Plans to keep Greenpatch open all year

Published: 09 December 2020. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

Removable bollards will be installed at the Greenpatch Campground during the annual wet season to restrict access to areas at risk of flash flooding and allow the facility to remain open year-round.

The facility was closed on 2 November until 30 April 2021 at the recommendation of the Local Disaster Management Group due flooding concerns associated with La Niña weather patterns.

Since its closure, small business owners in Gordonvale have lobbied Council to have more flexibility in respect to the closure and opening times for the facility, noting the economic benefit of the facility to the town, particularly through its popularity with the drive tourism market

While a warning system was installed for rising water levels in the Mulgrave River and Hemming Creek as part of a 2019 redevelopment, there remain concerns about evacuating the facility in the event of flash flooding.

Rising waters from the Mulgrave River trigger an alarm that provides a two to three hour warning before flooding of the campground, however Hemming Creek can be susceptible to rapid rises and flash flooding that would provide limited time for evacuation.

The installation of removable bollards to the north of the upper level carpark will restrict access to areas of the campground that would likely be inundated during the wet season should Hemming Creek experience a flooding event.

The bollard installation will also be supported with additional signage, website messaging and will result in some reduced capacity.