DECISION NO. CABINET MINUTE

BRISBANE, 7 1 .3119//7

Natural Disaste r Relief Drought and SUBJECT:---~·~·c~y~c~r~o~n~e~c~h~a~r~1~1--e~·~·.-----~---~------

------(Submission No. 4'/'4/..5 ) do ~oples Received at /tJ. ~S~ Copies Made CIRCULATION DETAILS

GOVERNOR Decision Fi le 1 21 MR. AHERN 2 22 ~ fl ·/r/qa ' I ~ ~ opy 3 - 23 _,l-u-1 ~::; MR. GUNN ss1on ~tt _

4 -MR~ GlB8S 24 ~ 1· fJ'°'mrl!:"r- - , '! ~- MR. GLASSON ·~-=-· 5 25 cp ( 'ZJ (_ .... .,,..__,· u .~ MR. AUSTIN ~~- 6 26 ·/~~ / L"- ll .1n~· ll !:<&1 _.. --~ ~ 6 MK. LE~TER 1 7 27 .t_~~ , ------c A. -.;.1.. n J. · · ·~. 8 28 4{e;~-f ~ MR. HARPER ~ 9 29 k~ 1 MR. MUNTZ 10 30

1 1 MR. MCKECHNI E 31

12 MR. KATTER 32 MR. NEAL 13 33 MR. CLAUSON 14 34 d/r~ ~ ~ ~ -? ,r

16 MR. RANDELL 36

17 MR. COOPER 37 MR. HARVEY 18 3 8 MJ<. Ll'I ·1LEi'K• lJUD 19 39 .. - . - .. 10,...;;3\..C L 1" J. .J..'t.! 20 4 0 '• . Copy Noo 2 Q

C 0 N F I D E N T I A L

C A B I N E T r·i I N U T E

Brisbane, 7th Harch, 1988

Decisior. No. 53715

Submission No. 48465 TITLE: Natural Disaster Relief - Drought and "Cyclone Charlie"

CABINET decided:-

T~at every step be taken towards having the Commonwealth Governma nt agree to maximum disaster assistance being made available to drought stricken and flood affected primary producers in Queenslanc; and that details set out in the Submission be noted for consideration in that regard.

CIRCULATION: Department of Primary Industries and copy to riinister . Premier's Department and copy to Premier and Treasure r. Treasury Department and copy to Minister. Industry Development Corporation. Department of r1ain Roads and copy to r1inister. Department of Transport and copy to Minister. De partment o f Railways . Department of Local Governme nt and copy to Minister o All other Ministe rs for perusal and return.

r_7~1 Ce rtifie d Troe Copy /;: 8li· Ii u/Ji.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION " C" - CONFIDENTIAL Submission No ...... Copy No .

FOR CABINET

NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF

DROUGHT AND " CYCLONE CHARLIE"

On Saturday 5th March , 1988 I carried out an inspection of drought stricken areas along the Dawson River and of flooded areas along the lower section of the Mackenzie River and along the , Connors River and Funnel Creek .

At "Kaiuroo" I met and held discussions with some sixteen local residents , mainly land holders or share farmers and made a close detailed inspection of flood damage in the area extending to the junction of the Isaac River with the Mackenzie . To the north I had discussion with Mr. Alan Shannon, "Cardowan" and made inspections in the area of the Connors River and Funnel Creek .

The scene resulting from very heavy rainfall at the head waters of the Isaac River was simply one of hundreds of thousands of hectares of water below which were , in the main , developed brigalow lands . The height and intensity of flooding surpassed previous records resulting in extensive damage to fencing , irrigation equipment and cultivated lands .

Whilst the Governments must not lose sight of the fact that catastrophic drought conditions persist in many areas of the State, particularly in the Dawson and Burnett water sheds, the natural disaster which has resulted from cyclonic rains in ' must be recognised as such .

Insofar as the area which I inspected is concerned immediate assistance is required to enable fencing to be repaired and replaced , cattle to be fed where necessary until the benefits of the rains are available and irrigation equipment to be repaired .

It was suggested by local residents that some form of reimbursement for stock and crop losses should be considered by the Government; and assistanc e made available for the purchase of seed and replanting of flooded country .

In particular I invite attention to the potential spread of parthen i um weed wh i ch will be brought about by this flood i ng . I believe cons i deration should b e g iven to a g ain making a che mic a l a vailable to landhold e rs who a r e r e quire d to control the spread of that weed . Undoubtedly these floods will r e sult i n it spreading downwa rds through th e Connors , Ma c kenzie , Dawson a nd Fi t z roy r i ve r s yst ems . . 2 .

Insofar as the area which I have referred is concerned I recommend that the Cabinet Budget Committee give consideration to having financial assistance made available through the joint Commonwealth/State Disaster Assistance Scheme by providing low interest loans in the amount of $20,000, upon application, to each of the approximately eighty to one hundred landholders affected to assist in the immediate restoration of fencing and other affected structures and equipment ; and that additional financial assistance be made available to those who are able to demonstrate a need , as a result of the flooding, for restoration of structures and equipment including buildings, machinery and irrigation equipment.

