Qld: Qld's flood damage bill to climb beyond $210 million
16 Feb 2009 2:18 PM
BRISBANE, Feb 16 AAP - Floodwaters have steadied in the isolated Gulf of Carpentaria, as authorities estimate flood damage across Queensland will exceed $210 million.
Floods have affected more than 62 per cent of the state, with 36 councils currently assessing damage to highways, roads and buildings.
The latest damage estimate is $210 million and rising, a spokesman for Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts says.
The Barkly Highway in northwest Queensland has been significantly damaged.
The Insurance Council of Australia has received just under 100 flood claims. But the figure is expected to more than double as assessors move into areas that remain isolated.
Carpentaria Shire Council chief executive Mark Kelleher says floodwaters have steadied in the sire.
But he expects road access to Normanton and Karumba to remain cut for at least another month.
Army and air force personnel have located the problem with the town's drinking water pipeline but repairs are dependent on flood waters receding, Mr Kelleher says.
Premier Anna Bligh has promised a portable water treatment plant will be flown to Karumba within two or three days to ensure water supplies in the town.
Six tonnes of bottled water is being distributed to Karumba residents with a further six tonnes arriving later this week.
The weather bureau has issued flood warnings for the Burdekin River west of Ayr and the Diamantina, Georgina, Nicholson, Leichhardt, Flinders, Norman and Gilbert rivers.
Despite further flood warnings for the Thomson River in Longreach and surrounds, disaster management has been scaled down, an SES spokeswoman says.
There are also flood warnings for the Lower Mackenzie River, the Connors-Isaac Rivers and the Dawson River tributaries.
