Mobile outreach squads have been sent to the islands to help people get assistance. Yesterday hundreds heard through the grapevine that help was arriving and besieged the teams.
Their first priority was food but the teams came only with forms to fillout.
Island organisations are asking why the disaster recovery plans promised over two years ago following the floods did not seem to be in place.
This is the official press release:
Mobile Outreach Teams from the Queensland Government Department of Communities will be operating again today on Macleay and Russell Islands. There will also... be representatives at the centres from Lifeline, Red Cross and Redland City Council.
Russell Island
Time: 10am-6pm
Location: Bay Islands Community Centre, 55 Jackson Road.
Macleay Island
Time: 10am- 5.30pm
Location: Macleay Island Community Centre, Cnr Southsea Terrace & High Central Road.
All Redland residents experiencing hardship can contact the Department of Communities on 1800 173 349 or visit the Queensland Government website. http://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/financial-assistance/
Please note assistance is provided under an application and assessment basis only managed by the Queensland Government
One wonders at the priorities and morality of some of the people. All day while the supposed handouts were on, there were at least half a dozen cars outside the Macleay Community hall – many of them fairly new and expensive.
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of a $200 generator we suffered just a little inconvenience and no spoiled food. Yet people who apparently can afford $40,000 or so for a car, need a government handout.
I suppose we should blame the government for the storms?