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Recovery Information

Returning to normality after a disaster may be quick or difficult and prolonged.

Following an event, the Local Disaster Management Group will convene its Local Recovery and Resilience Sub Group to:

ensure people's wellbeing;
rebuild essential infrastructure;
help local economic recovery; and,
rehabilitate the natural environment.

Team Townsville Logo

Team Townsville - people who are working together to get Townsville back on its feet.

Wellbeing

Recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process. Safety is a primary issue, as are mental and physical wellbeing. If assistance is available, knowing how to access it makes the process faster and less stressful. This section offers some general advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting your home, your community and your life back to normal.

Our volunteers are available to hear how you are, and help link you with community services you may need. By answering these questions https://www.tfaforms.com/4722256, we will be able to provide you with helpful information or have a member of our team contact you directly.

Community Recovery Hubs

You should ensure that you have been in contact with Community Recovery. You can do this by phoning the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349, or by visiting a Community Recovery Hub:

State Government Building
Ground floor, 187-209 Stanley Street, Townsville
- Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily.

Domain Central
Shop G3B, 103 Duckworth Street, Garbutt (near Specsavers)
- Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily.
Townsville Brothers Football Club
Hi Vista Park, 468 Bayswater Road, Mt Louisa
- Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily.

1300Smiles Stadium
14 Golf Links Drive, Kirwan
- Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily.

Bluewater Community Centre
14 Forestry Road, Bluewater
- Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily.

NQ Connect

NQ Connect provides flood affected residents with access to a dedicated mental health support service, providing confidential 24/7 counselling support during flood recovery.

In this time of crisis, there are people you can talk to. If you would like to talk with a professional counsellor, call NQ Connect 24/7on 1300 059 625, or visit the NQ Connect website for web chat, video counselling or online discussion forums at www.nqconnect.com.au

Financial Assistance

Far North Queensland Floods – Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment $1,000 per adult and $400 for each child https://bit.ly/2MTZeTj

Far North Queensland Floods, February 2019 - Disaster Recovery Allowance for short term payment if a disaster directly affects your income https://bit.ly/2SvVWL6

Essential Services Hardship Assistance Grant - Supports people directly impacted by a disaster when they have lost one or more essential services for five days. $150 per person, $750 for a family of five or more https://bit.ly/2SvVWL6

Emergency hardship assistance grant - Supports people directly impacted by a disaster to meet essential needs for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation, $180 per person and up to $900 for a family of five or more https://bit.ly/2RAxpjL

Essential household contents grant - If you are uninsured or unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for financial assistance towards replacing or repairing essential household contents. Up to $$1,765 for single adults and up to $5,300 https://bit.ly/2BpP2x8

Structural assistance grant - If you are uninsured or unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for a one-off payment to contribute towards repairs to your home to make it secure and safe. Up to $10,995 for single adults and up to $14,685 for couples or families https://bit.ly/2UKPyx2

Essential services safety and reconnection grant - if you are uninsured, or are unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for a grant to help reconnect essential services that were damaged by a disaster. Up to $200 towards a safety inspection for each essential service (electricity, gas, water and sewerage or septic system). Up to $4,200 towards repair work to enable essential services to be reconnected (for example, electrical wiring) https://bit.ly/2WQCfgn

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) Category B disaster assistance for small businesses impacted by flooding. Disaster assistance loans of up to $250,000, and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 https://bit.ly/2UL8L1F

For information and support phone the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Emergency Housing Assistance

If you have had to leave your home as a result of the severe weather event in Townsville, the Queensland Government can help!

If your house has been damaged and you cannot live in it, you can request emergency housing assistance through the Department of Housing and Public Works using this online form. You do not have to be a social housing tenant to access this service:

https://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/ehar

How can I help?

Your first step should be to check in with your neighbours and try to assist them where you can.

If you have already checked in with your neighbours and still wish to help with the disaster recovery, there are several organisations you may contact to offer further assistance.

Donations

Where can I donate items?

Council is working with GIVIT to assist with donations. You can view a list of the items required on their website http://givit.org.au/

Volunteering

I’d like to volunteer, how can I help?

