Warren Entsch questions Bureau about lack of flood warning after Jasper

A Far North MP says earlier weather warnings following Cyclone Jasper would have helped businesses prepare for the “once in a hundred year” event.

Preston Fresh Seafood owner Max Pantacchini said more warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology and Ergon Energy would have helped businesses become better prepared for the aftermath of Cyclone Jasper.

A Far North member for parliament says earlier weather warnings following Cyclone Jasper would have helped businesses prepare for the “once in a hundred year” event.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said businesses had been adversely affected by flood damage because owners were underprepared.

It’s estimated about 500 have been impacted in Cairns alone, but there’s extensive damage to road infrastructure across the Far North.

“Everyone is reliant upon BoM’s advice, it’s clear there was a far greater focus on Cyclone Jasper, and not nearly enough clear advice and timely warnings about the one in a hundred year rainfall event that followed,” Mr Entsch said.

Preston Fresh Seafood owner Max Pantacchini and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said more warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology and Ergon Energy would have helped businesses become better prepared for the aftermath of Cyclone Jasper.

“It was a Category 2. We’ve seen many of them before, the rain event associated with that was relatively modest with some minor impacts here and there, but nobody could have foreseen what happened immediately after. Nobody was warned. There was no information provided at all.”

Preston Fresh Seafood owner Max Pantacchini said he felt the Bureau of Meteorology could have prepared residents better.

“I didn’t hear any warning about flooding arriving. We could have been better prepared for that, there’s no doubt about it. We have been here for 30 years and we’ve seen plenty of cyclones, plenty of rain, we’ve never had any issues,” Mr Pantacchini said.

Preston Fresh Seafood owner Max Pantacchini said he felt the Bureau of Meteorology could have prepared residents better: Preston Seafood at Smithfield. Picture: Supplied

“We could’ve put a lot more sandbags to save a lot of problems. My other major issue was there was no warning from Ergon when they were going to cut the power.”
Mr Pantacchini said his business switched to generator power once they lost electricity.

However, he could only operate half of his business so as to not overload the generator while still waiting for power to be restored, days after the cyclone.

“If (Ergon) decide to cut the power to save other places, we need to be aware of what is going to happen. We prepared ourselves with a standby generator, but unfortunately it went under,” he said.

“As a business with 160 pallets (of seafood) and supplies to restaurants around Cairns, we need to know.

“We don’t know how many more days it will last, how much more diesel I need. What am I going to do to my customers? What about the restaurants? What do I tell them?”

It comes as businesses across the Far North began clean up efforts.

Ellis Beach Bar and Grill manager Cecilia Marland and her staff led efforts to clean up the newly refurbished restaurant alongside the Surf Life Saving Club next door, after flood waters caused landslides to fall on the northern beaches suburb.
As many as 1400 homes had also been impacted by flooding or landslides across the region.

Originally published as Warren Entsch questions Bureau about lack of flood warning after Jasper