Funding activated for Qld cyclone victims

Hundreds of soldiers will help the clean-up under way after Cyclone Marcia, says Queensland Premier. Source: AAP

AUTHORITIES are racing to put a roof over the heads of 100 families left homeless in the wake of Cyclone Marcia as another 50,000 Queensland properties remain without power.

MORE than 1500 houses in Yeppoon and Rockhampton have suffered structural damage, while access to electricity is emerging as a major obstacle in the recovery effort.

But as the state's central coast continues to pick up the pieces, regions to the south are still contending with a flood emergency."Our fundamental priority now is on those families who have been the most severely impacted," premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Sunday.Ergon energy has bolstered its field crew contingent from 500 to 800 in Yeppoon and Rockhampton but says outlying properties could be left in the dark for weeks."There are over 1800 power lines down. This is absolutely significant," Ms Palaszczuk said.Almost 100 per cent of Yeppoon and 92 per cent of Rockhampton had no power, she said.The federal government has signed off on Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery funding for the Rockhampton, Livingstone and Banana Shire council areas.Cyclone and flood victims can immediately access hardship payments of $180 per person or up to $900 for a family of five or more.The destruction was extraordinary, deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said as he toured central Queensland."The power of this cyclone is evident everywhere."Seven defence technicians have been deployed to help with damage assessments in addition to the hundreds of army personnel who have been clearing streets.Further south, poor access to phone and internet communications has stifled the response.In the Banana Shire, which takes in the town of Biloela, up to 400 properties may have been inundated by floodwaters, mayor Ron Carige said."How many more times can these people pick themselves up?" he asked.Mr Carige is furious after the region's disaster co-ordination centre ran into a repeat of the communication issues that plagued the 2013 flood event.Telstra had promised it wouldn't happen again, he said.Ms Palaszczuk has vowed a review."They've got mobile communications there. We have a couple of police officers there as well, and they are conveying information to the centre (in Brisbane)," she said.Telstra arranged for a helicopter to deliver a generator to the key network site and was expecting progressive restoration of services on Sunday afternoon.Closer to Brisbane, Ms Palasczuk said the situation appeared to be slowing down in Gympie, where the Mary River had reached 16.6 metres, impacting on 19 businesses but no homes.The small town of Jambin, south of Rockhampton, has seen evacuations due to flooding of the Callide River.The SES has responded to more than 6000 requests for help and many are still outstanding.Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has urged people to stay out of flood waters, which could be contaminated, unless absolutely necessary."You only need a tiny breach of the skin and you can get an infection," she said.

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