Cyclone Larry - Special Edition
Cyclone Larry: LGAQ calls for engineers, health officers
Local government in Queensland has been at the forefront of the response to the devastation caused to communities in the far north of the state by Cyclone Larry. The Local Government Association of Queensland deployed specialised staff the region before the cyclone hit the coast on Monday morning. The staff are providing the conduit between LGAQ, councils and the state disaster coordination centre. LGAQ asks that interstate councils seeking to assist ensure that LGAQ is the point of contact. LGAQ says there is an urgent need for roads and drainage engineers, building inspectors and/or surveyors and environmental health officers over the next two to three weeks. All costs associated with travel and accommodation for such staff will be fully refundable. LGAQ also advises that there is a concern about indiscriminate sending of people and/or goods to affected areas. While the sentiment is appreciated, it often causes more harm than good. On the ground there are up to 8,000 building structures that are materially affected and as such there are thousands of people that are temporarily homeless and there is no where to stay other than in temporary structures set up by defence force personnel.
Financial donations
In respect of financial donations, ALGA and LGAQ President, Cr Paul Bell, has asked that all donations be directed through the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal Fund through any branch of the Commonwealth Bank or by phoning 1800 150 411.
We'll need help for "quite a period": Mayor
The Mayor of Johnstone Shire (based on Innisfail), Neil Clarke, said on Monday that Cyclone Larry was as bad as any cyclone in living memory. The category 5 cyclone had winds of up to 290 kilometres an hour. He said the second half of the storm had whipped up debris torn free when the leading edge of the cyclone hit. "We'll be needing help for quite a period of time," he told ABC radio.
State government working closely with LGAQ
The Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, said that LGAQ would be pooling the resources of local governments across the state and offering specialist services to the affected region. "The Queensland Government will work closely with the Association throughout this process and will provide funding through the assistance program for the costs incurred by councils who provide assistance," Mr Beattie said. "The whole bloody place is blown apart ... this is going to be a long, slow recovery." It is the state's worst cyclone in 80 years.
To offer assistance with specialist staff - call LGAQ on (07) 3000 2222
To make financial donations - call Premier's relief appeal 1800 150 411