A rescue crew outside Giru International Hotel in Burdekin Shire, south of Townsville. Photo: Qld Fire Department
A group of South Australian firefighters and volunteers have joined flood relief efforts in Townsville.
The group was drawn from the SA State Emergency Service (SES), SA Country Fire Service (CFS) and Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS).
Yesterday, a 20-strong SES team flew out of Adelaide for a five-day stint in Townsville, which has been hit hard with flash flooding and intense storms.
The SA SES is planning three rotations in the next week to help out with recovery; two more teams will be sent on Sunday, February 9, and Wednesday, February 12.
Each five-day rotation involves 10 CFS volunteers and MFS firefighters; about 60 frontline personnel from the SES, CFS and MFS will be deployed in Queensland.
South Australian emergency services personnel are also helping fight bushfires in Victoria; CFS brigades in the state’s south-east are providing cross-border support including fighting a blaze in the Little Desert National Park.
Department for Environment and Water (DEW) specialist firefighters were deployed as well and SES crews are helping with Victorian staging areas.
SA Emergency Services Minister Emily Bourke, SAS chief officer Chris Beattie, CFS chief officer Brett Loughlin and MFS chief officer Jeff Swann all paid tribute to the emergency crews helping out interstate.
“From Queensland to Victoria, dedicated volunteers are putting their own lives on hold to support devastated areas and we are thankful for their tireless efforts,” Bourke says.
ROAD LINK RESTORED
The new temporary bridge over Ollera Creek. Photo: Qld Police
Meanwhile, Qld Police said late yesterday that a temporary single-lane bridge is now open at Ollera Creek to allow emergency services and supplies into isolated areas north of Townsville.
The bridge will be open 8am-5.30pm and is the only southern road access into flood-affected Ingham and the rest of Hinchinbrook Shire.
Police have set up checkpoints at the Rollingstone Truck Pad, three kilometres south of the bridge, and at Barrett Road, 100 metres north of it with 24/7 checkpoints.
A nearby rail bridge is also under police management with essential access to Ingham available via a Queensland Rail bus on the rail tracks. This service is only available until 5pm.
No one is to walk across the bridge without police approval and vehicles will not be permitted to park near the bridge.
Heavy vehicles that weight more than 35 tonnes will not be allowed to cross the bridge.
Police say residents should not go sightseeing while the rail bus can be used by residents with police approval.
Meanwhile, an $8 million State-federal flood recovery package has been announced to help councils recover from the disaster.
Funding of up to $1 million per Local Government Area is available for Burdekin, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville, Whitsunday and Yarrabah councils.
For more information, visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/funding-programs
