Published Friday, 18 January, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Treasurer
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
Here Come the Hercules: Fraser
The Queensland Government has arranged for an Australian Defence Force Hercules aircraft to move half-a-kilometre of temporary flood barriers from NSW to Charleville as preparations for major flooding continue.
Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser said the barriers are being transported from Richmond base, Sydney by the ADF and are due to arrive in Charleville later tonight.
Mr Fraser said a team of specialist engineers from New Zealand are also en route to Australia to oversee the erection of the temporary barriers.
They will travel to Charleville later today with Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, a former Charleville local who has decided to return early from annual leave.
“At the moment authorities are taking every possible precaution,” Mr Fraser said.
“With up to 150 millimetres of rain expected to fall tonight it would be ideal for the remaining sections of the Charleville levy be finished before flood waters are due to peak tomorrow morning.”
Mr Fraser and Acting Premier Robert Schwarten were briefed on the flood situation this morning while Mr Schwarten has also spoken to local Mayors.
“To erect the temporary barriers, the equivalent of three semi-trailer loads of pallets will be required,” Mr Fraser said.
“These pallets have been sourced from the company Chep at no cost and they are being loaded for transport by road from Toowoomba.
“The pallets are also due to arrive tonight and I’d like to thank Chep for their valuable contribution.”
Mr Fraser has today approved the activation of joint State and Commonwealth funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) for 19 local government areas in the State’s west and north, including Charleville’s local government area of Murweh Shire.
The total number of shires covered by NDRRA is 50.
The NDRRA activations today are for Murweh, Aramac, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall, Belyando, Broadsound, Bulloo, Douglas, Emerald, Herberton, Ilfracombe, Isisford, Jericho, Longreach, Paroo, Peak Downs, Tambo and Winton shires.
“To date this year, flood assistance has been activated for almost two-thirds of the State.”
“The area where NDRRA has been activated is now slightly larger than the area of the State drought declared by the Queensland Government,” Mr Fraser said.
Mr Fraser said 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.
Additionally, today assistance has also been activated for sporting and not-for-profit community organisations under the Associations Natural Disaster Relief Scheme.
“To date, more than $35 million in damages to public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, have been recorded across the State as a result of the monsoonal low.”
Media Contact: Chris Ward 0418 424 654
18 January 2008
Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser said the barriers are being transported from Richmond base, Sydney by the ADF and are due to arrive in Charleville later tonight.
Mr Fraser said a team of specialist engineers from New Zealand are also en route to Australia to oversee the erection of the temporary barriers.
They will travel to Charleville later today with Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, a former Charleville local who has decided to return early from annual leave.
“At the moment authorities are taking every possible precaution,” Mr Fraser said.
“With up to 150 millimetres of rain expected to fall tonight it would be ideal for the remaining sections of the Charleville levy be finished before flood waters are due to peak tomorrow morning.”
Mr Fraser and Acting Premier Robert Schwarten were briefed on the flood situation this morning while Mr Schwarten has also spoken to local Mayors.
“To erect the temporary barriers, the equivalent of three semi-trailer loads of pallets will be required,” Mr Fraser said.
“These pallets have been sourced from the company Chep at no cost and they are being loaded for transport by road from Toowoomba.
“The pallets are also due to arrive tonight and I’d like to thank Chep for their valuable contribution.”
Mr Fraser has today approved the activation of joint State and Commonwealth funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) for 19 local government areas in the State’s west and north, including Charleville’s local government area of Murweh Shire.
The total number of shires covered by NDRRA is 50.
The NDRRA activations today are for Murweh, Aramac, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall, Belyando, Broadsound, Bulloo, Douglas, Emerald, Herberton, Ilfracombe, Isisford, Jericho, Longreach, Paroo, Peak Downs, Tambo and Winton shires.
“To date this year, flood assistance has been activated for almost two-thirds of the State.”
“The area where NDRRA has been activated is now slightly larger than the area of the State drought declared by the Queensland Government,” Mr Fraser said.
Mr Fraser said 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.
Additionally, today assistance has also been activated for sporting and not-for-profit community organisations under the Associations Natural Disaster Relief Scheme.
“To date, more than $35 million in damages to public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, have been recorded across the State as a result of the monsoonal low.”
Media Contact: Chris Ward 0418 424 654
18 January 2008