‘Once in a generation’ clean-up as Queensland counts the cost from twin weather disasters

The damage bill from Queensland’s twin weather disasters is set to cost more than $2bn as a ‘once-in-a-generation’ clean-up begins.

Lindy Ashworth and her husband Gary face an overwhelming task cleaning their home, left broken and chaotic and under a thick layer of mud following the flood. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

The damage bill from Queensland’s twin weather disasters is set to cost more than $2bn as a “once-in-a-generation” clean-up gets underway in southeast communities battered by a freak Christmas tornado, and in flood-ravaged towns in the state’s far north.

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick said early treasury estimates had put the combined recovery costs and economic impact at “at least” $2bn, but warned that figure would likely “increase significantly”.

“We know there’ll be at least a billion dollars that will need to be invested to restore essential infrastructure like roads and rail systems,” he said.

“It will take months, not only to do the estimate, but of course, to do the recovery work.”

Mr Dick, who is also Queensland’s treasurer, said he was not overly concerned about the impact to the budget’s bottom-line, after the state posted a record $13.93bn surplus last year.

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick on Friday. Picturee: Steve Pohlner

“But it will have an impact on our economy, there’s been at least a half a billion dollar impact on economic activity in Queensland, which is why we want those businesses, particularly those tourism businesses, to get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” he said.

At least 1300 homes have been damaged, with more than 6000 insurance claims in the far north and 42,000 in the southeast.

There were still more than 4000 properties without power on Friday afternoon, most of those at Mount Tamborine which was one of the worst hit areas during the Christmas night storms.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the city had been “basically obliterated” by storms and there was about 80 football fields worth of waste left to clear.

“The storms have left our city facing a once in a generation storm clean-up with some homes and infrastructure basically obliterated,” he said.

“We are now faced with a mammoth clean-up task, including the removal of green waste and storm debris across the impacted areas.”

Liberal National Party Leader David Crisafulli said more manpower was needed to help devastated communities clean up damage.

“My message to the government is right now, in order for the recovery to really hit its straps, we need an injection of funding to build infrastructure and we need to make sure that those tourism industries are supported,” he said.

“We need massive injections of boots on the ground just to get us to the point where the recovery can really crack into full swing. Without that it’s just not going to happen.

“Many of those small businesses are literally clinging by their fingertips and they need assistance to rebuild and they need assistance in the form of people coming there to support them.”

Liberal National Party Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: David Clark

Premier Steven Miles, who visited Wujal Wujal and Cape Tribulation on Friday, said he had assurances from the federal government that further support would be available, including more Australian Defence Force troops if needed.

Speaking from Cairns, Mr Miles announced the state and federal governments would subsidise flights to the state’s far north as part of a $5m tourism recovery package.

Qantas and Jetstar launched a special sale on Friday offering one-way flights to Cairns from $79 to lure tourists.

The sales include flights to and from most capital cities until the end of March, with discounted accommodation packages to be available in coming weeks.

“Cairns and Port Douglas are open for business after the impacts of ex-tropical Cyclone Jasper, and we know that nearly 90 per cent of businesses are open and ready to take visitors,” Mr Miles said.

“What we need now is those visitors. We know that a lot of people cancelled their holidays when they saw those pictures, but now is the time to rebook.”