Queensland Flood Updates

Zambia

Are you sat typing in your armbands...?

Mahatma coat

Nah we're fine, my Pallet and tarp flood barrier is startin to look like a bit of overkill, but it was lappin a few inches from it last night, I took some photos today on me mates iPhone, so whenever he emails them to me I'll show you it at half tide

gonedrinking

are they going to sink that ferry thats broken a line?

Mahatma coat

OHHHHHH F'uckin YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

Just caught the news, I've been concentratin the efforts on Brisbane for the last two weeks, and now THE FVCKIN FARM HAS BEEN DECLARED A DISASTER AREA, fVckin Clarence River and its Tributarys that flow from Tenterfield:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

woolymammoth

Mahatma coat wrote: »

OHHHHHH F'uckin YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

Just caught the news, I've been concentratin the efforts on Brisbane for the last two weeks, and now THE FVCKIN FARM HAS BEEN DECLARED A DISASTER AREA, fVckin Clarence River and its Tributarys that flow from Tenterfield:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

i don't get it!

Mahatma coat

My spuds will get IT tho:(

Ozeire

Scary to see what they say might happen in Brisbane


Model shows Brisbane in possible 'extreme' flood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQEUg7M6tz0

And some of the stories on News.com.au are heartbreaking

All i know is when I move to Melbourne soon i'll be join the local rescue group there .

Jumpy

Mahatma coat wrote: »

OHHHHHH F'uckin YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

Just caught the news, I've been concentratin the efforts on Brisbane for the last two weeks, and now THE FVCKIN FARM HAS BEEN DECLARED A DISASTER AREA, fVckin Clarence River and its Tributarys that flow from Tenterfield:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

My cousin lost his crop as well. 6 years of nothing because of drought. Massive crop this year, wiped out by a flood. I would say he is raging. This was in western NSW as well believe it or not.

TABgirl

The news is getting better by the hour. It’s a BLUE SKY NEWS DAY!!

BRUCE HIGHWAY at ROCKHAMPTON OPEN BY SATURDAY?

Flood waters are receding! The Fitzroy River at Rockhampton is predicted to fall to 8.5 m by this weekend. 8.5 metres is the magical number that should see the Bruce Highway open!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t tell you how brilliant this news is!!! See Bureau or Met report for Fitzroy River http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20765.html
Rockhampton local Newspaper reports Bruce Highway could be open as early as Saturday Woo Hoo!

The road closures at Gympie, Coffs Harbour and Ballina will all be OPEN by then as well.

So let’s add a little bit of a safety margin and say that by Monday 17th of January all major road closures will be OPEN.

More details on our Blog

Ozeire

The Aftermath of flooding in Brisbane yesterday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e-kgxnNudY

Hope the worst is over for them

The Sweeper

Fingers crossed that the waters are now receding and the levels in the Wivenhoe reservoir drop. Would be more worried that we'll have a rerun of this in a few weeks if we have more bad weather. Catchments are saturated.

We're on - believe it or not - grassfire warnings here in Vic for the coming weeks, because the grass has taken off with all this rain, and it'll only take a week of hot, dry weather to leave it open to grassfire. They can't keep up with cutting it at the rate its growing.

Hopefully QLD will get a breather where they can clean up, batton down and watch out the rest of the season with one cautious eye on the clouds.

Zambia

Sweeper where abouts are you in Vic are you in the fire zone[Not suburban Melbourne]?

The Sweeper

Yep. The major Kilmore East/Murrindindi fire of black saturday started less than 5km east of my house.

Mahatma coat

Just out of Curiosity, Do Kilmore East & Murrindindi mean the same thing in their native language?

'Big Forest over there'

Faust1

This may be slightly unethical but there are going be thousands of (re)construction jobs available in Brisbane, when the flood water recedes. This is good news (no disrespect meant to the people of Queensland) for many skilled Irish workers forced to emigrate at the moment.

SIX PACK

It really is a disaster zone off all porportions I found this piece on the Guardian, Its like something out of a movie :eek:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/13/flooded-brisbane-war-zone-queensland

goat2

Ozeire wrote: »

The Aftermath of flooding in Brisbane yesterday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e-kgxnNudY

Hope the worst is over for them

what is the weather forecast for the next week for that part of the world, it is frightning for the people having to put up with this,

Ozeire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ2uVbhJiBM

Just makes you stop and think.

Ozeire

Faust1 wrote: »

This may be slightly unethical but there are going be thousands of (re)construction jobs available in Brisbane, when the flood water recedes. This is good news (no disrespect meant to the people of Queensland) for many skilled Irish workers forced to emigrate at the moment.

Never a good thing to profit from the suffering of others . The last thing that should be thought is how this will benefit others .

If things were right in the world all those peoples houses should be reconstructed free taking from the taxes of people as in truth that what i would like my taxes to go to . To know that if ever i happen on hard times i'll be ok.

