Recovery underway in Moreton Bay Region

Moreton Bay Regional Council has already started cleaning up after torrential rain and widespread flooding and affected residents are being encouraged to apply for financial assistance grants available from the State and Federal Governments.

Work is underway to assess more than 2000 properties across the region with Mayor Peter Flannery and Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway visiting the worst hit areas to ensure emergency needs are met.

“Asset maintenance crews were deployed at the first sign of easing flood conditions yesterday to begin repair works on the most seriously affected roads,” Mayor Flannery says.

“After being cut off for more than a day, we’ve got clean-up crews into Woodford today and we’ve opened up the Woodford Transfer Station to accept all disaster waste at absolutely no cost to residents as well as removing the size load limit.

“Moreton Bay is unique in South East Queensland because our communities have already banded together to support each other, even in the towns and suburbs that were cut off or stranded.

“That’s enabled Council to reconnect those communities within 24 hours and focus our resources on the recovery response in the worst affected areas, which is exactly what we need to do.

“Yesterday, we visited the communities of Bribie, Woodford, Deception Bay, and Dayboro and I was amazed but not surprised to hear the stories of resilience and community spirit that have saved lives in some cases.

“Particularly in Major St and Samantha Crt in Deception Bay where people’s homes were completely inundated with 1-2m of flood water and they’ve practically lost everything, including wedding rings, clothes, and furniture.

“Two 12-year-old kids were rescued from the top of a car by a neighbour. Friends, family, neighbours and even strangers pitched in to help elderly residents and start salvaging valuable items.

“These are just truly remarkable acts of kindness, resilience and determination by a community that has been decimated - it makes me truly proud to represent this community.

“These properties will be able to access Queensland Fire Emergency Service’s Hose Out Activity to pump out contaminated water from these homes so that they can start their recovery. QFES will be allocating resources to support this activity for priority areas impacted.”

What’s been happening today

Today the Mayor and Deputy are visiting Deception Bay, Redcliffe, Strathpine, Lawnton, Cashmere and Griffin to see what locals on the ground need.

Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway says Personal Hardship Grants are now available to eligible residents of the Moreton Bay Region to cover the cost of essential items such as food and clothing.

“This is a maximum of $900 for families of five or $180 per person by contacting the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visiting the Queensland Government’s disaster emergencies webpage,” she says.

“Residents can also begin their insurance claims after the Insurance Council of Australia declared Moreton Bay Region an ‘insurance catastrophe’ for the benefit of local insurance policyholders affected by the current weather disaster.

“Thank you to everyone who has pulled together to support each other during one of the biggest natural disasters in recent memory to hit Moreton Bay.

“This recovery effort will be ongoing over the next few weeks and I can assure you all that we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to get you back to normality as soon as humanly possible.”

Stay up-to-date on facebook.com/MoretonBayCouncil or Council’s Disaster Portal moretonbay.qld.gov.au/disaster