By JOLENE OGLE
THE three tiers of government have united to protect Noosa from flooding, following the announcement of flood mitigation measures for Cooroy, Pomona and the Daintree Estate, Tewantin.
Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Wide Bay MP Warren Truss, Noosa MP Glen Elmes and Noosa mayor Noel Playford were on hand to announce the joint funding initiative, in what they describe as “a strong display of the three tiers of government working together to protect local communities”.
Of the planned works, each level of government will contribute around $500,000 to flood-proof Pomona, which will include works to increase the capacity of drainage channels and to divert floodwaters to a nearby creek.
Flood mitigation works are also planned for Cooroy, but the full details are yet to be released.
Over $1.2 million will be contributed to flood mitigation works in Tewantin’s Daintree Estate, where more than 40 homes were flooded in the 2012 deluge, which the council called an “extreme event”.
The funds will be used to improve drainage channels, build a bund, extra culverts and downstream drainage, as well as re-profiling of road reserve areas.
Mr Playford said certain areas of Noosa National Park would need to be revoked for the work to be carried out, but he said the council would likely plant more trees to replace the trees lost.
Daintree Estate residents cheered as the announcement was made at estate on Friday, with many recounting waist-high floodwaters and more than four months spent away from home while repairs were carried out.
One resident said the devastation of losing everything in the flood still plagues many who live in the estate, with substantial rain now causing fear and anxiety among the residents.
Friday’s announcement has given Daintree Estate residents peace of mind, with many lining up to hug or shake hands with the government representatives.
Cr Playford said Cr Tony Wellington was the driving force behind the planned works and deserved the credit.
“If it hadn’t been for (Cr Wellington) and (Cr Wellington’s) absolute dedication to getting all this fixed for both the Pomona people and the people of Daintree, I can guarantee you, we wouldn’t be here today,” he said.
Cr Wellington was humble is the face of such praise, saying he was “only doing his job”.
“I do appreciate that people who have experienced a disaster are forever nervous about having to experience a similar event. That’s absolutely natural,” he said.
“If the council can help in some way to alleviate those fears, then we’ve done a good service.”