Residents wanting to volunteer are being urged to join #TeamTownsville and do #WhateverItTakes:

Help a friend, family member or neighbour that needs assistance.
Make contact with an existing charity, community group or sporting group to offer assistance.
If you or your company employees want to be part of a coordinated clean-up or if you would like to support by volunteering other skills, register with Volunteering QLD www.emergencyvolunteering.com.au

Wellbeing Factsheets

Infrastructure

Our crews are busily repairing our road networks, sewers and water pipes, you can assist us maintaining our city by downloading one of the apps below or completing our online Report a Problem Form.

Council Mobile Apps

iCouncil for iPhone and iPad

Snap Send Solve for Android

iCouncil lets you interact with your Council any time, easily. Install the app and you’ll be able to quickly report problems to your Council such as dumped rubbish, potholes, graffiti and damaged infrastructure.

Interact with council and be able to report your problems utilising your android phone.
Report items such as graffiti, potholes, damaged playground equipment and much more.

These apps allow the use of image upload and geocodes to be sent.

Free Flood Affected Domestic Waste Extended

Fees are being waived for flood-affected waste until 3 March.

Residents can dispose of their flood-affected waste at any Council waste transfer site or the temporary transfer site at Lou Litster Park.

Bulk Waste Collection

Council’s Waste Facilities are open free of charge for residential self-hauled waste until Sunday 3 March.

Check the zone maps to see the progress of the flood waste collection - Collection Zones - Progress Map (PDF).

This map shows the original collection zones outlined in orange, the completed lots in yellow and the areas to still be completed in green.

Residents in other suburbs can dispose of flood waste items for free at waste facilities at Stuart, Hervey Range, Toomulla, Bluewater and Magnetic Island during normal operating hours.

Residents will be able to dump flood affected waste for free until 3 March 2019.

Council has also organised a temporary location for residents to drop off flood debris. This can be found at:

Corner of Boundary and Brodie Street at the rear of Office Works.

A separate regular annual hard waste collection will take place later in the year. Residents will be notified in advance.

North QLD Flood Register

The North QLD Flood Register will allow affected home owners to search for licensed contractors who are available to help with repairs, to make homes safe, secure and habitable.

Licensed contractors, you can add your details to the register by visiting https://qbcc.build/2WRCWX5

If you are a licensed electrician you can also register with Master Electricians Australia to provide electrical service support in Townsville.

Please visit www.qbcc.qld.gov.au for more information

Council Venues & Beaches Temporarily Closed

These venues include:

Riverway Arts Centre
Civic Theatre (TicketShop Open)
Railway Estate Community Centre
Oonoonba Community Centre
Riverside Gardens Community Centre
Lake Paluma Campground
Most parks are open, however specific elements within the parks may be closed (e.g. playground or picnic table that is damaged)

In addition, Beaches closed include:

The Strand (Tobruk pool end)
Pallarenda
Dog Beach, Benwell Road, South Townsville

For more information, please contact Council on 13 48 10.

Infrastructure Factsheets

Economic

A natural disaster can affect your business in many ways. This section will focus on providing avenues and support for the affected businesses of Townsville.

Small Business Recovery Centre

Small Business Recovery Centre is now open as a one-stop shop to help small businesses get back up and running. Drop in or make an appointment to access advice from local, state and federal agencies.

Support includes:

one-on-one mentoring with small business recovery experts
access to government and community representatives
advice on insurance, workplace health and safety, HR, retail leases, taxation and BAS
small business workshops
workspace to conduct your business
access to communication tools to encourage the community to shop local.

Small Business Recovery Centre
143 Walker Street, Townsville
9am – 5pm daily, including weekends.

0459 873 781
business.qld.gov.au/recovery

Small Business Recovery Centre Factsheet (PDF)

Business Assistance

The Queensland Government has various tools and resources available to businesses affected by natural disasters.

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) Category B disaster assistance for small businesses impacted by flooding. Disaster assistance loans of up to $250,000, and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000
Business QLD - Rebuilding your business
QLD Treasury - Tax obligations
Business QLD - Go Local, Grow Local

Small Business and Non-Profit Grants

Applications for Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants up to a maximum of $25,000 are available to assist small businesses and non-profits to assist with clean-up and reinstatement costs.

