A recent survey of the fish populations in the lower Proserpine River, Myrtle Creek and Brandy Creek have confirmed there is no evidence of the pest fish Tilapia in the waterways.Whitsunday Regional Council recently engaged Catchment Solutions to monitor the river and nearby creek systems for the pest Tilapia, also known as the ‘cane toads of our waterways’.In the world’s top 100 worst invasive species, Tilapia are very adaptable non-native fish and prolific breeders, which means they often have a huge impact on native fish populations and their nesting habits can greatly affect water quality.Deputy Mayor and Division 3 Councillor John Collins said it was positive news for the health of the region’s southern waterways.“If left unchecked Tilapia can have a significant impact on our creeks and rivers, which are currently in good condition,” he said.“The fish survey reported the highest ever catch rates of Mangrove Jack and Barramundi in the Mackay-Whitsundays region using the Catchment Solutions trapping methods.”“It’s good news for recreational fishers, and also demonstrates the recent improvements over the last ten years in our land management and farming practices.”The survey recorded a noticeable increase in catch rates for the 2018 pre-wet-season in Myrtle Creek, with 18.3 fish caught per minute compared to 5.36 fish per minute ten years ago.Recreational fishers are asked to be aware of the threat of Tilapia and continue to report sightings to Council or Biosecurity Queensland.To combat the presence of Tilapia in Bowen’s Mullers Lagoon, Council will be hosting a Tilapia Catching Day on Saturday 18 May, from 10am – 12.30pm at the Lagoon.

A huge upgrade is underway for Pioneer Park and Keith Johns Park in Proserpine, with construction beginning to replace the existing playground in Pioneer Park in early February.A new climbing net dome…

Whitsunday Regional Council are exploring extra funding opportunities after receiving the Lake Proserpine Masterplan at a meeting late last year.Acting Mayor John Collins said Council had developed a …

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Andrew Willcox has announced the appointment of Bruce Davidson as interim Chief Executive Officer for an initial period of three months.Mr Davidson brings decades of …

A huge playground with a 10.5m high Skywalk and rope bridge is the latest feature to be installed at the Airlie Beach Foreshore.The new playground also includes a climbing net, three gigantic slides a…

Construction will begin in early January 2019 on the new $23 million Bowen Sewage Treatment Plant.The Bowen Water Recycling project is part of Whitsunday Regional Council’s Greening and Growing Bowen …

The detailed design for the new facility at Shute Harbour was adopted this week by Whitsunday Regional Council, with works expected to begin from March 2019.The new terminal and jetties will replace t…

Whitsunday Regional Council CEO Barry Omundson today announced, that after three years at the helm, he has decided to call time on his role and venture south to explore other opportunities.Mr Omundson…

Whitsunday Regional Council is encouraging Whitsunday communities to step-up cyclone preparations with the uncertainty surrounding Tropical Cyclone Owen currently located in the Gulf.Mayor and Chair o…