Mayor Ry Collins - Whitsunday Regional Council

11/06/2026

💡 THINKING BIG: Abbot Point

When people think about Queensland's resources industry, they often picture mine sites hundreds of kilometres inland.

The reality is that while the resources may be dug out there, they leave Queensland through places like Abbot Point right here in the Whitsundays.

Recently our Council went to meet with the team at Abbot Point Operations and get the opportunity to go behind the scenes at one of our region's largest economic generators and employers. The scale is simply incredible.

⚫ Almost 35 million tonnes exported annually
🌏 Coal shipped to 17 countries around the world
👷 Around 200 direct employees
🔧 More than $50 million spent with local contractors each year
💰 Billions in economic activity and royalties helping fund schools, hospitals, roads and services across Queensland

Standing beside reclaimers the size of high-rise buildings, travelling along a jetty stretching almost 2 kilometres out to sea, and watching giant shiploaders fill some of the world's largest vessels really brings home the scale of this operation.

Yet what impressed me just as much was the environment.

After more than 50 years of operation, the area remains home to remarkable natural assets including the Caley Valley Wetlands, turtles, gt’s and manta rays around the jetty - not just surviving but thriving, and stunning views across the Whitsunday islands, Bowen to the south and Guthalungra to the north. It's a place that demonstrates industry and environment can coexist when managed well.

Abbot Point is a critical piece of Queensland's economic infrastructure and a major reason our region continues to punch above its weight.

So when measuring the contribution of the Whitsundays' resources sector to Queensland's economy, I guess we can also say...

Queensland, you're welcome. 😉🌴

10/06/2026

A great morning at Merinda State School celebrating First Responders Day. 🚔🚒🚑

It was fantastic to see local police, firefighters and paramedics sharing their experiences with students and giving an insight into the important work they do serving our community every day.

A big thank you to our emergency services personnel, Principal Williams and the school team for a great event and the invitation to attend. 👏

🚔🚒🚑

09/06/2026

One of the very best parts of being Mayor is welcoming new Australians to our community. 🇦🇺

Today at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, Whitsundays we held a record citizenship ceremony, officially welcoming 65 new Australian citizens.

What I love about these ceremonies is the diversity of stories they represent. Some of our newest citizens have only recently arrived in Australia, while others have been part of the fabric of our community for decades — including two recipients who have called Australia home for 60 years and 44 years respectively before taking this final step in their journey.

It was particularly special to confer citizenship on my neighbour Alex, and Whitsunday Regional Council staff member Kelly and her husband Shaun, who became an Australian citizen alongside their two children.

The Whitsundays is home to people from more than 40 nationalities, and today’s ceremony was another reminder of the diversity, opportunity and community spirit that make our region so special.

Congratulations to all 65 of our newest Australians. We are proud to have you as part of our community and proud to call you fellow Australians. 👏🇦🇺

09/06/2026

I don’t often comment on Federal or state policy decisions, but the Federal Government’s proposed changes to disaster recovery funding arrangements (DRFA) have the potential to be a significant blow to communities across regional Queensland, including the Whitsundays.

Like many North Queensland communities, we know all too well the importance of disaster recovery support. Whether it’s Tropical Cyclone Koji earlier this year, major monsoonal flooding events, or Cyclone Debbie almost a decade ago, recovery doesn’t happen overnight and in some cases continues for many years.

There are elements of the proposed reforms that I support. Streamlining access to funding, reducing red tape and improving efficiency should always be welcomed.

However, any changes that ultimately reduce funding available to disaster-affected communities should be approached with extreme caution.

Without replicating what others have said on this issue, a lens of concern I’ll pose is not simply about fairness or equity. It’s about productivity, and that should be high in the national interest.

The Greater Whitsunday region is one of Australia’s most productive regional economies, generating over $140,000 in GRP per person each year — almost double the national average. That productivity supports services Australians rely on every day, including healthcare, education, welfare and the infrastructure that supports our nation.

When disaster strikes, recovery funding isn’t charity. It is an investment in restoring the productive capacity of regions that help drive the Australian economy.

Australia has a massive productivity challenge. We won’t solve it by making it harder for some of our most productive regional economies to recover from natural disasters.

Regional communities already face the challenges of distance, higher costs, ageing infrastructure and often waiting longer for major infrastructure investment than our metropolitan counterparts. What we have been able to rely on is a disaster recovery system that helps communities get back on their feet when they need it most.

I respectfully ask the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Federal Government to carefully reconsider any changes that would reduce funding support for disaster-impacted communities and ensure regions like ours are not left uncertain and wondering to what level they will recover when the next major event occurs.

Nita Green - Senator for Queensland
Senator Anthony Chisholm
Corinne Mulholland
Murray Watt - Senator for Queensland

05/06/2026

Happy Queensland Day! 💙🤍

Today is a chance to celebrate everything that makes Queensland great — our people, our communities, our lifestyle and the businesses that help make our state such a fantastic place to live.

A special shout out today to Bowen’s own Fiorella Florals with owner Lily recently taking out the inaugural Queensland Day Award for Best Florist in Queensland. 🌸🏆

With more than 1,000 florists across the state, this is an incredible achievement and a testament to the outstanding service, creativity and dedication Lily and her team bring to their business every day.

