Rockhampton facing major damage bill - Sky News Australia

The damage bill in Rockhampton from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald is likely to exceed the cost of the 2011 floods, the Queensland city's deputy mayor says.

The Fitzroy River is expected to peak at 8.5 metres shortly after 3am (AEST) on Saturday and stay at that level for up to 36 hours.

Rockhampton deputy mayor Tony Williams says if the river goes that high, there will be water in 1000 backyards.

Some 580 blocks are already flooded.

The expected flood peak is below the 9.2 metres recorded in 2011, when more than 200 homes and businesses were inundated.

But Mr Williams said the ferocity of the latest storm would push a damage bill higher than it was two years ago.

'Indications are that it's going to be much higher than what we had in the 2011 event,' Mr Williams told reporters on Friday.

'The flood was not the issue with a lot of the damage - it was the weather event we experienced prior to the flood.'

Mr Williams said residents in low-lying locations such as Stanwell had experienced a rush of water that rivalled the force of floodwaters in Queensland's Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba in 2011.

'The ferocity of some of that water going through there, they were saying it was like Grantham without the bodies,' he said.

Ergon Energy spokesman Bob Pleash told reporters 15 properties in low-lying areas such as Depot Hill and Berserker would be disconnected by Friday afternoon.

Police Superintendent Ron van Saane said the Yeppen Crossing on the Bruce Highway, south of Rockhampton, would remain open despite being under 10 centimetres of water.

'It's one lane in and one lane out and it's being managed by traffic controllers,' he told reporters.

The Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Gracemere was closed on Friday.

Standing On Top Of The World - Toowoomba Chronicle

• SoPrecious


• 1st Feb 2013 3:20 PM

My favourite mountain in Wales

I am lying here listening to Delta sing the song, listening to her tell me that she is "Standing On Top Of the World". I get a lot of my inspiration from listening to music, listening to the lyrics. Music is 'Philosophy for the common man'. I am not sure if I have heard that before or if it is original. I will have to Google it later. I do know that at certain times in my life I have listened to songs that tell me certain messages. I listen to them over and over again until I have had enough of that message and want to hear or learn a new one.

Years later if a certain song comes on the radio I am instantly transported back to that period of time, the period of time when I listened to that particular song. It may have been when I lost someone special or important in my life or when I had a certain success. My daughter will often tell me if she hears music from the time when her Father and I separated that it makes her sad, it brings back memories of that time she would rather forget.

Recently I wrote a piece called " Songs of My Life" in which I listed the names of songs for each year of my life . The list was a bit patchy in my childhood but I could remember a song that was relevant from most of the years of my life when I thought about it. It was a fun exercise and brought back many memories, some sad but mostly good. Some of the songs are a bit embarrassing to hear now, particularly when I listened to them on U Tube recently. Some of the film clips are even more embarrassing. We live in a world of where perfection and " beauty " are held in high esteem. The old film clips show the artists looking very ordinary, acting sometimes awkwardly and wearing some very dated "naff" looking costumes. An age of innocence so to speak. Not particularly inspiring.

Songs are often used for inspiration to motivate sportsmen and women to fight harder, go further and run faster. The Rocky theme " Eye of the Tiger" being one that comes to memory as a rugby league motivator in its time. Maybe it explains why so many joggers and walkers listen to music while they do their thing. I get that. I do it too, when I don't have company on a walk. It sets a rhythm, it makes the time go faster and the exercise more bearable if you lack motivation.

But back to Delta. She has had some ups and downs in her young life. Suffered from a debilitating disease and come out on top. She has had some romances that have had her in the news......she seems to choose the bad boys........ She is unbelievably talented and gorgeous to look at so why shouldn't she be " Standing on Top Of the World". Recently I wrote a story and used a quote by Delta with the headline photo. It said " People who are truly on a path, who want to be great, don't look sideways, They are comfortable in their own lane way". I certainly experience that physically and metaphorically each morning when I swim my laps.

