A tough day … Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington (second from right) with some of the hardworking Council team getting information out to the public, from left, Russell Hood, Stan Taylor, Amanda Litfin, Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and Kay Dove  

January 27, 2013

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and his council team have done “an amazing job” handling the flood crisis.

” I have spent the day with him and also have kept in constant contact with the mayors of the Western Downs and Somerset councils who are also part of the Nanango electorate,” she told southburnett.com.au.

She said council workers had been manning phones all day and providing information to the public via Council’s website and Facebook page.

Mrs Frecklington reserved special praise for the emergency services personnel who have worked so hard to keep South Burnett residents safe.

“I cannot heap enough praise on the SES and all the emergency personnel,” she said.

“But in particular the SES. They’ve been working on a volunteer basis all day – and all night as well – as first responders.”

She said we could be thankful there have been no life-threatening incidents so far, but she was alarmed by reports of people driving through floodwaters and of children playing near flooded creeks, even while their parents watched on.

“That’s completely irresponsible,” she said. “It’s important that we keep kids away from drains, flooded roads and dams.”

“Please stay safe.”

Mrs Frecklington said people should try to stay off the roads.

“If it’s flooded, forget it. And if you don’t need to travel, don’t.”

* * *

Mrs Frecklington said she had also been in contact with Premier Campbell Newman today.

She said Cr Kratzmann had identified the majority of the roadworks that had just been completed were now again in a state of disrepair and she had alerted the government to this fact.

“It is certainly something we are going to have a look at in a serious manner for this area,” she said.

However, a lot of the disaster relief will rely on the Federal Government; some will also automatically become available if the shire is officially classified as “disaster affected”.

Cr Kratzmann said he would be working together with Mrs Frecklington on the funding issue.

“However our immediate concern is for the health and well-being of our residents,” he said.

Cr Kratzmann said he had also spoken to mayors across the region, and offered any assistance the South Burnett could provide.

“Toowoomba seems to be okay. Bundaberg and Gympie are in all sorts of a mess. The North Burnett also has major problems and everyone is worried about Gayndah which may flood,” he said.

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