Qld weather: FNQ flood clean-up in full swing as PM jets in

Far North Queenslanders are mopping up in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jasper as the Prime Minister is set to visit.

Clean-up crews are in full swing across Far North Queensland as mud armies rally and residents wade through muddy and debris-riddled homes to salvage what they can in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper.

The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed severe weather conditions had finally eased between Cairns and Ingham on Wednesday.

But further north, river levels continued rising near the Cape York Peninsula, particularly in the Mitchell River catchment, threatening the small town of Kowanyama.

This prompted the evacuation of a small group of vulnerable residents including pregnant women, infants and those with health issues.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was expected to visit the region on Thursday and Friday after being briefed by Premier Steven Miles.

Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said he was preparing for the worst in coming days and would evacuate the entire shire if conditions worsened.

“We are well and truly prepared,” he said.

Mr Chelepy said police had been able to enter 16 of the 35 isolated communities around the Daintree area, with no new reports of missing persons or serious injuries.

Maliq Wray, 10, and Jake Westmore, 10, of the Brothers Leagues Club help clean up a property that was flooded in Mimosa Street, Holloways Beach. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The pleasing news there is everyone’s OK … now we know the needs of those communities,” Mr Chelepy said.

A search for a missing 85-year-old Degarra resident last heard from on Saturday night continued, with grave concerns growing over the man’s safety.

Aircraft have assisted with the search, but Mr Chelepy said the destruction in the area was “devastating”.

“I ask anyone in the area who may have any information to please contact police,” Mr Chelepy said.

“While I still hold hope, I hold grave concerns for this person given what I have seen on the ground.”

A further 119 Wujul Wujul locals have now been safely flown to Cooktown joining the 97 evacuees rescued on Tuesday, and Australian Defence Force helicopters were kept busy relieving exhausted frontline workers who have toiled for more than a week.

The ADF may be called on to assist clean-up efforts in remote areas, with contract cleaners also engaged by the federal government.

The flood disaster is expected to have caused billions in damage, particularly to major infrastructure, with North Queensland Tourism also losing an estimated $125m.

More than 1700 damage assessments have so far been completed, with one property logged as destroyed, 57 ­severely damaged, 187 moderately damaged and 226 with minor damage.

Roads throughout the Far North have been severely damaged. Picture: QFES

At Holloway Beach, Kerry Tress moved her sodden furniture from her home’s mud-­covered floors while her husband Chris pulled a 1.5m eel from the driveway.

Tears sprung up in Mr Tress’ eyes when a busload of volunteers from Cairns Brothers Leagues Club arrived to assist in his flood-ravaged street. The group included kids aged 10.

Brothers’ group general manager Jason Salecich said it was time for people to turn up and help out.

“The easiest thing we could have done was write a cheque,” he said.

“But these people need boots on the ground, so I made the decision that’s what we needed to do.

“It can’t be described as anything other than devastation. You can see some of them are feeling beaten and defeated, so to see us turn up today I think has really helped them.”

Premier Miles said temporary accommodation or long-term housing would be arranged for residents who were displaced or who had lost their homes.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt announced a third round of disaster relief for farmers and small businesses, by means of freight subsidies and to ­alleviate costs of moving stock and operating materials.

The Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Smithfield has been reopened, along with the access road to Yorkeys Knob, allowing trucks to start resupplying supermarkets.

Swiftwater rescue teams help residents to safety. Picture: QFES

Access to Holloways Beach has been restricted to local traffic and emergency vehicles only, with all drivers urged to take care on the roads.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said 500 crew members had been deployed north to bring the power back on, promising the remaining 10,000 businesses and households that supply would be restored by Christmas Eve.

But he did warn those conducting safety checks on their properties to ensure they had engaged a licensed electrician.

“We have heard some reports of some individuals posing as licensed electrical contractors who are not, so we are urging residents to do that licence check,” he said.

“If there are people preying on the vulnerable and pretending to be licensed electricians to earn a buck – they are opportunistic grubs. I absolutely condemn anyone acting in this way. It’s just un-Australian.”

Disaster recovery donations can be made to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Uniting Care, St Vincent De Paul and Givit, with the Queensland government contributing $1.5m.

“We’ve asked Givit to focus some of the $100,000 we’ve provided to them on any children who might have lost toys that were put aside for Santa,” Mr Miles said.