The Queensland Government has commenced follow-up damage assessments on more than 3000 properties impacted by flooding earlier this year in Townsville and surrounding areas.
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (DCDSS) staff are accompanying Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) as they undertake a three-month assessment of recovery progress.
Minister for Communities and Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke said DCDSS representatives would provide valuable human and social services support.
“Not only do these visits provide a status update on reconstruction efforts, they provide us with an opportunity to check on impacted communities and remind residents of the assistance available in their region,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“We’re committed to helping families, small businesses, primary producers and local councils as they undertake the long road to recovery.
“It’s important we continue to work with and support impacted communities to ensure they can rebuild, recover and reconnect.”
QRA CEO Brendan Moon said the inspections were being completed as part of a three-month assessment of recovery progress, following on from the initial assessments that occurred straight after the flooding.
“Damage assessments have already been carried out in western communities and our teams will now focus on impacted areas surrounding Townsville,” Mr Moon said.
QRA’s ongoing damage assessment process was introduced as a pilot program in April 2011, following severe flooding events and Cyclone Yasi.
“This street-by-street, house-by-house assessment process enables us to understand the pace of reconstruction and identify how well our communities are recovering after an event,” he said.
“It has proved extremely successful since its development in 2011, allowing us to zero in on recovery progress and provide targeted assistance to the most vulnerable.”
Properties targeted for these follow-up assessments were identified via joint QRA-QFES damage assessments, local council damage assessments and DCDSS grant applications.
These assessments will be conducted until 3 May, with further property damage assessments to occur at the six, nine, and 12 month-mark.
