Queensland Reconstruction Authority to set up dedicated office in North Queensland to support communities devastated by Tropical Cyclone Yasi
Febryary 7, 2011
The Queensland Reconstruction Authority will set up a dedicated office in North Queensland to support communities devastated by Tropical Cyclone Yasi. Cabinet made the decision as it met at Airlie Beach.
“Recovering from a cyclone is different to recovering from a flood,” Premier Anna Bligh says.
“The recovery from Yasi in the North is best run from the north.
“We need the support of a dedicated North Queensland office and someone on the ground who knows the region.”
Chief Superintendent Mike Keating will be seconded from the police service to head the dedicated office.
His experience includes more than 20 years in North Queensland working in communities such as Cairns, Innisfail, Cardwell, Tully and Townsville.
His honours include the Queensland Police Service Medal with 30 Year Clasp and the National Medal.
Keating will be the director of cyclone recovery reporting to the CEO of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Graeme Newton.
Major General Mick Slater will chair the authority, which will be established under special legislation to be introduced when Parliament resumes on February 15.
The Premier says the authority, tasked with rebuilding and reconnecting the more than 60 communities affected by the floods, will now include North Queensland in its mammoth reconstruction task.
“Tropical Cyclone Yasi is the most devastating cyclone in our State’s history wiping out hundreds of homes,” she says.
“While we are slowly getting back on our feet in southern and central Queensland, we now need to renew our recovery efforts in the devastated north.”
The Premier says virtually no part of the State had been left untouched by the destructive weather in the past month.
“The task to rebuild our devastated State will be colossal.
“The Authority will work specifically with local governments and communities in the North to ensure we can get the recovery and rebuilding process under way as quickly as possible,” she says.