Collinsville washdown facility up and running

THE region’s first community washdown facility has been installed in Collinsville to prevent the spread of weeds.

Designed for 4WDs, it’s at Darby Munro Park, Davidson Road. LDC, in partnership with the Whitsunday Regional Council (WRC) funded the facility, worth $10,000.

Washdown facilities are an important tool to help manage the spread of weeds, and defend the region against weed seed spread to protect the viability of the local agriculture industry.

The Collinsville washdown facility came about as a result of the LDC and Burdekin Dry Tropics Regional Pest Management Group’s Pest Advisory Forum held in Collinsville in March, where graziers raised concerns about biosecurity risks associated with outside bodies accessing grazing lands.

In the interests of working with the whole Bowen Bogie Broken (BBB) community to achieve long-term economic, social and environmental benefits, the LDC project team saw this as a much needed facility. It has also allowed the WRC to plan for a second washdown facility for larger vehicles.

The facility is 8 metres long and 3 metres wide so 4WDs can drive on top of a pad that is free draining with dirty water trapped in a catch pit. The simple design of the facility also demonstrates a low-cost effective washdown which can be replicated on rural properties.

Council is organising a grand opening and we will inform the community once a date has been confirmed.