Ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie clean-up hampered as 90 per cent of Tweed Shire Council fleet damaged by floods

DAMAGE to 90 per cent of the Tweed Shire Council’s fleet of vehicles has hampered recovery efforts in towns devastated by what many say are the worst floods in 60 years.

DAMAGE to 90 per cent of the Tweed Shire Council’s fleet of vehicles has hampered recovery efforts in towns devastated by what many say are the worst floods in 60 years.

Residents in hard-hit areas including Tumbulgum, Condong and South Murwillumbah say the clean-up will take weeks with volunteers, contractors and homeowners working around the clock.

Meanwhile mechanics are trying to salvage up to 50 utes, trucks and other heavy machinery damaged in the floods.

Flood clean-up around Mount Saint Patricks College at Murwillumbah. Picture: Mike Batterham

The trucks were inundated as the council’s depot went under water when the Tweed River peaked at 6.2m on Friday last week.

However earthmoving equipment had been placed on higher ground throughout the Shire in readiness for the floods.

Nine roads are still cut off or closed with school bus routes affected following the lashing from ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie last week.

A boat still tied to the veranda on the Tweed River in Murwillumbah on Monday. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Mt Warning, Tomewin, Manns, Couchy Creek, Dungay Creek, Palmvale, Porters, Solomons and Spring Valley Roads remain closed.

But there could be more damaged roads, according to council’s engineering director David Oxenham.

“The information we are providing is the best source of truth we have but in emergency situations where access is difficult and, given that Council lost 90 per cent of its own fleet, our information may not be complete,” Mr Oxenham said.

Flood victim’s start clean-up

VIEW GALLERY

Long-time Tweed councillor Warren Polglase said a massive amount of work was needed to recover from the storm.

“South Murwillumbah is a big issue, not only are there a lot of homes that went underwater but almost the whole industrial estate went under,” Cr Polglase said.

“It’s tens of millions worth of damage, which is enormous. It takes a lot of time to get that money back (from insurers).

Residents Tony Shirley and his wife Sherrill heading to hospital after Tony cut his foot. Picture Mike Batterham

“We have medium to big employers in the town who are hurting really badly.

“The big thing is getting these businesses up and running to keep people at work, we just cannot afford to lose any jobs at the moment.”

He said mechanics were working to salvage council’s damaged fleet of vehicles.

“Well over half of council heavy machinery, like utes and trucks, is offline. Some of it not repairable,” Cr Polglase said.

“We have people working extremely long hours to get them mobile because we have major recovery work to do.”

Gallery: Flooding heartbreak

VIEW GALLERY

Cr Polglase said the worst hit area for residents had been Tumbulgum, where the town had to close roads to keep out “sightseers” looking at flood damage.

Tumbulgum retired builder Ross McLean said the flood had cost him more than $50,000, with power tools and electronic appliances going under water.

Flood clean-up around Tumbulgum with volunteers from Global Care. Picture Mike Batterham

He said he had noticed the lack of council vehicles in Tumbulgum.

“It’s all been subcontractors so far helping the clean-up but we have seen some council blokes come and have a chat,” Mr McLean said.

“But we can’t complain we just have to get on with it, this will bring the town closer together.”