North Queensland local news briefing: Friday, November 13, 2026

Detailed summary

Excavation work has begun and dredging has been approved at a North Queensland marina that was destroyed by Cyclone Yasi 15 years ago. During a visit to Port Hinchinbrook at…

Excavation work has begun and dredging has been approved at a North Queensland marina that was destroyed by Cyclone Yasi 15 years ago.

During a visit to Port Hinchinbrook at Cardwell on Friday, Premier David Crisafulli said 500,000 cubic metres of silt would be removed from the channel to a depth of 2 metres, allowing for all-tidal access.

"We're not going through this to take one step and go two backwards. This is full steam ahead," he said.

Cardwell Sportfishing Club president and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard member Greg Abbs said the changes would be "magic" and would make rescues safer to carry out.

The Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand says urology training needs to increase following a report into failures at Townsville Hospital.

Investigations released this week found the department operated with a shortfall of 1.7 full-time urologists between 2022 and 2025, when hundreds of patients received substandard care.

The hospital is recruiting two additional full-time urologists, but the positions remain unfilled.

Society president Damien Bolton said greater training opportunities were needed to increase urologist numbers in the state.

He said the society would be open to working with any state government to train more urologists to practise in regional centres.

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