Floodproof plea as tide takes toll
TORRES Strait leaders have called for urgent funding to help floodproof one of the country’s northernmost islands.
Earlier this month, a king tide swept through Boigu Island, with ankle-deep water filling the community’s school.
Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayor Fred Gela said, while key infrastructure escaped undamaged in the flood, the island’s residents might not be so lucky next time.
“The island was inundated,” he said.
“The water is breaking straight over the top (of the sea wall) now. They have to be increased and restored.”
Some government funding remained from a similar project required on nearby Saibai Island, however Boigu Island councillor Dimas Toby said that would only amount to a “Band-Aid” solution.
“If the levels of government are serious about protecting the lives of our people and the infrastructure, they need to act on this,” Cr Toby said.
Cr Gela said climate change was responsible for more frequent high tides impacting the islands.
“There have definitely been changes over time due to sea level rise,” he said.
“Despite all the controversy around whether climate change is real ... all we can say is we’ve experienced it and we continue to experience changes over time.”
Responding to those concerns during a tour of the Far North recently, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the Government was committed to a power network based on both fossil fuels and renewables.
“You can have renewables ... but you’ve got to have base load as well,” he said.
“It’s like saying you’re going to bake a cake and you’re going to make it all out of sugar. It won’t work – you’ve got to have some flour in there as well.”