January 31, 2013
The Australia Day weekend floods have caused an estimated $800,000 to $900,000 damage to infrastructure at Cherbourg, but council CEO Warren Collins says it could have been a lot worse.
Floodwaters damaged the intake pump that takes water from Barambah Creek to the town reservoir, prompting emergency repairs.
Ironically, despite the floodwaters surrounding it, the town had no water which also meant no school, and no TAFE.
The Ration Shed Museum and other facilities were also closed.
But, to everyone’s relief, the water was back on today.
“We’re getting back to normal now,” Warren told southburnett.com.au today.
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire has now joined Gympie, the South Burnett and Toowoomba as being officially disaster declared and thus eligible for Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRAA) assistance from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
Mr Collins said the other major issue that Cherbourg faces is road repairs.
Road crews were hard at work today on the Frank Fisher Bridge on Cherbourg Road where the road pavement has been badly damaged.
Council workers have opened a temporary one-lane crossing but contractors will be called in to make major repairs.
The Bunya Murri Rangers were also hard at work today removing flood debris from fencing, but there are kilometres to clear and also long stretches that have been completely washed away and will need to be replaced.
