Qld weather: State govt writes to federal govt seeking financial assistance following supercell storm devastation

The state government has finally written to the Commonwealth to explore “opportunities” to help residents smashed by Monday’s “catastrophic” storms.

The state government has finally written to the Commonwealth to explore “opportunities” to help residents smashed by Monday’s “catastrophic” storms.

More than 14,000 homes and businesses in South East Queensland remain without power, three days after a brutal supercell ripped through the southeast, slamming the region with 12cm hail and 152kmh winds, with the island north of Brisbane copping the worst of conditions.

At the peak of the storms, some 162,000 properties lost power, with initial fears it might not be restored until Wednesday.

Bribie Island Caravan Park clean-up. Picture: Steve Pohlner

But further storms on Tuesday and Wednesday nights have hampered progress, and thousands of properties in the Bribie Island suburbs of Bongaree (1077) and Woorim (661) were still without power at 11am on Thursday.

Elderly residents at the Bribie Island Retirement Village in Bongaree endured three days without power, until it was restored on Thursday morning. The property also sustained structural damage after a large tree fell, damaging a roof.

Nearby mainland suburbs Beachmere (1799), Ningi (632) and Toorbul (525) were also hit hard by the storms and are still waiting for power to be reconnected.

The supercell structure seen from Bribie Island. Picture: Higgins Storm Chasing via Helen

Calls to activate financial assistance on Wednesday fell on deaf ears, with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and councils understood to still be collecting data on the damage before triggering a disaster declaration.

But on Thursday, Premier David Crisafulli revealed Disaster Recovery Minister Ann Leahy had written to the federal government about the storm damage across South East Queensland.

Woorim resident Alan Bruce was at the local surf club when a tree fell and crushed his car during the storm.

“The reason why Ann has done that is there is no doubt that the level of damage, both to individuals to their homes and cars and to council infrastructure, warrants the federal government and state for coming together and having a look at what opportunities are there to help residents in their hour of need,” he said.

“She’s doing the right thing and she’s talking with the councils.”

Bribie Island Caravan Park, Woorim, clean-up. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Her letter came after The Courier-Mail on Thursday reported the pleas from Bribie Island residents, who are still without power, for financial support.

One business owner said losses following the storm has already reached about $40,000.

A large tree fell over at the Bribie Island Retirement Village, Bongaree. Picture: Iwan Jones

Mr Crisafulli said he and Pumicestone MP Ariana Doolan had toured Bribie Island.

“I want to thank the people from Energex and indeed, workers from Ergon who came in en masse to those impacted areas, they’ve done a mighty job, there’s a bit more work to do,” he said.

“We’ll work with the federal government to work out what disaster assistance is available.”

Bribie Island was hit by some of the worst of the severe weather.

Originally published as Qld weather: State govt writes to federal govt seeking financial assistance following supercell storm devastation