, the Recovery Roadshow is a much-needed resource for a community still grappling with the reality of life during disaster recovery.

“When it comes to weather, you have no control over it. We were impacted badly here in Paluma,” the former social worker said.

“The community pulled together and we’ve built on our social capital through our need to work together.

“There will be a lot of people in our community who will appreciate seeing the roadshow and having a face-to-face opportunity to speak to officers. Having more contacts through this roadshow will help us acknowledge what has happened and how to be better prepared.”

The Recovery Roadshow is presented with assistance provided by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

For more information, visit Council’s What’s On Townsville website.

Events

• Recovery Roadshow Magnetic Island
  12 September 2026 | 12noon – 3pm
  Horseshoe Bay Community Centre
• Recovery Roadshow Paluma
  17 October 2026 | 10am – 1pm
  Paluma Community Centre
• Recovery Roadshow Cungulla
  24 October 2026 | 10am – 1pm
  Cungulla Men’s Shed
• Recovery Roadshow Rollingstone
  31 October 2026 | 10am – 1pm
  Rollingstone District Community Centre