General News
17 July, 2026
Waterfront vision
INNISFAIL’S central business district might soon be headed for a major transformation, with Cassowary Coast Regional Council unveiling a vision to overhaul the aging Johnstone River waterfront precinct into a vibrant, modern hub for locals and tourists alike.
Council has launched a community consultation process to guide the future design and reconstruction of the riverfront, building directly on the foundations of the existing Innisfail CBD revitalisation master plan, published in 2023.
There are six key pillars of the plan, including tropical landscape enhancement, heritage celebration, and connectivity.
“The precinct’s marine infrastructure and community assets have served the community for many years, but are now showing signs of age and wear,” a council media release says.
“As these assets near the end of their intended design life, their renewal presents an opportunity to consider the long-term needs of the waterfront precinct as a whole.”
Mayor Teresa Millwood has expressed strong optimism for the project, viewing the river as the sleeping giant of the town’s economy.
“The opportunity to revitalise and restore life into the waterfront precinct is an exciting time for Innisfail and its surrounding communities,” Cr Millwood said.
“Enhancing the river’s attractiveness provides the potential to become the drawcard for the city, placing Innisfail in a stronger position to attract future funding and economic growth,” she said.
“With a focus on balancing commercial operations, recreational activities and tourism, the proposed development of the waterfront precinct will become a place of community pride and connectivity.”
Residents are being asked to voice their opinions on several high-profile concepts – including future visitor accommodation, recreational boating facilities and the potential inclusion of a dedicated water play area.
Local business advocacy group Activ8 Innisfail has thrown its full weight behind the council’s initiative, targeting the area encompassing the existing marina and Fitzgerald Esplanade parklands.
However, the group’s president and former Innisfail Chamber of Commerce head, Suzanne Russell, warned that any land-based revitalisation must ultimately contend with the critical state of the Johnstone River itself.
“Our group has been working for nearly two years now to get the Johnstone River dredged,” Ms Russell told The Observer.
“The Catch-22 is we need to establish a marine precinct to produce enough boating activity to keep the channel open without need for frequent dredging.”
While Ms Russell admitted the timing of the council’s infrastructure plan might seem unusual given the current state of the water, she stressed its long-term necessity.
“This project might look a bit like putting the cart before the horse, but it will play a key role in supporting the reactivation of our town’s marine-based economy,” she said.
Ms Russell has also sounded an alarm over what Activ8 and others see as severe environmental degradation gripping the waterway, describing decades of silt accumulation choking the river and its mouth as an “environmental ticking time bomb.”
“There is so much silt build up, the river’s ecology has apparently changed from salt water, with reef fish like coral trout and acting as a vital nursery for the reef, to now being largely fresh water and riddled with tilapia as the predominant species,” Ms Russell said.
“Luckily, crocodiles eat tilapia but ironically we don’t have enough crocodiles for the job.”
With recent electoral boundary alterations placing Innisfail inside the state seat of Hinchinbrook at the 2028 election, Ms Russell indicated that political pressure would need to be applied to secure a solution.
“We will be looking to the MP for Hinchinbrook to take an active role in Innisfail’s future starting with our sad pathetic river,” she said.
Public reaction to the announcement has been mixed.
On social media, resident Vince Sofia welcomed the project but urged planners to design for the local climate.
He said it would be “awesome” but needed shelters to protect people from the sun and rain.
Council stresses that no final decisions have been made, and community consultation through its online ‘Your Say’ portal remains open until Monday 10 August 2026.
Read More: Innisfail