Mud Army 2.0 told its work is done by Brisbane City Council

Thousands of volunteers who turned up to help clean Brisbane’s flood-hit suburbs have been told by council they won’t be required on Sunday after their “incredible effort”.

Brisbane’s famed mud army has been stood down after just one day of work with volunteers “no longer needed” to clean-up amid the threat of storms on Sunday.

Brisbane City Council sent an email to the Mud Army 2.0’s 15 000 registered volunteers late on Saturday stating they could down tools.

“Due to today’s incredible effort, Brisbane City Council has confirmed that the Mud Army 2.0 can now put down their tools and volunteers are no longer needed to clean-up Brisbane on Sunday,” the email stated.

Brisbane’s Mud Army 2.0 was only deployed for the first time on Saturday, with thousands turning up as early as 7am to help assist in the flood clean up across the worst impacted suburbs.

The Mud Army 2.0 arriving in Auchenflower after flooding in the suburb. Picture: Richard Walker

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner took to social media to salute the volunteers’ efforts, stating the Australian Defence Force and council officers would now continue with the clean up.

“After sweeping through Brisbane’s flood-affected suburbs, and with the threat of afternoon storms tomorrow, we’re going to stand down our Mud Army 2.0 veterans,” he wrote.

“If residents need help our teams will be there to ensure no one’s left behind.”

In Auchenflower’s Torwood St, the Mud Army cleared rubbish on the kerb – among them Brisbane Bronco Kotoni Staggs.

Red Hill resident Steven Hender said his 13-year-old son Jared had planned to spend his day playing video games; instead the pair took to the street filling bins with debris.

“It’s a reminder to be grateful for what you’ve got,” Mr Hender said.

Volunteer Reuben Kwong said his church group came out to the street to “help people feel some joy”.

“Groups of us have been coming out over the past week; the people we’re working with, they don’t know what to do or whereto start,” he said.

“One man we helped has lost everything, a lifetime work of tools, it was all underwater.”

Steven Hender alongside 13-year-old son Jared help with the clean up at Auchenflower. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Queenslanders have been warned to stay vigilant, with severe thunderstorms likely to hit parts of the state later on Sunday.

One person remains missing after the flood death toll rose to 11 on Saturday with the discovery of a woman’s body in waters at the Gold Coast.

The body of Gabrielle Sale, 42, was found by police divers on Saturday morning at Mudgeeraba after she was last seen near the local Hungry Jack’s last Sunday.

The last remaining missing person is a man in his 70s who fell overboard from his yacht in the Brisbane River near the mouth of the Breakfast Creek.

Brisbane Bronco Kotoni Staggs helps out with the clean up. Picture: Richard Walker

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said power was expected to return to the remaining 9500 homes that had been cut off by the end of the day.

“They’re working very hard over the weekend to meet that target they set themselves of having the power returned to everybody by close of business Sunday,” he said.

Mr Miles said police were continuing to target looters picking out damaged homes and businesses with 120 police out in force.

“Unfortunately overnight police have continued to arrest people for looting, including in the Milton and Goodna areas,” he said.

“And what’s most disappointing of all is that some of those include rearrests for people who have already been arrested for looting.”