But that's ideal world and we don't like n that sort of world do we.

Zambia

If the news is to be believed the reaction of the residents of Queensland is great to see.

Armys of volunteers lining up to clear the homes of others.

Jumpy

The Life in Australia book sums it up (which I assume you all read before you signed your values statement)

Australia has a strong tradition of ‘mateship’, where people provide help to others voluntarily, especially
those in difficulty. A mate is often a friend but can also be a spouse, partner, brother, sister, daughter or son.
A mate can also be a total stranger. There is also a strong tradition of community service
and volunteering.

Mahatma coat

For me this is the Quintesential image of a Flood in QLD


Every flood situation You will see at least on photo of a few Mates in a Tinnie with a Kelpie just doin the Rounds, rescuin anyone who needs rescuin and Generally just being decent blokes ( Also they usually have an Esky full of XXXX:D)

Jumpy

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Just out of Curiosity, Do Kilmore East & Murrindindi mean the same thing in their native language?

'Big Forest over there'

It means Living in the Mountains.

Kilmore is not an aboriginal name :P

Mahatma coat

Kilmore feckin well is an abboriginal name, just used by the Aboriginal natives of a different Island:p


Just started Raining again here Heavy

mandrake04

Faust1 wrote: »

This may be slightly unethical but there are going be thousands of (re)construction jobs available in Brisbane, when the flood water recedes. This is good news (no disrespect meant to the people of Queensland) for many skilled Irish workers forced to emigrate at the moment.

slightly unethical yes......... unless they are prepared to come and work for nothing.

There are a lot of business went under (excuse the pun) in QLD floods and some wont be able to start up immediately so there will be plenty of locals needing that reconstruction work and they should have first dibbs on it. One of my Irish mates living in Brisbane has been driving an excavator for 3 days solid for nothing, plus his missus has invited a few old timers to stay with them for a few weeks and has been making sandwiches for volunteers and washing clothes out of their own pocket.

Any way they say its going to take 2 years to rebuild, by the time skilled people stick in a visa application and the visa is actually granted the place will be straight again.

Although might be a valid idea for the Aus government to quickly invite some jobless skilled young people from Ireland on some sort of volunteer visa to work for 2 years rebuilding the place for Bed, board & some beer tokens (no money) with the understanding to going permanent free of charge when the jobs done.

Father Damo

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Gettin Mental here again today, I'd say We've had about 3 Inches today, seriously, if anyone notices a Set of 17 inch Mercedes Alloys floating down stream they're mine

tho if this rain keeps up there might just be an S-class floating after them.

There was a piece on the news last night showing people at a Brissy mosque donating, some of em were black....must be shocking for you given your other piece in AH

Never a good thing to profit from the suffering of others . The last thing that should be thought is how this will benefit others

Eh, yeah. **** that- Queensland farmers make god knows how much profit in unpaid or underpaid exploitative labour from Irish people thick enough/ too nervous to attempt the legal way to a 2nd year visa. Obviously there are alot of great great people up there but I met enough money hungry rednecks up there in my time as well. I personally hope the fcuks I had to deal with are bankrupt (from my impressions they would be too tight to buy any type of insurance- happy funkin days).

Mahatma coat

Black White Yellow Or Green it dosent Matter Y'r either a Queenslander or yer a Cnut.
m makin the Effort to be Aussie'and fair play to em so are they

Mahatma coat

as for you're rant about Farmers, thats for a different thread

Zambia

Father Damo wrote: »

Eh, yeah. **** that- Queensland farmers make god knows how much profit in unpaid or underpaid exploitative labour from Irish people thick enough/ too nervous to attempt the legal way to a 2nd year visa.
Obviously there are alot of great great people up there but I met enough money hungry rednecks up there in my time as well. I personally hope the fcuks I had to deal with are bankrupt (from my impressions they would be too tight to buy any type of insurance- happy funkin days).

There is nothing against charter in this rant, your entitled to your opinion Damo. On a personnal note it turns my stomach you would make such a sweeping statement.

You know where the airport is.

Zambia

Father Damo wrote: »

There was a piece on the news last night showing people at a Brissy mosque donating, some of em were black....must be shocking for you given your other piece in AH

MOD AH stays in AH

Thanks lads

ballooba

Ozeire wrote: »

Never a good thing to profit from the suffering of others . The last thing that should be thought is how this will benefit others .

Everybody has to eat and there is insurance money that has to be spent. I think there will be plenty of re-construction work going on in Brisbane for the foreseeable future.

Ozeire wrote: »

If things were right in the world all those peoples houses should be reconstructed free taking from the taxes of people as in truth that what i would like my taxes to go to . To know that if ever i happen on hard times i'll be ok.

