General News
28 September, 2026
Who pays for failing assets?
STATE and federal funding is being pursued by Cassowary Coast Regional Council to shield local ratepayers from the crippling costs of renewing the region’s ageing marine infrastructure.
Responding to inquiries from The Observer regarding key marine assets – including Innisfail’s failing riverfront revetment wall and the Perry Harvey Jetty at Mission Beach – council says that major infrastructure projects cannot be shouldered by regional property owners alone.
“Council regularly advocates to and works collaboratively with the Queensland and Australian governments to secure external funding for critical infrastructure across the Cassowary Coast,” council said in a statement.
Council says it is currently progressing planning for the future renewal of the Innisfail waterfront precinct and will continue seeking appropriate grant opportunities as scope and costs develop.
Additionally, the future requirements for the Perry Harvey Jetty are set to be considered as part of council’s 2026–27 operational plan.
“Major infrastructure renewal can place significant pressure on a regional ratepayer base, which is why external funding and partnerships across all levels of government are important,” council said.
Highlighting its reliance on external support, council pointed to its 2026–27 budget, which features an $80.66 million capital works program.
Of that total, $38m is sourced externally rather than from local ratepayers, including over $30m for roads, bridges and footpaths, alongside nearly $20m secured through Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements following recent severe weather events.
But council confirmed that exact budget figures for the two high-profile marine projects remain unquantified.
“At this stage, council does not have final adopted costs for the renewal or replacement of either the Innisfail revetment wall or Perry Harvey Jetty. Costs will depend on the scope of future works and further investigations,” council said.
Council’s response follows sharp criticism from local business advocacy group Activate Innisfail, which warned of an escalating “war” between ratepayers and higher levels of government over who bears the ultimate financial burden for crumbling coastal infrastructure.
At the heart of the debate is the long-term ‘Innisfail CBD Revitalisation Master Plan’.
While draft strategies depict a modernised waterfront precinct, the elephant in the room remains the riverfront’s failing revetment wall.
Originally constructed by the state government during Innisfail’s historical boom as a commercial port, the wall is reaching the end of its structural design life. Under current arrangements, ongoing maintenance and eventual reconstruction liabilities have fallen on local council shoulders.
Activate Innisfail president Suzanne Russell has accused the state government of “shifting the buck” on to regional communities and councils.
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