{"id":21748,"date":"2013-01-28T13:52:26","date_gmt":"2013-01-28T03:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=21748"},"modified":"2020-12-21T16:45:55","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T06:45:55","slug":"floods-leave-huge-damage-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/01\/28\/floods-leave-huge-damage-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Floods Leave Huge Damage Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Moloneys Bridge at Chahpingah … gone (Photo: Briony Hoare)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

January 28, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the rain eases around the area, the South Burnett is facing a massive clean-up and repair bill.<\/p>\n

South Burnett Mayor Cr Wayne Kratzmann told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> this morning that initial reports indicated damage to roads and infrastructure was worse than the 2011 floods.<\/p>\n

“There’s been substantially more damage to infrastructure and recreational facilities including Lake Boondooma and Memorial Park,” he said.<\/p>\n

There have been significant washouts on a number of roads, including Proston-Boondooma Road, and Moloney’s Bridge at Chahpingah been washed away.<\/p>\n

“The work that we have done – the $70 million program of repairs – it looks like most of these roads have gone as well,” Cr Kratzmann said.<\/p>\n

The total damage to water and sewerage infrastructure cannot be assessed but Council has been forced to invoke Emergency Water Restrictions across the region (see separate Report<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

And although the rain has stopped falling, and flood levels are easing, transport around the region is still severely restricted.<\/p>\n

The Bunya Highway between Wondai and Kingaroy has re-opened, but access to Murgon is still blocked. There is still substantial flooding in the Goomeri area and Bells Bridge is still inundated.<\/p>\n

The D’Aguilar Highway between Kingaroy and Nanango is still officially closed because of substantial damage.<\/p>\n

Cr Kratzmann said a council team would assess the state of the road and it may then re-open but to emergency vehicles only.<\/p>\n

The Bunya Highway is also still blocked between Kingaroy and Kumbia.<\/p>\n

An emergency plan is being worked out to feed cattle at the Smithfield Feedlot, with road transport via Proston a possibility.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ergon Energy crews are working on a number of power outages around the area (see separate Report<\/a>).
\n<\/strong>
\nCr Kratzmann said that if people were still without power, and their area was not included in updates, they should contact Council on (07) 4189-9100 and they would relay on the information to the appropriate people.<\/p>\n

Likewise, Cr Kratzmann asked that people who had contacted Council because they have no power, could let Council know when power is restored.<\/p>\n

(There are still communications difficulties with Ergon because their major centre is located in Rockhampton and has been badly affected by the failure of a Telstra cable.)<\/p>\n

* * *
<\/center><\/center>Emergency crews were called to evacuate 12 people last night, and seven today, from the Byee \/ Silverleaf area.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Originally it was believed a helicopter may have been needed to help, but swift water flood crews were on hand to assist.<\/p>\n

At 9:00am this morning there was still one elderly man stranded at Silverlead but he was safe.<\/p>\n

The evacuees have been taken to the Murgon PCYC evacuation centre.<\/p>\n

A busload of tourists from Hervey Bay stranded in the Moffatdale are are currently being housed at Moffatdale Ridge cellardoor.<\/p>\n