More than 100 Victorian emergency service personnel are heading to Queensland to assist with the state’s flood and storm response efforts.
Queensland has been hit by multiple natural disasters over the past month, with ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper hitting the far north of the state and South East Queensland experiencing dangerous floods and storms.
To assist with recovery efforts, Victoria is sending 111 emergency management personnel – including 10 SES storm trucks.
“Victorian personnel will travel to Pimpama near the Gold Coast to undertake tree removal and temporary roof repairs with specialised skills in chainsaw operations and safe working at heights,” Emergency Management Victoria said in a statement.
“The Victorian team includes 67 from Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), 41 from Country Fire Authority, two from Forest Fire Management and one person from Emergency Management Victoria.”
“An Incident Management Team consisting of an Incident Controller and planning, logistics and operations officers will work closely with local crews.”
“Victorian personnel will travel to Pimpama near the Gold Coast to undertake tree removal and temporary roof repairs with specialised skills in chainsaw operations and safe working at heights,” Emergency Management Victoria said in a statement.
“The Victorian team includes 67 from Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), 41 from Country Fire Authority, two from Forest Fire Management and one person from Emergency Management Victoria.”
“An Incident Management Team consisting of an Incident Controller and planning, logistics and operations officers will work closely with local crews.”
Ten SES storm trucks and one support vehicle have already departed from Wodonga and the remaining personnel will fly out of Melbourne Airport on Saturday.
More than 91,000 homes on the Gold Coast were left without power this week after floods and storms brought down about 9000 power lines, impacting essential services.
Approximately 40 per cent of homes impacted in South East Queensland are still without power, with the state government aiming to have 90 per cent of power restored on the Gold Coast by January.
This came just weeks after ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper wreaked havoc in Far North Queensland.
While the full extent of the category 2 storm is still being determined, data from the Carins Chamber of Commerce shows more than 90 per cent of businesses have been affected, and the tourism-dependent region is set to lose out on $125 million due to cancellations this summer alone.
The Albanese and Miles governments have announced a $64 million disaster recovery package to impacted communities in Far North Queensland, however outspoken Queensland MP Bob Katter has lashed the state Labor government for neglecting residents in the north of the state.
(skynews)