Some swimmers plough down the pool and don't stop for anyone, look out if you get in their way, Heaven help you! Not exactly what Delta means I am sure. There are others who will veer around you when you cross paths so they don't have to have an uncomfortable 'touching' experience. There are those who will apologise if they do happen to randomly touch you as they pass or run into you from behind. It's like life, we all have our own way of dealing with people.

Time to get moving and get motivated and get to the pool and swim my laps. I, like Delta, am ' Standing on Top of The World' in my world right now. It is a damn good feeling and one I want to continue. I know life has its ups and downs, I have certainly experienced them both in all their excruciating glory. I also know that after the rain comes the sun, after the heartache comes the joy and after the darkness always, always comes the light. So as the sun comes up in my world today and I continue to swim in my own lane way I will look at the plain from the top of my mountain and be joyful and happy about my life and where my path is leading.

---

---

Rockhampton facing major damage bill - The Australian

THE damage bill in Rockhampton from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald is likely to exceed the cost of the 2011 floods, the Queensland city's deputy mayor says.

The Fitzroy River is expected to peak at 8.5 metres shortly after 3am (AEST) on Saturday and stay at that level for up to 36 hours.

Rockhampton deputy mayor Tony Williams says if the river goes that high, there will be water in 1000 backyards.

Some 580 blocks are already flooded.

The expected flood peak is below the 9.2 metres recorded in 2011, when more than 200 homes and businesses were inundated.

But Mr Williams said the ferocity of the latest storm would push a damage bill higher than it was two years ago.

"Indications are that it's going to be much higher than what we had in the 2011 event," Mr Williams told reporters on Friday.

"The flood was not the issue with a lot of the damage - it was the weather event we experienced prior to the flood."

Mr Williams said residents in low-lying locations such as Stanwell had experienced a rush of water that rivalled the force of floodwaters in Queensland's Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba in 2011.

"The ferocity of some of that water going through there, they were saying it was like Grantham without the bodies," he said.

Ergon Energy spokesman Bob Pleash told reporters 15 properties in low-lying areas such as Depot Hill and Berserker would be disconnected by Friday afternoon.

Police Superintendent Ron van Saane said the Yeppen Crossing on the Bruce Highway, south of Rockhampton, would remain open despite being under 10 centimetres of water.

"It's one lane in and one lane out and it's being managed by traffic controllers," he told reporters.

The Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Gracemere was closed on Friday.

Telstra service disruptions continue in Queensland - Computerworld Australia

Telstra customers are continuing to experience service disruptions in Queensland due to power outages.

Telstra customers are experiencing service problems in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Gladstone, Kingaroy, Rockhampton, Dalby Springbrook, Oxenford, Beaudesert, Sunshine, Nambour, Toowoomba, Biloela, Goondiwindi, Cunningham, Cleveland, Goondiwindi, Cunningham, Cleveland, Ayr, Ingham, Townsville and Weipa due to power outages.

Residents in Queensland have been battling service disruptions all week on their mobiles, fixed broadband and landlines due to flooding in the region.

[ Receive up-to-the-minute news on telcos in Computerworld's Telecoms newsletter ]

"With repairs made to cable damage caused earlier in the week as a result of the severe weather and flooding, technicians are now contending with access issues and power outages in many locations, which continue to impact services," Telstra said in a statement.

"As power is restored in these areas, we expect to see progressive restoration of services."

Telstra is also battling to restore services in northern New South Wales following power outages in the region after it was lashed with severe weather and flooding.

Around 2000 landlines and 1500 ADSL services have been affected in Tweed Heads, Batemans Bay, Byron Bay and Bilambil Heights.

Mobile services were not affected.

This morning the company tweeted that it was unable to confirm when all services would be restored in NSW.

Telstra has flown in additional staff to help with restoring services in Queensland in areas impacted by the floods, including flying technicians to Colosseum to repair a cable that was damaged by flooding in the area.

The telco recently completed repairs to a damaged redundant fibre cable near Harlin in Kingaroy, restoring emergency triple zero services in the region.

