Councils battered by Tropical Cyclone Debbie will band together to speed up the recovery process, LGAQ president Mark Jamieson has said.
Hitting the Whitsunday coast on Tuesday, 37 Local Disaster Management Groups were activated by the event, with their disaster management plans put into action.
LGAQ president Mark Jamieson said councils in the north would help each other with machinery, personnel and expertise, along with State Government resources.
“As we understand the issues and conditions assistance will be provided, definitely councils near and far will be offering assistance,” Cr Jamieson said.
Disaster assistance for eight local governments was announced by the State Government through the joint-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
Counter-disaster operations assistance will be made available to the eight local government areas of Burdekin, Charters Towers, Isaac, Hinchinbrook, Mackay, Palm Island, Townsville and Whitsunday.
Both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten visited Bowen on Thursday, with Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox saying he appreciated the visit.
“There's no politics in this, you're just helping us out and we appreciate what you're doing for us,” he said.
The ex-Tropical Cyclone's effects continue to be felt in South-East Queensland and northern New South Wales as the low-pressure system moved south and out to sea.
All schools in the south-east were closed on Thursday and Friday as torrential rain and strong winds battered the region, with flash flooding across the region.
Thousands of residents in Logan, Beenleigh, Beaudesert and northern Gold Coast have been asked to evacuate following torrential downpours inundating rivers.
The Bureau of Meteorology has also predicted the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton will break its banks by Friday next week, with Rockhampton's Local Disaster Management Group activated for the first time since Cyclone Marcia.
More information:
BOM Queensland warnings summary: http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/
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For information on disaster assistance go to:
Australian Government's Disaster Assist www.disasterassist.gov.au
Queensland Government's Disaster management www.disaster.qld.gov.au