Cairns floods: Many Machans Beach residents have lost everything

The kerbsides of homes at this Far North Queensland suburb are piled high, house after house, with the content of their dampened homes.

The kerbsides of homes at Machans Beach are piled high, house after house, with the content of their dampened homes.

Giant piles of mattresses, whitegoods, furniture, clothes and other household items are lining the streets, as it becomes evident that while not much structural damage has been done to homes, people have lost everything inside.

The full extent of the deluge is becoming clear as Machans Beach goes into recovery mode, with neighbours helping each other.

Michael Saveka was cheerful despite the entire contents of his family home at Machans Beach being destroyed, saying he is grateful no harm came to them. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

The Barron River burst its banks on December 17 about 4pm and resident Bonnie Short said that was when her family home flooded.

“We had to climb out the windows,” the mother-of-four said.

“We went straight to the shelter and had two nights there.”

But her partner Michael Saveka was cheerful as he sorted through sodden items.

“At least we are alive,” he said “we are all right.”

Division 8 Cr Rhonda Coghlan said the damage in her ward, which borders the Barron River at Machans Beach, was devastating.

Division 8 also includes Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Caravonica and Lake Placid.

Michael Saveka and his partner Bonnie Short, with children Maria, Indie and baby Sam, were sorting through the destroyed contents of their Machans Beach home on Thursday. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

“It is absolutely devastating but the whole community has been wonderful, people helping each other, and once the water was low enough, a flotilla of council, Ergon and others got in there to do their job and try to get services up as quickly as possible,” Ms Coghlan said.

“I’ve visited many homes – this is a whole new level of devastation.”

She said power could not be turned back on until homes had been certified safe.

“Lots of families have had insurance assessors through already and they’ve been relocated into accommodation for up to four months,” Cr Coghlan said.

Streets in Machans Beach are piled high with wrecked furniture, whitegoods, mattresses and household contents as residents sort through what little is left. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

“The Department of Housing is looking at alternative accommodation for others, and then there’s people who just don’t want to leave their home, although it may, or may not, be liveable.”

The latest QFES information is that 1227 homes have been damaged – but more than 1000 of those homes have moderate or minor damage.

From the QFES damage assessments done so far, only four homes have been destroyed.

Salvation Army Cairns Regional Homelessness Services manager Major Emma Johnson said while structural damage was minor, many families had lost everything they owned.

She said temporary accommodation was being provided for people, who were spending their days cleaning up their premises, and no one would be forced to leave temporary premises unless they had an inhabitable home.

Streets in Machans Beach are piled high with wrecked furniture, whitegoods, mattresses and household contents as residents sort through what little is left. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

As well as its usual Christmas hampers and toy hampers, the Salvation Army is distributing hampers of essential goods.

“We’re under pressure in all sorts of ways, providing immediate needs hampers, food, emotional support, bedding, clothing and mattresses, along with other organisations, as we move into the recovery faces.

“People have lost absolutely everything.”

The Cairns Local Disaster Management Group has kicked off its recovery committee to provide direct support, with Cr Coghlan as chair.

Streets in Machans Beach are piled high with wrecked furniture, whitegoods, mattresses and household contents as residents sort through what little is left. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

She said efforts would be focused on Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach, Kamerunga, Lake Placid and Caravonica.

Council will begin waste collection of flood-damaged items as soon as it is safe and residents are asked to keep food waste separate in wheelie bins.

Originally published as Cairns floods: Many Machans Beach residents have lost everything