Burnett floods: Extent of damage revealed in drone footage as clean up begins
Drone footage has revealed the incredible amount of damage caused by flooding across the North and South Burnett, as the clean up begins and authorities warn repairs will be lengthy. SEE THE PHOTOS:
South Burnett
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Images have revealed the extent of the destruction wrought across the Burnett by flooding, as the water recedes and the clean-up begins.
Flood warnings remain in place across the Burnett, with the Barker and Barambah creeks and the Burnett River downstream of Mundubbera expected to peak and begin easing this afternoon and overnight.
Limited rain fell across the catchments overnight, with about 10-30mm recorded. The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed no significant rainfall is forecast for the Burnett River catchment for the next few days.
Major roads across the region have also started to reopen as water recede and repairs are completed.
The Burnett Hwy between Nanango and Goomeri reopened this morning, along with Cherbourg Rd.
Angels Bridge has re-opened under restrictions on the Barambah Road, and will require further repairs.
However, several major routes are still blocked with Krebs bridge on the Bunya Hwy suffering extensive damage.
The South Burnett Regional Council said there was a “significant failure” to the pavement on the bridge approaches.
“This bridge remains closed until later in the week, and Queensland Police Service advises that it is an offence to drive past road closure signs and will be enforced,” a council spokesman warned.
Crews continue to make their way across the road network to undertake assessments.
Numerous roads and floodways have substantial damage, including road surfaces and culverts that may leave roads temporarily impassable.
The damage to roads has also had a major effect on food supplies, with the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry warning the floods could cause stock and staff shortages in stores.
Work in the North Burnett is also continuing, with the council warning it will take weeks to even determine the full scale of damage.
Deputy chair of the Local Disaster Management Group and councillor Melinda Jones said the highway between Childers and Biggenden was reopened to non-residential motorists on Monday, however the road system in the North Burnett council area is “significantly damaged”.
“It’ll take a substantial amount of time to fix,” Cr Jones said.
“It’s estimated it’ll take a good couple of weeks just to get around and do the assessments on all the roads.
“They’ll do minor repairs to make to roads accessible, but that’s two weeks before they can even begin to rectify the road network.
“So that’s several months’ work.”
Dallarnil remains a “caution area” and is currently only open to residents after the tiny town was inundated by more than 450mm of rain in just a few hours on Thursday night.
Cr Jones said the aftermath has been “gut-wrenching” with many residents, who were forced to leave their homes to live in caravans and sheds after in January floods, now back living in their flood-damaged properties after their makeshift homes were also destroyed.
“They’re just kind of in that state of shock and don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,” she said.
“Many of the people we’ve spoken to are just in that state of not knowing and lost on what to do next.
“A couple of people are even wondering whether to rebuild or just to sell and move on from Dallarnil.”
Cr Jones said the LDMG visited one person who was living in a caravan after losing their home to last month’s flooding disaster and keeping their belongings in a shed
When the rain hit, the shed fortunately blocked the caravan from moving too far, however the contents of the shed spilt and sent the remainder of their belongings floating down the creek.
“So they were wandering 3km down the creek to collect their furniture and wardrobe items,” Cr Jones said.
Counsellors and staff will be on the ground in Dallarnil on Tuesday supporting the community with their applications for disaster assistance and providing emotional and mental health wellbeing support.
“We’re doing referrals to mental health and counselling services if they need or want it,” she said.
Communities and Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch said financial assistance grants of up to $180 per person and $900 for a family of five or more were now available to flood-hit residents in Gympie and Dallarnil.
Applications can be made through the Community Recovery online portal at www.communityrecovery.qld.gov.au.
Residents without internet access can also call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
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