State Recovery Coordinator handing over Debbie recovery reins to QRA

Two months after Severe Tropical Cyclone (STC) Debbie crossed the Queensland coast, State Recovery Coordinator Brigadier Christopher Field, AM, CSC, is handing over ongoing recovery responsibilities to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA).

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Brigadier Field, the Government and the QRA had been working closely in the past month to get Queensland on the road to recovery.

“The devastation wreaked by STC Debbie in late March and early April saw 36 local communities activated for Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, 118,000 people provided with assistance through the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme and more than $1 billion worth of damage,” said Ms Palaszczauk, who met with Brigadier Field in Townsville yesterday.

“I want to sincerely thank Brigadier Field for his hard work and dedication during Debbie and in her immediate aftermath to set Queensland on a path to recovery.

“He, alongside his dedicated team of Australian Defence Force personnel, have worked around the clock to recover and rebuild the eight local government areas worst affected by STC Debbie in Rockhampton, Isaac, Livingstone, Mackay, Whitsundays, Logan, Scenic Rim and the Gold Coast.

“He also worked closely with the QRA and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) to develop the State Recovery Plan 2017-2019 Operation Queensland Recovery and eight local recovery plans, which will guide us as we move into the next phase of recovery.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport said that Brigadier Field and his team traversed 44,000km of the state and visited more than 150 communities in nine weeks.

“They met with impacted farmers and small businesses, viewed landslips, road and bridge damage, connected with local environmental recovery and hazard reduction groups, visited impacted residents and participated in community outreach activities,” Ms Trad said.

“I thank Brigadier Field for his significant progress towards the state’s recovery and his invaluable contribution to the State Recovery Plan. His leadership has been instrumental to the success of the state’s recovery effort to date.

“It’s a long road to recovery but the Queensland Government will continue to work with communities affected by the impacts of STC Debbie to ensure they get back on their feet as soon as possible.”

Brigadier Field will handover State Recovery Coordinator duties to QRA CEO Brendan Moon, who will continue to be supported by QFES Acting Assistant Commissioner Kevin Walsh in the north and Queensland Police Service Chief Superintendent Charysse Pond in the south.

The QRA will work with local government, state government and key stakeholders to ensure the ongoing implementation of local recovery plans.

Media contacts:

Kirby Anderson (Premier's office) 0417 263 791

Clare Manton (Deputy Premier's office) 0432 446 268