There's a difficulty with blanket application of that policy and it has to do with something called moral hazard. Many of these homes should not have been built where they were and the result is that they have been destroyed. I empathise and sympathise with those people but rebuilding them free of charge only to be destroyed again in the next flood is madness. Maybe they should be funded to relocate with a compulsary purchase (or resumption as it's known here).

The Sweeper

Ozeire wrote: »

If things were right in the world all those peoples houses should be reconstructed free taking from the taxes of people as in truth that what i would like my taxes to go to . To know that if ever i happen on hard times i'll be ok.

Eh, no thanks??

I live in a fire area. I pay extra on my house insurance for fire protection. My insurance policy is $750 a year. My home insurance will go up again next year as a natural result of the insurance payouts for the Queensland - and Victoria, now - floods. Why then, precisely, should it be the status quo that I see my tax dollars go towards rebuilding houses for people who have:

a) built on a flood plane knowingly
b) taken an insurance policy out with an insurer who doesn't cover floods - especially when Suncorp DO cover floods
c) or taken out no insurance policy at all?

This was a major issue after the Victorian fires - some people didn't have home insurance at all. There was a brief suggestion that the government should pay to rebuild the houses for those with no insurance and those with insurance could fund themselves, but seriously, how is that fair and equitable for all involved?

You'll find the government puts a huge amount of money into this anyway to fix it, but on the face of it I don't pay my taxes so that someone else doesn't have to pay home insurance, and I don't think that's an appropriate message for the people.

It's also not the Australian way - Australia is all about a fair go, and on that basis I'd rather see the insurers - who'll be penalising us all anyway - pay out on policies that have been taken out and ignore their no-flood-cover clauses. This is a country where you get what you work for, and people team together to help each other, it's not a country where there's a message that you can live in a danger zone and someone else will pick up the pieces for you.

Zambia

The Sweeper wrote: »

Eh, no thanks??

I live in a fire area.

I have to agree with if sweeper I pay insurance why should my taxes pay for someone elses re-build. Its not feasible.

Besides what do you re-build like for like or dump a portable on their block ...?

In the next few months anyone living around sweeper should double check their insurance. I have a bad feeling about this summer.

Father Damo

Zambia wrote: »

There is nothing against charter in this rant, your entitled to your opinion Damo. On a personnal note it turns my stomach you would make such a sweeping statement.

You know where the airport is.

A sweeping statement is acknowledging that most Queenslanders are good people in my post? I guess it is in a way. A sweeping statement would be to say all Queenslanders are money hungry slavedrivers, which I never actually said, but you seem to have accused me of having done so. If you dispute that Queensland is a hive of dodgy and exploitative rural work conditions Id love to hear your basis for it. Otherwise shove your completely baseless accusations of sweeping generalisations up your arse, as I never made one in my post.

FF mother-effing sake. Really. What age are you? My main point was that it was laughable to bring up the ethical conflicts of chasing construction work in a state which profits off a large amnunt of unpaid or badly paid farm labour on a daily basis.

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Black White Yellow Or Green it dosent Matter Y'r either a Queenslander or yer a Cnut.

m makin the Effort to be Aussie'and fair play to em so are they

Jesus H Christ. Judging by some of your previous posts- ah the blacks, a grand bunch of lads, as long as they are funding the clean up....just dont let them talk to you as you hate them regardless. Embarrasing even by the high bar of Australian racism standards. 600 people have died in Brazillian flooding this week....mostly darkies probably. Nevermind.

Zambia

Father Damo wrote: »

Obviously there are alot of great great people up there but I met enough money hungry rednecks up there in my time as well.

You said there was a lot of great people , not most are good people.

Damo at a time when Queensland has suffered greatly you decide to stick your oar with this gem.

Father Damo wrote: »

I personally hope the fcuks I had to deal with are bankrupt (from my impressions they would be too tight to buy any type of insurance- happy funkin days).

You may indeed be right about them but this is not the time. Thats what turns my stomach.

Father Damo

Zambia wrote: »

You may indeed be right about them but this is not the time. Thats what turns my stomach.

You think its bad form to hope some of the semi literate hicks who have shafted god knows how many Irishmen with tacit governmental support (or at least inaction) have had some of their precious sources of money taken away from them?

Bollocks, Im afraid. Rather than backpedalling how about an ackonwledgement that your accusation of me labelling all Queenslanders as a load of greedy rednecks was complete sh1te?

Zambia

Father Damo wrote: »

You think its bad form to hope some of the semi literate hicks who have shafted god knows how many Irishmen with tacit governmental support (or at least inaction) have had some of their precious sources of money taken away from them?

Yes its bad form.

Father Damo wrote: »

Bollocks, Im afraid. Rather than backpedalling how about an ackonwledgement that your accusation of me labelling all Queenslanders as a load of greedy rednecks was complete sh1te?

