Resilience and mateship as Far North flood recovery is underway

Tonnes of rock has been cleared as hundreds of residents across Far North Queensland embark on one of the biggest clean-ups in the region’s history. See the incredible interactive picture series.

Tonnes of rock has been cleared as hundreds of residents across the Far North embark on one of the biggest clean ups in the region’s history after a record flood in December.

Far North residents dutifully prepared for Cyclone Jasper on December 13 but it was an underwhelming event.

It made landfall at midday as a category 2 cyclone at the Bloomfield River community of Wujal Wujal on Wednesday December 13 and rapidly weakened.

But by Sunday December 17, the Far North experienced an intense, prolonged and relentless deluge that peaked around 7pm on Sunday when people in suburbs surrounding the Barron River were being rescued from rooftops by SES and Queensland Fire and Emergency Service personnel in boats, along with locals with tinnies pitching in.

The downpour was so fierce that at 5pm the Barron River was at 10 metres and just two hours later it was more than 14m.

Between 9am on December 16 and 9pm on December 17, a whopping 1046mm of rain fell on Cairns, bringing the five day total for 1930mm.

When roads became passable into suburbs including Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, Lake Placid, Caravonica and Yorkeys Knob, the damage was confronting – streets and streets were piled high with ruined household goods as bedraggled residents returned from emergency shelters.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority initial assessment was that 1860 properties were damaged and 1663 were houses.

Cairns Regional and Douglas Shire councils did a remarkable job putting things back together and there are 15 state government agencies involved in the recovery process – but for many, it will be a long journey.

The number of displaced people will never be known, with many fleeing to family and friends while the Department of Housing found shelter for more than 500 households.

Many homeowners have rented properties as the long process of repair gets underway and the department has 193 households in temporary emergency accommodation – hotels, motels and caravans, with 44 caravans brought up to Cooktown and Bloomfield communities along with demountable housing.

And many say they’ve had to relocate several times.

Insurance assessors have based themselves here for six months, with reports starting to be processed and claims decisions made – but there’s a shortage of tradespeople.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimates the cost of the disaster will be $202m.

Without cooking facilities, informal community organisations like Holloway’s Hub, the Cairns Food Drive and Cairns Community Flood Appeal have sprung up to provide meals along with other essentials, and co-ordinating donations of large household items.

Businesses large and small have proven generous while individuals donating everything from fuel for generators to fridges and beds has pushed the concept of community spirit to a whole new level, and it continues daily.

In recent days, more than 50 food hampers have been distributed to Wujal Wujal residents now in Cairns, with community members donating vouchers and funds.

The Holloways crew – led by Dan Cairns, who got out on his kayak to rescue people – have the slogan “make magic happen” scribbled on their yellow vests, and across the Far North people have stretched their arms out to do just that.

Financial assistance is available for eligible residents affected by ex-TC Jasper and flooding across Far North Queensland.

Visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173.

Originally published as Resilience and mateship as Far North flood recovery is underway