16 January 2008 - Qld flooding may get worse before it gets better: Fraser

The Queensland Government is preparing for a potential new flood front in the State's west as it continues to assist residents in north and southern Queensland clean-up and recover.

Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser said heavy rain as a result of the monsoonal low had caused widespread flooding in north Queensland, including Charters Towers, and it was expected to now extend further into western Queensland, including the Longreach region.

“This morning, I have activated disaster assistance for four additional local government areas – Charters Towers and the surrounding Dalrymple shire, Palm Island off Townsville and Carpentaria shire in the north-west,” Mr Fraser said.

“In these areas, residents may be eligible for personal hardship assistance, as well as assistance for the restoration of public assets, such as roads, and reimbursement of local councils' extraordinary disaster management costs such as tarps, machinery hire and private debris clean-up.

“Early estimates of damage to public infrastructure in north Queensland as a result of the monsoonal low now exceed $12 million.

“Already this month more than 1600 SES volunteers have responded to almost 900 calls for assistance as a result of flooding.

“I would like to pay tribute to the SES volunteers for their hard work and dedication and acknowledge the support of their families and employers.

“To date, joint State and Commonwealth-funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) have been activated in 34 local government areas across the State.

“Damage assessments are underway in other areas where NDRRA assistance may also be activated.

“The flooding situation in Queensland may get worse before it gets better. Our State has been bone dry for so long, now large areas are underwater.”

Overnight about 50 homes and 18 businesses in Charters Towers were impacted by flash flooding. SES has been responding to calls for assistance. Teams from the Department of Communities will assess the financial and personal hardship of impacted residents and offer assistance to the community to recover. The Haughton River peaked at Giru and waters are

receding.

“In western Queensland, flood warnings are already current for the Thomson and Landsborough Rivers.

“We are closely monitoring the situation in western Queensland. SES crews are on standby.”

Areas where NDRRA assistance has been activated include the western Queensland local government areas of Aramac, Diamantina, Ilfracombe, Jericho, Winton, Barcaldine, Flinders, Isisford and Longreach as a result of a severe storm and associated flooding late last year. Mr Fraser has also activated NDRRA for Barcoo Shire in the State's south-west as a result of this event.

Acting Communities Minister Rod Welford said available assistance included personal hardship support.

““Personal hardship assistance is available to help families in affected areas access essentialssuch as food, dry clothes and accommodation," Mr Welford said.

“These personal hardship grants of $160 per person and up to $740 per family are available and other means-tested assistance may also be available for the repair of buildings.”

For more information about assistance available in your area, call Communities’ Natural Disaster Hotline on 1800 440 074.

Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan said in addition, the NDRRA assistance activated is for restoration of essential public assets, such as roads and bridges, and costs of counter disaster operations, including the clean-up of debris.

“In Carpentaria shire, initial estimates of public infrastructure damage are in excess of $4 million. Most of this damage relates to roads in the area,” Mrs Kiernan said.

A map of the flood affected areas of the State will be published today onwww.disaster.qld.gov.au

Media Contact Chris Taylor/Chris Ward 3224 5982