The cable near Harlin was swept away in a landslide during the flooding in Queensland, with Telstra technicians accessing the area via four-wheel-drive with police assistance.

Telstra services were initially down across much of Central and Northern Queensland due to the severe weather from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.

Follow Stephanie McDonald on Twitter: @stephmcdonald0

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU

Rockhampton facing major damage bill - Ninemsn

The damage bill in Rockhampton from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald is likely to exceed the cost of the 2011 floods, the Queensland city's deputy mayor says.

The Fitzroy River is expected to peak at 8.5 metres shortly after 3am (AEST) on Saturday and stay at that level for up to 36 hours.

Rockhampton deputy mayor Tony Williams says if the river goes that high, there will be water in 1000 backyards.

Some 580 blocks are already flooded.

The expected flood peak is below the 9.2 metres recorded in 2011, when more than 200 homes and businesses were inundated.

But Mr Williams said the ferocity of the latest storm would push a damage bill higher than it was two years ago.

"Indications are that it's going to be much higher than what we had in the 2011 event," Mr Williams told reporters on Friday.

"The flood was not the issue with a lot of the damage - it was the weather event we experienced prior to the flood."

Mr Williams said residents in low-lying locations such as Stanwell had experienced a rush of water that rivalled the force of floodwaters in Queensland's Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba in 2011.

"The ferocity of some of that water going through there, they were saying it was like Grantham without the bodies," he said.

Ergon Energy spokesman Bob Pleash told reporters 15 properties in low-lying areas such as Depot Hill and Berserker would be disconnected by Friday afternoon.

Police Superintendent Ron van Saane said the Yeppen Crossing on the Bruce Highway, south of Rockhampton, would remain open despite being under 10 centimetres of water.

"It's one lane in and one lane out and it's being managed by traffic controllers," he told reporters.

The Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Gracemere was closed on Friday.

Do you have any story leads, photos or videos?

The NBN in review: December and January: Playing the numbers game - ABC Technology and Games

Emboldened by his performance in the ABC Lateline debate with Turnbull - after which Turnbull was rushing to revisit the issues he felt weren't addressed properly - communications minister Stephen Conroy floated a raft of NBN-related statistics that he said confirmed the project has been a success, with local takeup over 25% after 12 months. By comparison, US carrier Verizon took three years to reach 24.4% takeup. Some were sceptical of the figures, while others were criticising the project's speed tiering and encouraging the company to remove its speed limits altogether. NBN Co defended its model, arguing that it was intended to drive takeup of the network.

Some commentators, however, took the figures as a sign things weren't going so well for NBN Co. And the network had its detractors, though, such as the 65-year-old Brunswick, Victoria resident who decided the network hasn't been worth the trouble to switch over to. Others were getting stuck into the company for its lack of transparency, a recurring theme of late as Optus wrote to the ACCC for access to NBN Co financials to ensure the company isn't overcharging its wholesale customers, but was knocked back.

Questions over access to NBN Co information were a recurring theme, with many observers looking for more detail after the company loudly-proclaimed success in announcing that the total number of premises in areas where construction had commenced or completed was 784,592 by the end of 2012 - exceeding its estimates of 758,000. Turnbull was unconvinced and accused NBN Co of fudging its numbers to make them higher than they really were, even as NBN Co pushed into Blacktown, Western Sydney and announced at January's end that it had reached 10,000 active fibre connections, 34,500 premises activated and 339,700 lots passed by the end of 2012.

Whether or not its figures were fudged, critics were up in arms after it was revealed the government is paying a $108 bounty to ISPs for every customer they connect to the NBN. Conroy was noncommittal when asked whether this would see lower prices for consumers. NBN Co also copped flak over figures suggesting it's outspending other government departments - and even Telstra - on staff training.

For its part, NBN Co kept on with business, making new board appointments, making head of construction Dan Flemming redundant after just 18 months in the job, and trialling its highly sought-after multicast technology in a 50-dwelling test in Rhodes, in western Sydney. It announced one of its ten satellite ground stations would be based in remote Moonyoonooka, WA , and was being cited as a driver for a telemedicine trial in rural north-west NSW.

