Power back on, school repairs fast-tracked after storms

Power has finally been fully restored after several weeks but the race is still on to repair schools damaged by wild weather that lashed Queensland.

Some people have had no electricity since Christmas, with more than 130,000 residents in the dark at one stage following devastating storms in the southeast.

But work on restoring the network supply was finally completed by Sunday night as planned.

Ergon electrician Justin Pitts fixes a broken power line in Cairns
Up to 130,000 households were without power during the height of storms in sourheast Queensland.

More than 1000 energy crews worked 80,000 hours to replace 120km of powerline and 150 power poles.

"I know it has been very stressful for those communities that were still waiting until yesterday (for power)," state minister Di Farmer said.

"I know people have been working around the clock so a big thank you to those people - that will make a monumental difference to those communities to just have power."

Energy crews in the southeast were helped by more than 50 Australian Defence Force personnel to complete the massive task after disaster struck two weeks ago.

"Unfortunately, some homes are too badly damaged to be reconnected, others are getting electrical repairs done or waiting for our teams to confirm that they’re safe to reconnect," an Energy Queensland statement said.

"But the electricity network is back up and running and every home or business impacted by the devastating storms and flooding now has access to power."

The Gold Coast endured a tornado on Christmas Day while Logan and Scenic Rim regions were hit hard by storms and flash flooding.

It followed record flooding in the state's far north caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the economic impact of natural disasters is significant.

A major recovery effort that may take years to complete is under way after the back-to-back natural disasters in which seven people died in storm-related incidents.

Now power is restored, repairing state schools will be fast tracked before students officially return in two weeks.

About 130 schools across Queensland were damaged including 95 in the far north.

Ms Farmer said the goal was to have all of them ready for the school year's January 22 return.

"There's one that we're racing against the clock in far north Queensland and hoping it will be okay at this stage," she said, declining to name the school.

"We think it will be but every single school will be functional."

The Queensland repair bill stands at $2 billion but the estimate is set to rise as the full extent of the damage is assessed.

"The full costs and consequences of this...will become clearer in the coming months," Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers told reporters in Brisbane on Monday.

There was more rain in the southeast on Monday but no repeat of recent wild weather.

But the Bureau of Meteorology warned severe thunderstorms were possible for the state's southwest and far north later on Monday.

The risk of severe storms on Tuesday is set to push toward the east coast covering areas including the Gold Coast, bringing rainfall with large hail and damaging winds possible.

The Gold Coast has only just begun its clean-up with 700 streets across 20 suburbs to be cleared, removing an estimated 750,000 truckloads of debris.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store