I never said you labelled all of them, I said you labeled enough of them and now is not the time to do so.

mandrake04

Father Damo wrote: »

Eh, yeah. **** that- Queensland farmers make god knows how much profit in unpaid or underpaid exploitative labour from Irish people thick enough/ too nervous to attempt the legal way to a 2nd year visa.

but I thought doing the exploitative labour was the legal way ...unless....


Damo/Shane are you claiming that Irish people who did the specified work to get the 2nd WHV only actually did the work because they are too thick/scared to try and lodge a bodgy application.

Sure I seem to remember you mentioned you were on a 2nd WHV yourself, are you saying you were thick/scared to do the work or did you lodge a bodgy one?

ballooba

You don't have to do the farm work. You could just go home or elsewhere. Aussies in Ireland don't get a second year's WHV. Exploitative my hole.

Jumpy

Also they only work you as hard as their other employees.
Ireland has obviously made you soft Damo. Australia is a hard land.
Secondly, that IS the legal way. Not doing the work is the ILLEGAL way.

goat2

since it is gone from front news headlines here in ireland, how are ye all down under, and how is the clean up going, is the weather favourable

The Sweeper

QLD is a big clean up job now. Victoria is flooding at the moment - Horsham and Echuca under threat.

Jumpy

Yeah but its Melbourne.

Its their fault Canberra exists.

ballooba

Uni seems to be located in one of the four buildings that's still closed in Brisbane CBD, ditto for girlfriend's work. I haven't been into the CBD since last tuesday.

Father Damo

mandrake04 wrote: »

Damo/Shane are you claiming that Irish people who did the specified work to get the 2nd WHV only actually did the work because they are too thick/scared to try and lodge a bodgy application.

Thick was an overstatement on my part, sorry.
Scared, without a doubt. Apart from quirky Germans and such why the hell else would anyone go to the arsehole of nowhere with the well known risks involved? The main reason the clause exists is because Aussies dont want to do the work- even when I was up there there were dole queue local lads who were only on the farm fcuking around because Centrelink threatened to cut them off if they didnt at least give the impression of working.

Sure I seem to remember you mentioned you were on a 2nd WHV yourself, are you saying you were thick/scared to do the work or did you lodge a bodgy one?

I worked sites up the country after getting royally shafted by hostels promising work to bleed rent out of you and farmers who overcrowded their pay- per- bucket work to the extent that nobody on the farm could earn a wage worth chasing up . The main reason I did the work was because unlike everyone else whos visa comes in in 48 hours odd, my first year visa took a good week or two to come in, so I got a bit paranoid I had been red flagged for some reason and it might hapopen with the second. Im owed a whopping 16 odd dollars from my 2 farm work days that I never bothered chasing. But thats neither here nor there in this thread. But certainly if I didnt score labouring of course I would have lied.

Yes its bad form

Ok. To put it in perspective, you are saying it is wrong to wish personal misfortune on individuals who underpaid me, some might say stole my time, for about 12 hours of working in a field in the sun? If someone burgled your house and 3 weeks later you see them hobbling down the road because someone gave them a hiding, you would feel bad for them? It is bad for the mostly good people there, but Ive had 3 employers from Qld who were so tight they would kill their own granny for a dollar, and I feel no compassion for these three. Sorry but given the attitudes commonly displayed here to people seeking whatever means necessary to escape the nightmare, words fail me.

Final point on this- the original issue was whether there was anything morally wrong with chasing work in a developed country where most of the damage is lilely covered by insurance anyway. No, there isnt IMO. Its not exactly like going to Haiti and stealing reconstruction jobs there and extorting the repair money from uninsured locals. But we can agree to disagree and leave her at that.

Zambia

Father Damo wrote: »

Im owed a whopping 16 odd dollars from my 2 farm work days that I never bothered chasing.

I'm happy to leave it there as well.

I do hope however you eventually found a decent employer for your regional 88 days.

Mahatma coat

Absolutley Fuppin Pishin down again here, thunder and lightnng and We've been promised a Fuppin Hailstorm, So I'm off to the bottlo tro stock up then I'm shovin the BMW in the Shed for the night

Claasman

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Absolutley Fuppin Pishin down again here, thunder and lightnng and We've been promised a Fuppin Hailstorm, So I'm off to the bottlo tro stock up then I'm shovin the BMW in the Shed for the night

have a xxxx bitter for me! Was thinking about trying to source a few bottles here(nz).

Jumpy

Claasman wrote: »

have a xxxx bitter for me! Was thinking about trying to source a few bottles here(nz).

What? Why?

No aussies actually drink the stuff.

Its Tooheys or VB all the way.

Vorsprung

Jumpy wrote: »

What? Why?

No aussies actually drink the stuff.

Its Tooheys or VB all the way.

Loads of Aussies drink XXXX!!