Displaced Residents Fight to Rebuild Remote Outback Town After Devastating Floods

More than 20 displaced residents remain unable to return to the remote outback town of Urandangi three years after catastrophic floods destroyed most of its buildings.

The Aftermath And Current Crisis

In March 2023, torrential rain from a slow-moving tropical low caused the Georgina River to rise above 7 metres. The severe floodwaters inundated the region, destroying roughly half of the town's 40-odd buildings, including the Urandangi Hotel, which served as the local pub, grocery store, and post office. Displaced residents are now scattered across Mount Isa, Boulia, and Brisbane. A lack of drinking water and suitable housing currently prevents people from moving back. Boulia Shire Council stopped providing treated bore water, rubbish collection, and sewerage services to the deserted township in December 2024. While the local state school survived and remains ready to reopen if needed, the town is disconnected from the power grid and sits two hours away from the nearest health clinic.

Funding Standoff

Boulia Shire Council admits more should have been done to support the community, but refuses to cover the significant cost of restoring essential services on its own. The council is now calling on the state and federal governments to step in and help fund the town's rebuild. Meanwhile, former residents like 57-year-old Michele Belia continue to live away from home. Ms Belia, a Waluwarra woman and former teacher aide, shares a house in Mount Isa with her adult children while hoping to return to the land where her mother, brother, and other relatives are buried.

Context

Urandangi is located near the Queensland-Northern Territory border and was established in 1983 as a cattle droving outpost. Delivering essential services to such isolated regional and outback communities presents major logistical and financial challenges for local authorities. Rebuilding remote towns typically requires coordinated funding agreements between local, state, and federal levels of government.