This update comes from YMCA Australia Chief Executive Peter Burns.
Horsham Aquatic Centre (YMCA Victoria)
Having endured a one in 200 year flood event, the centre closed earlier this week. This morning (Wednesday) I spoke with Michael who was driving into the car park – accessible by four-wheel-drive only. Having spent the past couple of days helping others to clean up and waiting for the water to subside, staff at Horsham have now commenced cleanup. As Michael says, ‘the primary objective is to get rid of the smell!’ (Floodwaters smell quite different to our usually crystal clear pool water)
Michael informs me that everyone is in good spirits, greatly appreciative of all the good wishes and offers of help from around the State. Car loads of YMCA volunteers have offered themselves, but have had to be politely refused for the moment.
Maryborough Sports and Fitness Centre (YMCA Victoria)
The centre operated as a refuge for evacuees over the weekend. Staff are now working to return the centre to normal operations. The outdoor pools in Maryborough, Talbot and Dunolly were closed during the flooding, but are now back to normal operations.
Horsham Caravan Park (Ballarat YMCA)
The Horsham Caravan Park (which Ballarat manages) was evacuated in advance of inundation. The Caravan Park is right on the bank of the Wimmera River close to the centre of town.
Greater Murray Y
Greater Murray Y was hit significantly by the Campaspe River floods at both the Rochester Outdoor Pool and the Back 9 Golf Course (which runs parallel to the Campaspe River). The Back 9 was unrecognisable with only a small amount of grass on the 2nd green visible. A massive clean-up job has commenced. It’s amazing to think they sunk 3 bores 18 months ago as they were unable to pump any water out of the Campaspe River. Unfortunately one staff member’s home was inundated with water in Rochester but thankfully no lives have been lost.
In Brisbane
Whilst the flooding disaster has been devastating, there has been a huge community volunteer (clean-up) and fundraising response - estimated at over 50,000 people. The community response is overwhelming and in some cases the help provided has been so great that people are being turned away. Friends, family and neighbors were out helping from Thursday onwards, and Council-organised volunteer work teams were in action over the weekend.
The long-term issues will be more critical. The emotional impact for many will only be realised in the next week or two, and then the loss of lives, property and most likely, jobs and businesses will be fully felt.
The length of time required for homes and businesses to get back to normal working conditions is unknown. Many of the inundated houses will need full replacement of all plasterboard, services, appliances, furniture and floor coverings. It is expected that this could take several months for many of the houses to be habitable. Many houses will need to be fully rebuilt. The need for short to medium term housing (up to 3-4 months) is then seen as a critical component of need, and we have been communicating with the Department of Communities in relation to possible future requirements.
Some of the main priority tasks right now are:
- Assistance to YMCA staff and families that have been directly affected
- Repairs and clean-up at centres (Camp and Perry Park) that have been damaged
- Identification of gaps in service and recovery relief
- Gathering information on the long-term needs of more devastated communities in the Lockyer Valley
Everyone at YMCA Auckland extends our thoughts to our friends and family in Australia who are struggling in the aftermath of the flooding.