Update on assistance after Debbie

Published Thursday, 06 April, 2017 at 05:04 PM

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

The Queensland Disaster Management Committee at 4pm (Thursday 6 April) was briefed on the assistance provided to residents across the State in wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie and severe flooding.

QDMC was also briefed that more than $10 million had been paid to 25,000 individuals and families. Across Queensland, the Community Recovery Hotline had responded to more than 30,000 calls to provide assistance to thousands of Queenslanders over the past eight days.  Almost 50,000 grant applications through our Community Recovery online portal and Self-Recovery app.

Across the State, there have been more than 6700 requests for SES assistance, but it is expected to increase as recovery efforts continue and floodwaters rise in Rockhampton.

There have 7700 rapid damage assessments undertaken across the State.

QDMC was also updated that major flood levels of the Fitzroy River are approaching a peak near 9 metres at Rockhampton. It was briefed that the current level of 8.8 metres exceeded the 2013 flood peak of 8.6 metres but below the 2011 flood peak of 9.2 metres.

Electricity

Since Debbie crossed the coast, more than 230,000 customers lost electricity supply. To date, more than 220,000 – 95% - have had power re-connected.

Work is ongoing to restore electricity to 9000 customers without supply in north Queensland down from the peak of 65,000 customers off supply. More than 4000 customers had electricity restored yesterday.

In preparation for flooding impacts in Rockhampton, 350 customers have had their power disconnected. There are 70 crew ready to resupply.

Under the Immediate Hardship Assistance – Essential Services Grant, $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more, will be available in the worst hit areas, for those without these services for more than five days.

Recovery hub sites

Eighteen outreach teams have been deployed into the North Queensland region, doing face to face contacts. There are 30 outreach teams operating in Southeast Queensland.

All open 9am to 4:30pm seven days per week except Beenleigh and Cannonvale (below)

  • Rockhampton Showgrounds, via Lion Creek Road entrance, Rockhampton
  • Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre, Alfred Street, Mackay
  • Andergrove Community Hall, Celeber Drive, Andergrove 
  • Bowen TAFE campus, Queens Road, Bowen
  • Proserpine State High School, 4 Ruge Street, Proserpine
  • Cannonvale State School (10.30am to 3:30pm), 56 Coral Esplanade
  • Beenleigh Event Centre (9am to 5pm), corner of Crete and Kent Streets, Beenleigh

Six pop-up hubs will be located in North Queensland from tomorrow at various times and locations:

 

  • Carmilla Memorial Hall (10.30am-12.30pm) 16 Music St, Carmilla
  • Clairview Community Centre (1.30pm-3.30pm) Colonial Drive, Clairview
  • Flaggy Rock Community Centre (10.30am-12.30pm) 85 Flaggy Rock Rd. Flaggy Rock
  • Mudth-Niyleta Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Corporation (10.30am-3.30pm) 35 Central Street, Sarina
  • Wonga-Binna Aged Care (10.30am-3.30pm)
  • St Lawrence Centenary Hall (1.30pm-3.30pm) 7 Railway Parade, St Lawrence

People who are experiencing personal hardship due to TC Debbie should download and use the Self-recovery app, go to www.qld.gov.au/communityrecovery or contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Ministers

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad visited Proserpine, Wilson Beach, Cannonvale and Mackay to inspect damage inflicted by Cyclone Debbie and met with community members and local Mayors.

Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism Kate Jones met with Whitsunday Regional Council and Whitsundays in Proserpine, before travelling to Airlie Beach for a meeting with tourism industry representatives. In the afternoon, she visited schools in the region to assess damage from the cyclone

Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey visited Rockhampton and attended the Local Disaster Management Committee meeting. The Minister inspected the Yeppen Floodplain traffic switch diverting motorists off the Bruce Highway due to flood waters.

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services Mark Ryan visited the QFES Incident Control Centre in Logan Village and crews in the Tamborine area to thanked them for the flood clean-up work they have been doing.

Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni was joined by Member for Mackay Julianne Gilbert to announce recovery funds for sports clubs affected by Cyclone Debbie in Farleigh.

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Anthony Lynham visited Moranbah to talk to local businesses about the potential impact of ex-TC Debbie. He visited Coppabella coal mine as part of his assessment of the impact on the local coal industry, after an aerial inspection of the rail network and Hay Point yesterday.

Minister for Local Government and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Mark Furner also visited affected areas of the Whitsunday area.  areas of the Whitsunday.

Minister for Agriculture and Member for Rockhampton Bill Byrne will remain in Rockhampton and report directly into the QDMC.

Important numbers for assistance

For storm and flood assistance contact the SES on 132 500 and in a life threatening emergency call Triple Zero. 

People who are experiencing personal hardship due to TC Debbie should download and use the Self-recovery app, go to www.qld.gov.au/communityrecovery or contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or for further information

Donations 

I continue to encourage anyone wanting to help their fellow Queenslanders to make a donation directly with a respected charity:

These charities are trained to respond to the needs of communities hit by natural disasters and can provide food, equipment, shelter, and other support.

Goods and services can also be donated to GIVIT through their website www.givit.org.au

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier’s office) 0417 263 791