Council helps fellow flood victims

Sunshine Coast Council has joined other councils in sending skilled operations staff to assist with flood relief in the towns of Roma and Mitchell, in the Maranoa Regional Council area.

A two-man crew has already left to help control the outbreak of mosquitoes and a four-man crew will leave on Friday morning to help clear flood debris.

In early February, simultaneous flood catastrophes occurred in Roma and Mitchell damaging almost 700 homes and public property such as roads and parks.

Mayor Bob Abbot said his thoughts are with the residents in Roma and Mitchell, and across the Maranoa region.

"It’s great to be able to help our fellow Queenslanders by sending our skilled and energetic workers to help clean up the area," Mayor Abbot said.

"The Sunshine Coast recently experienced our own severe weather so we understand how easily something of that scale could happen here.

"We’ve been lucky to receive support from a number of councils over the years so it’s great to be able to give back and help re-build Roma and Mitchell.

"I’d also like to commend the large number of council staff who eagerly put up their hands to volunteer. This reflects the council to council camaraderie is alive and well."

Council’s clean up crew will depart the Sunshine Coast on Friday morning and report directly to the Maranoa Regional Council that afternoon.

They will be briefed on the local conditions before working for about seven days in the area.

The crew has skilled staff from council’s Parks and Gardens division and will take with them a range of clean up equipment including chainsaws, blowers and hand tools.

Major clean-up activities will include cutting overgrown grass, chainsaw work on fallen trees and general clearing of flood debris.

These activities will also help control the outbreak of mosquitoes which is an issue for the region.