It was great to catch up with Lily and her mum yesterday afternoon following what has no doubt been a whirlwind couple of weeks after recently getting married as well. On behalf of the Whitsundays, congratulations Lily.

Shout out also to all our other Whitsunday nominees and runners up for the Queensland day awards, you’ve all done our region proud.👏🌴

💙🌸

05/06/2026

Great to be out in Collinsville today and wanted to give a shout out to our Whitsunday Regional Council road crews who have been working hard over the past few months to get Strathmore Road back into shape. 👏🚜

As many locals know, this is an important connection for our rural communities and took a bit of a beating during the wet season. With this weekend’s Bowen River Rodeo & Campdraft bringing plenty of visitors to the area, it’s great to see fresh gravel down and the road looking significantly improved.

The $1.7 million project has included:
✅ Reshaping and grading the road formation
✅ Placement of 27,000 tonnes of gravel
✅ Drainage improvements
✅ Vegetation clearing
✅ Works along 18km between Collinsville Road and Ted Bridge

There’s still some final work to be completed before the end of the financial year, but the difference is already clear.

Importantly, this project has been funded 50/50 by Council and the Queensland Government through the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme — an important program that helps regional councils maintain roads of regional significance.

It was great to get on the ground and see the work firsthand. Lots of Traffic heading out to the rodeo today and I wish everyone heading out this weekend a safe trip and a fantastic time enjoying one of the great events, and great parts, of our region. 🤠🐂

Dale Last - Member for Burdekin

04/06/2026

A fantastic evening in Proserpine tonight for the official opening of the Creative Connections Whitsunday Community Art Gallery. 🎨✨

It was great to join fellow Councillors and around one hundred community members to celebrate this exciting new chapter for the former Visitor Information Centre, which has been transformed into a vibrant creative hub in the heart of town.

This project is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when passionate locals come together with a vision and a willingness to make it happen.

The gallery will provide a space for local artists to showcase their talents, for workshops and creativity to flourish, and for locals and visitors alike to spend more time enjoying everything Proserpine has to offer.

Congratulations to Glenda Brown and the team at Creative Connections Whitsunday and everyone who has contributed to bringing this project to life. Council is proud to support initiatives that strengthen community connections, activate local spaces and celebrate the incredible talent we have across the Whitsundays.

I have no doubt this is just the beginning of something special. 👏

🎨

04/06/2026

Sometimes the most important infrastructure is the infrastructure you never see… until you need it. 🌧️

🌧️ New culverts in Bowen as part of region-wide stormwater upgrades.

Council is continuing to upgrade critical stormwater infrastructure across the region, replacing ageing culverts that are nearing the end of their service life.

Recently, new reinforced concrete box culverts and kerb lintels were installed at Tracey Street, Bowen. Completed in April, the upgrade will improve safety, increase flood resilience and provide more reliable access for residents during heavy rainfall.

So far, six key stormwater assets have been renewed across the region, including:

• Gladstone Park Road – completed December 2025
• Korah and Marshall Streets – completed February 2026
• Golf Links Road Caravan Park, Bowen – completed March 2026
• Tracey Street, Bowen – completed April 2026
• Hillview Road/Soldiers Road intersection – completed May 2026

These upgrades are helping to build a safer, more resilient road network for our community.

01/06/2026

What a magical Whitsunday weekend it was! ☀️🌴⛵

Perfect weather on both land and water, and I hope everyone had the chance to get out and enjoy it.

On Saturday evening I had the pleasure of attending Welcome Whales event, celebrating the start of the annual whale migration season in the Whitsundays. 🐋

The Whitsundays is the world's first Whale Heritage Site located within the UNESCO World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef — a recognition of the special relationship between our community and these incredible marine visitors.

Each year, more and more humpback whales make their way into our pristine waters, providing unforgettable marine diversity. It's just another reason why the Whitsundays is such a remarkable place to call home.

Well done to Olivia and the team at Whitsunday Marine Conservation inc. for putting together another fantastic event on the Airlie Beach Foreshore. 👏🐋

🐋💙

30/05/2026

🚒 Celebrating 75 Years of Service 🚒

This morning Mel and I had the privilege of joining current and former firefighters, their families and the wider community to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Proserpine Fire and Rescue Station.

For 75 years, generations of firefighters have answered the call when our community has needed them most. Through cyclones, floods, grassfires, road crashes and countless emergencies, they have stood ready to protect lives and property across the Whitsundays.

What makes regional communities special is that the people who turn up in our toughest moments are often our neighbours, mates, work colleagues and fellow community members - even a few former shire Mayors! Their willingness to serve others deserves enormous respect.

A particular highlight of today's celebration was the unveiling of the new honour board recognising the 158 firefighters who have served through the Proserpine Fire Brigade over the past 75 years. I was proud that Whitsunday Regional Council could contribute this commemorative honour board to help acknowledge their service and preserve this important piece of local history.

Thank you to every current and former firefighter, officer, volunteer, support staff member and family member who has contributed to this proud legacy.

Congratulations on this remarkable milestone and thank you for 75 years of courage, dedication and community spirit.

👏 Happy 75th Anniversary Proserpine Fire and Rescue Station!

🚒🔥