REDLAND residents have demonstrated an incredible spirit of resilience and unity, with local businesses and emergency services working together to restore cyclone hit communities.
North Stradbroke Island, the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Coochiemudlo Island were the first to bear the brunt of the cyclone.
More than 40 volunteers, including business owners and local tradespeople, banded together with heavy machinery to clear fallen trees and debris from over 160 roads on Russell Island.
The recovery efforts, organised by Dan Golin, President of the Southern Moreton Bay Island Chamber of Commerce, involved four excavators, two backhoes, two skid steers, and a crane.
For 10 hours each day, the crew of tradespeople, arborists, electrical linesmen, and machinery operators worked tirelessly to restore access to every street on the island.
Cr Shane Rendalls thanked all volunteers for their efforts.
“The crew included all trades, arborists, electrical linesmen, builders and machinery operators who donated their time, their machinery, and paid the many dollars for fuel,” he said.
“Our community’s strength comes from working together – emergency services, local residents, and everyone stepping up to look out for each other, which makes us who we are.”
Crews from Redland City Council and other frontline agencies continue to work around the clock to help the city’s island communities recover from the impact of the cyclone.
Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Chair Jos Mitchell visited the Bay Islands last week, where she met with residents and crews from Energex, SES and other response groups, and dropped in on local businesses.
Several boats were damaged across the bay, including one that sunk after striking the Macleay Island ferry jetty.
“Many of the residents and business owners I spoke with on the islands were in good spirits, but we know there is still a way to go in this recovery process,” the Mayor said.
“There are still trees and other debris to be cleared from roadways and verges, restoring damaged infrastructure, and, ultimately, helping all our residents get back to a semblance of normality.
“It takes an army to get a community back on its feet after a severe weather event of this scale and that is exactly what we have had right across the city.
“One of the challenges of responding to a disaster event in Redland City is the distance between the islands and mainland, but all frontline workers have done a wonderful job providing support in all of these communities.”
Federal Member for Oodgeroo Amanda Stoker said preparation made a big difference in the recovery effort.
“Great teamwork between the levels of government helped get people back to normal faster,” she said.
