Up to 1400 flood damaged homes in Cairns as recovery for roads alone expected to cost billions

The number of homes impacted by flood damage has been revealed — but it’s the extent of the road damage that could cost the region billions.

As many as 1400 homes in Cairns alone have flood damage and the extent of the road damage means reconstruction costs are expected to be in the billions.

A spokesperson from Cairns Regional Council told Newscorp that council is aware that there are approximately 1400 homes that have been impacted by flood waters

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said he believed there were between 300-500 houses just in Cairns which had at least had water over floorboards or significant damage from landslides.

He said the repair bill would likely to be several billion dollars with most of it going on road repair.

Craig Crawford. Picture: Glen Campbell/NcaNewsWire

“Just look at the Captain Cook Highway going up to Port Douglas there is probably damage we don’t even know about yet,” the former ambulance paramedic said.

He said in many other circumstances there was likely to be damage under roads which is yet to be detected.

Sonia Smith Acting Chief Superintendent with the Queensland Police, and the Cannes district disaster co-ordinator said there is “a vast number of roads that remain underwater and damage assessments will continue to be carried out today. Before they are able to be reopened to motorists do not under any circumstances drive into floodwater”.

But that “floodwaters have starting to recede in certain areas across the far north, but a number of communities remain isolated”.

Mr Crawford reiterated what Deputy Queensland Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said at a press conference Tuesday morning that – “we are now turning from response to recovery.”

“After a disaster like this you go through a phase where you will get the essentials of life re-established, roof over a head, something to sleep on, food in your fridge. On a policy level we aim to get crucial infrastructure back working,” the member for Barron River said.

The Barron River in Cairns, Far North Queensland, has reached a record flood peak, with roads closed and homes flooded in the catchment area. Flood waters lap at the Kamerunga bridge on the Western Road, and despite the bridge remaining open, road access is still cut to the northern beaches of Cairns. The record flooding has been caused by ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which made landfall on December 13. Picture: Brendan Radke

“That means we will doing things like lots of speed restrictions, lots of potholes, a lot of temporary fixes on roads.”

He said the next phase after that would concentrate on rebuilding “non-urgent” infrastructure like playgrounds and beaches.

Cairns Regional Council also confirmed Holloway Beach and Machans Beach both reopened Tuesday morning.

“Today we’re sending more resources to help our affected communities the ADF have assisted moving personnel from Townsville to Cairns to enable people who have been on the ground to rest and recover,” Ms Smith from Queensland Police said on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference.

Ms Smith said assistance was still being provided to cut off communities including those in the northern beaches of Cairns.

Two four wheel drives attempt to cross flood waters over Machans Beach Road, after heavy rain from ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused significant flooding across the Cairns region. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns Council Council Mayor Terry James said “What we have witnessed already is the remarkable strength of our city and its amazing community spirit”.

Our focus at the moment is on helping those people who have been impacted by this unprecedented flooding event, particularly in Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob and Caravonica, where the major impact was felt.

“We would people who want to help towards GIVIT, which has opened an online portal for people wishing to donate money or goods to flood victims. (https://www.givit.org.au/queensland-flooding).“Everyone is hurting, some people have got away lightly, people have to be nice to each other,” Mr Crawford added.

“I’ve seen a lot of stuff on social media and also horrible things to each other, I understand people are tense, this has happened before and it will happen again. We will rebuild.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be travelling to Cairns on Thursday. On Tuesday he tweeted that he had briefed on the situation in the Far North and that “it’s often in the worst of times that we see the best of the Australian character”.

Originally published as Up to 1400 flood damaged homes in Cairns as recovery for roads alone expected to cost billions