I understand that other Ministers may also report on damage resulting from Cyclone Charlie .

Although further information will become available as officers are able to resume movement and make contact in flood or rain affected areas I detail a short summary from reports presently available:

Townsville District

Fence and levee bank damage on some properties.

Ayr District

Avocados and lychee crops were lost on trees and some trees were blown over. Twenty growers are involved with 30 ha avocados and 30 ha lychees.

Capsicum and eggplant plantings were destroyed and will have to be replanted. Fifty hectares are affected.

Rice paddy banks are washed out on some properties.

Sugar cane: There is· an area to the east of a line drawn roughly from Kalamia Mill to Rita Island where the damage is very severe, i.e. many fields appear to have suffered almost 100% top breakage. It is estimated that total crop loss over the whole area probably ranges in the region of 100,000- 150,000 tonnes. There was structural damage to farm sheds in the same area. Discussions indicate that probably 80 farmers in this area have whole farms or some blocks which have suffered fairly severe top breakage in their cane.

The effect on c.c.s. will be unknown for some time. If c.c.s. were to be down one unit compared with last yea r (say from nearly 15.0 units to 14.0 units), then the overall monetary loss would be in the order of 15 million dollars, without taking into account repairs to farm buildings and the like.

On a total district basis, it is expec t e d that extra growth promoted in areas where water penetration has been poor and/or wat e r supply has been limited, will offset the above . 3 .

loss, and a total crop of about the forecast 1988 crop of 4,000,000 tonnes will probably be achieved.

Bowen District

No significant damage .

Proserpine District

Sugar cane:

Proserpine Mill Area: The area received heavy rain totalling 500 mm . This caused some flooding but has caused little damage to the sugar cane crop .

Damage form wind has also been minor. Approximately 3-5% of advanced crops have lodges but there has been very little stalk breakage.

The flooding is the first for several years and will ease the critical shortage of underground water. The area is now assured of a good crop for 1988.

Mackay District

Roads are closed and meatworks have closed due to shortage of cattle . Very few crops were planted but some planted crops would be damaged . Irrigation equipment has been lost from 10 to 12 properties.

Sugar cane:

North Eton Mill Area: All creeks have flooded. There is very little cane damage; less than 40 ha. Ninety per cent of the crop is still erect. The rain was only beneficial.

Plewstowe Mill Area: All creeks have flooded. There is very little cane damage. Seventy-five per cent of the crop is still erect . The rairi was only beneficial.

Racecourse Mill Area: Negligible cane damage. Creek flooding and remaining surface water has had little effect . Ninety-five per cent of the crop is still erect.

Cattle Creek Mill Area: No affect on cane . Ninety-five per cent remains erect .

Farleigh Mill Area: No affect on cane.

Plane Creek Mill Area: Wind attributable to the cyclone was never more than a threat. Recorded rainfall in Plane Creek area was 800-1,500 mm for the seven days beginning 9.00 a .m. Thursday 25th last. Highest intensity reported was 750 mm in 12 hours at Carmila . There was cane loss up to 1,500 tonnes north of Carmila plus 5,000-10,000 tonnes Carmila and Flaggy Rock. The area is currently inaccessible so estimates are not confirmed . There is potential for severe erosion in certain parts of the area from Ilbilbie to Flaggy Rock. . 4 .

Broadsound Shire

There is major flooding in the Connors River and Funnel Creek and other streams which has destroyed fencing and taken cattle downstream.

Recommendation

It is recommended that every step be taken towards having the Commonwealth Government agree to maximum disaster assistance being made available to drought stricken and flood affected primary producers in Queensland; and that details set out in this submission be noted for consideration in that regard.

N.J. HARPER MINISTER FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

Brisbane 7th March, 1988 ESTIMATED LIST MADE BY MR. ALLAN SHANNON AS A RESULT OF CYCLONE "CHARLIE" IN THE NEBO AND DUARINGA AREAS OF THE CONNORS , ISAAC AND MACKENZIE RIVER SYSTEMS

76 properties appear to have been affected with damage categorised as follows : -

Fencing

1 ,559 km capable of restoration and 1 ,746 km requiring replacement $1,900,000

Stockyards $28,500

Equipment including tractors, ploughs and irrigation equipment $859,800

Structural including dwellings $191,000

Earthworks excluding dams but including pondage banks and levee banks $490,500

Dams . 13 dams at an estimated $20,000 per dam for restoration $260,000

Property roads at an estimated $1,000 per property $62,000

Crops and Pasture . Approx. 62,000 acres $1,725,000 Loss is a conservative $28 per acre

Erosion $320,000

TOT AL $5,836,800