Flooding around Depot Hill in Rockhampton where flood levels are meant to peak on late Friday or early Saturday. Picture: Tim Marsden Source: The Courier-Mail
THE repair bill from this week's Queensland flood emergency was last night estimated to have topped that left by the 2010-11 disaster.
Premier Campbell Newman said early estimates yesterday put the damage across Queensland at more than $2.4 billion - and rising.
The damage bill from the floods two years ago was $2.38 billion, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
Mr Newman told The Courier-Mail that with the state now facing its second multibillion-dollar repair bill to public infrastructure alone in as many years, it was time to take on the bolder challenge of ensuring as many towns and communities as possible were "flood and disaster-proofed".
"We can't accept that our communities can be flooded every couple of years," Mr Newman said. "We can't accept that's how life has to be lived."
Mr Newman said his priority was first helping those affected by this week's floods many of whom have been unable to take out flood insurance due to there being too great a risk.
But he said the Government's focus must quickly shift to a permanent fix.
SURVEYING DAMAGE: Premier Campbell Newman, Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey and Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow at Rockhampton. Pic: Tim Marsden
He said successive governments over the past 20 years had failed to put measures in place to protect communities from these sorts of natural disasters.
"It will be massive and costly," Mr Newman said.
"But it's an election year, and we're going to have to get the Federal Government and the Opposition and local governments to be part of this debate. Insurance companies can make a contribution as well."
Mr Newman said he would also seek public input about "what they want and what they can deliver".
Some of the measures in mind, include levees, flood mitigation dams and even the relocation of parts of communities. Mr Newman said the Commonwealth's National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements did not properly provide for his ambitious plan.
"Is the Federal Government happy to keep writing cheques to repair the same roads time and time again?
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has toured flood ravaged communities in Queensland's Wide Bay region.
"How many times do they want to write a cheque for the same section of washed away Bruce Highway?" the Premier asked.
"Surely there is a business case to provide flood immunity."
Mr Newman said he would not be opposed to the Federal Government imposing another flood levy on taxpayers to help pay for the recovery - as long as his government got its share. But Prime Minister Julia Gillard would not be drawn on the idea of a levy.
Insurers yesterday had received about 25,800 claims for this week's floods, with estimated insured losses of about $290 million, the Insurance Council said.
A boat lodged into trees and fence on Hinkler Ave. Pic Mark Calleja
Nine News shows the damages of the Bundaberg floods up close, as army personnel come to help the clean up effort.
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