‘ADF is there if we need it’, says Premier
State assessing damage before committing
State Premier Steven Miles will not commit to Australian Defence Force assistance for the devastated communities of Wujal Wujal and Degarra almost four weeks after unprecedented flooding that sent people fleeing to rooftops.
Degarra residents have pleaded for boots on the ground and heavy duty help to restore the demolished community.
The flooding peaked on December 17.
The SES arrived on January 4. Speaking at a press conference to announce a $5m tourism recovery package, Mr Miles said SES and the Rural Fire Service were doing a great job and he had assurances from Federal Emergency Minister Senator Murray Watt that the federal government would provide what was needed.
But the state government is yet to ask for help.
“We just need to ask … will see first-hand what will be required and that support will be ready to come in as the SES and rural fire finish their job, to clean up.”
He said Queensland Reconstruction Authority chief executive Jake Ellwood had been managing the situation in an orderly fashion.
The retired Major General was national co-ordinator for the ADF’s response to the black summer bushfires of 2019-20 and has served in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor.
“We need to focus on the reconnection of essential services, water, sewerage and power … then the heavy work of essentially having to rebuild a big section of the town,” Mr Miles said.
Senator Nita Green said there was a big task ahead and road access was precarious.
She said the emphasis was on getting barges with equipment in and the Harbourmaster was assessing where silt and sand had moved to understand the tonnage of barges.
“That is happening now and it is happening really quickly,” she said.
Ms Green said there were health clinics and social workers in the communities.
“The Premier is going to see first-hand for himself today what needs to be done so that we can get these things moving, when the Queensland government asks for assistance it will be provided,” she said.
Wujal Wujal residents were evacuated over three days from December 19 by the ADF using Chinook helicopters but the ADF’s presence in the Far North ended on December 29.
Cairns Regional Council Mayor Terry James called for military assistance during the flood and Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr echoed the plea.
State MP for Cairns Michael Healy said teams were working 24 hours on roads.
“We have experienced an unprecedented event, we are doing everything at a state and federal level and even at a local government level, we’ve never faced anything on this scale,” Mr Healy said.
He said it could take four to six weeks to get roads open, but there could be two years of work. “The road may look fine on the top, but it’s washed away underneath,” he said.
State MP for Cook Cynthia Lui was a notable absence from the press conference, although her electorate includes key tourism destinations of Port Douglas, Daintree and Cape Tribulation.
Asked why Ms Lui had not visited tourism operators in Cape Tribulation and had visited the devastated township of Wujal Wujal but not committed to assistance rebuilding, the Premier said she was travelling to Cape Tribulation on Friday.
“I’ll be joining Cynthia in Cape Tribulation (and) the Emergency Services Minister is similarly visiting towns which will include Wujal Wujal,” Mr Miles said.