PREMIER INSPECTS STORM DAMAGE AT IPSWICH

Premier Anna Bligh is this morning inspecting storm damage at Ipswich, along with Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts and Emergency Management Queensland Executive Director Frank Pagano.

Ms Bligh said the group would meet Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasle for a first-hand look at the damage.

A new disaster declaration has been issued to include the Ipswich area, following heavy rainfall overnight.

This declaration activates emergency relief funding of $165 per individual and $765 per family, for those affected by the storms. People can seek this assistance through the Department of Communities hotline 1800 173 349.

A disaster recovery centre, similar to that operating at The Gap, will be established at Ipswich as soon as possible.

Ms Bligh said the SES telephone hotline received 1,239 calls for help and SES volunteers and Ipswich City Council officers worked through the night to assist people.

“Ipswich, Bundamba and out to the Lockyer Valley were worst affected,” Ms Bligh said.

“Between 11pm and 3am, there were more than 1,200 calls to the SES hotline and of course there were many calls after 3am.

“The damage is still being assessed, however, these have been very extraordinary circumstances and we do expect to see many people’s homes affected.

“Emergency services, SES volunteers and Australian Defence Force personnel are working together to respond to the damage caused by the latest storms and to continue the clean-up from the storms of last Sunday.”

Ms Bligh has this morning chaired the first meeting of the State Disaster Management Group, which heard a round-up of damage and activity overnight across the affected areas throughout South East Queensland.

The Group heard:

• The Inner City Bypass in Brisbane has been flooded with 11 million litres of water, following the failure of pumps. The Bypass is closed for at least the rest of the day.

• Queensland Fire and Rescue Service conducted 31 swift water rescues, mainly of people trapped in vehicles in flooded roads but also one from a home.

• A potential landslide at The Gap has been averted.

• Around 300 SES volunteers have been joined by 127 SES volunteers from NSW to continue the clean-up from Sunday’s storms, and assist with those affected by storms overnight.

• 190 Australian Defence Force personnel are already assisting at Arana Hills and Deception Bay, and another two units are on stand-by and can be deployed within two hours.

Ms Bligh said she would continue to work closely with Mayors of affected regions to coordinate the response and assistance.

Media contact:

Premier’s Office 3224 4500