We congratulate Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council for being awarded the 2025 Queensland Resilient Australia Local Government Award last week. Meridian Urban and Water Technology were proud to partner with Council and the Queensland Government to deliver the Wujal Wujal Master Plan Review following significant flooding in December 2023.

The Wujal Wujal township is located on Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country, on the western bank of the Bloomfield River within the wet tropics of Far North Queensland, between Cairns and Cooktown.  The Wujal Wujal area has experienced flood events in the past which have significantly impacted the community and its surrounds. The most recent flood event resulted from Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 which required emergency services to evacuate 300 residents. The flooding caused extensive damage to homes and critical community infrastructure.  The town is limited with regards to available evacuation routes and is subject to early inundation of local roads. During the December 2023 flood event, some residents were able to evacuate via the road to Cooktown. Others had to wait over a week to be airlifted out. After 120 days, residents were able to return.

Following the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, Meridian Urban and Water Technology worked in close collaboration with the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and community members to reimagine a safer and more sustainable growth strategy for the township.  This project hopefully helps set the standard for community resilience.

Andrew Thompson from Water Technology said “my trip to Cooktown and Wujal Wujal last year for the community consultation and site inspection was quite easily the best day I’ve ever had at work. Thought provoking, emotional and entertaining all at once. Getting to sit under the knowledge tree in the town and yarning with elders and residents is a highlight of my career.” 

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