For more information or to apply go to qrida.qld.gov.au or by calling 1800 623 946.

Primary Producer Grants

Applications for Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants up to a maximum of $75,000 are available to assist eligible primary producers to assist with clean-up and reinstatement costs.

For more information or to apply go to qrida.qld.gov.au or by calling 1800 623 946.

Natural Disaster Business Survey

The Queensland Government is connecting with business owners impacted by the recent North Queensland monsoon event disaster to identify what is needed most to help during this challenging time.

The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training is collecting data about your business following the monsoon event. This data will help us understand the impact on affected businesses and what assistance is required.

Any information you provide is confidential.

https://analytics-au.clickdimensions.com/cn/ainos/nqmonsoon2019

QBCC Licenced Contractors Register

The North QLD Flood Register will allow affected home owners to search for licensed contractors who are available to help with repairs, to make homes safe, secure and habitable.

Licensed contractors, you can add your details to the register by visiting https://qbcc.build/2WRCWX5

If you are a licensed electrician you can also register with Master Electricians Australia to provide electrical service support in Townsville.

Please visit www.qbcc.qld.gov.au for more information

Economic Factsheets

Environment

After a flood disaster environmental recovery includes the restoration and regeneration of biodiversity (species and plants) and ecosystems, natural resources and environmental infrastructure. It also includes the management of environmental health, waste, contamination and pollution, and hazardous materials.

Mould

How to keep your family safe from mould:

Dampness and Mould - Use fans with windows open OR aircon on dry mode with windows closed.
Flood affected items - Throw out items that have been damp for more than two days.
Cleaning and sanitising - Household cleaners or white vinegar for cleaning.
Protective clothing - Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.
People with asthma or allergies - Should not be involved in the clean up.
Repair leaks - repair any roofing or plumbing as soon as possible.

Mould: mostly just a nuisance (PDF)

Natroshield Organic Sanitiser is being made available free of charge to Townsville residents to assist in the fight against mould and prevent spread of disease.

Natroshield Organic Sanitiser factsheet (PDF)

Natural Environment Recovery

After flood events it is normal to find fish trapped in pools of receding floodwater. If you see fish trapped in pools and struggling please notify Council to determine relocating the fish.

If you come across sick or dead birds or dead fish please notify Council by calling 13 48 10.

Due to the influx of flood water, debris and nutrients into our lakes and waterways there is potential of algal blooms and possible fish kills as the weather heats up. Council is continuing with its regular water quality testing program to monitor and respond to the situation.

National Parks Access and Closures

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is pleased to re-open some parks and forests, as our focus shifts to assessment and recovery.

Find out the park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions at parks.des.qld.gov.au/park-alerts/

Severe Weather: Parks & Forest updates (PDF)

Odour Suppressant

Townsville City Council crews will be using an environmentally friendly spray to reduce smells from waterways, stormwater drains and silted streets.

Areas in Idalia, Rosslea and Annandale will be prioritised. Council crews will continue to assess flood-affected areas and will move the spray truck to other areas as required.

The spray is environmentally friendly and uses beneficial microbes to suppress odour, improve water quality and reduce the risk of algal blooms.

The microbes work by accelerating natural processes to break down pollutants into harmless natural compounds and reduce odour.

CrocWatch

If you see a crocodile, report it to CrocWatch on 1300 130 372 as soon as possible.

Townsville's Ross River has a healthy population of freshwater crocodiles. Some of them are now finding themselves high and dry after the flooding over the last few days. Freshwater crocodiles are timid animals that avoid humans if possible, and won't attack people unless they feel threatened.

Crocodiles dislike floods as much as we do – just like us they seek shelter during the event and return to quieter places once the flooding is over. If a croc has swum over a barrier in the flood it could become stuck as the waters recede, so keep an eye out for crocodiles in unexpected places such as roadside drains. If you see a crocodile, report it to CrocWatch on 1300 130 372 as soon as possible.