The company began constructing the NBN in 10 new locations, saw ISP Annitel connect its first NBN customer in rural Armidale and, in the wake of the Consumer Entertainment Show (CES) during January, found a new killer app as pundits talked up its potential to carry Ultra HD 4K television signals.

NBN made some progress on the siting of towers for its fixed wireless component, talking with VHA about facilities-sharing agreements and scoring a planning victory for a wireless tower in the Huon Valley. NBN Co announced ten South Australian locations where it will pursue development applications for new towers, but was petitioned to move a proposed tower in rural Victoria's Hindmarsh Shire Council and suffered a surprising attack from a Victorian woman who claims the towers are life-threatening and has been fighting to stop the installation of a fixed wireless tower in her town so she won't have to wear protective headgear.

National newspaper The Australian stirred controversy when it ran a front-page story proclaiming that China would in the next three years build a fibre NBN to reach a billion people, in 150 million households, at a third of the cost of the network being built by Australia's Labor government. The report engendered backlash from numerous commentators who argued it was outdated and inaccurate, while Malcolm Turnbull's own arguments for an FttN NBN were also attacked by some. Later news found China mandating the installation of fibre connections to new homes from April 1.

The ACCC published a discussion paper about the potential use of a 'pull through' technique for getting NBN fibre through existing lead-ins to homes; such a change would force Telstra to revisit its notifications to ISPs. Also in the field, Telstra was dealing with asbestos contamination issues during NBN pit preparation, also announcing a $420m subcontracting deal with Service Stream to remediate the company's pit and pipe infrastructure. And NBN Co was accused by fibre provider OptiComm of trespass after NBN Co contractors allegedly trespassed on underground fibre ducts in NSW's Oran Park Town housing estate.

Speaking of trespass, Telstra asked NBN Co to revisit intellectual-property rules related to the process of vetting and assimilating suggestions from ISPs. Interestingly, Telstra also admitted the impending NBN has created a "burning platform" pushing it to accelerate transformational change. Ditto NBN retail service providers and other interested parties, who have been moving to adjust to the new NBN world. iPrimus, for one, connected its first fixed-wireless NBN customer and released pricing for fixed-wireless service plans ranging from 40GB to 1TB of data. Local authorities are getting on board, with two WA cities winning over $500,000 in funding to encourage NBN takeup amongst local SMBs. Other SMBs are already realising the benefits while others are wondering how the NBN can be leveraged to make Tasmania a more desirable place to live and do business.

Businesses in that state aren't yet ready to capitalise on the NBN's opportunities, former premier David Bartlett has argued, but others believe it will be a lightning rod for investment in data-centre facilities and, in areas such as Toowoomba, will be a game changer for businesses. Along similar lines, the government tipped $420,000 to Tamworth Regional Council to support the development of an NBN training hub - similar to the one that was launched in Adelaide in mid-January.

Yet despite its progress, iiNet executive Greg Bader claims the NBN is still 12 months away from its 'tipping point', which if he is correct will fall months after the September 14 election called by Julia Gillard. Indeed, that surprise announcement only added fuel to the fire as the year kicked in and politicians began setting the election-year political agenda around the project. Whether or not the NBN was drawn up as a "media stunt" as some suggest, independent MP Rob Oakeshott was pressing the Coalition to bring its NBN policy closer to that of the existing government and claiming the party's NBN policy could ultimately swing his vote.

Extra reading

FTTH v FTTN: US market watchers disagree (iTWire)

NBN Co under the Coalition (Technology Spectator)

On location: Rolling out the NBN (iTnews)

Ready for a NBN emergency? (Technology Spectator)

What's great about the NBN (ZDNet)

Australian rugby crying out for a Super year - Back Page Lead

After last year's turbulent, somewhat dissatisfying season, battered Australian rugby supporters needed a good lie down and bit of a nap over the summer break.

Fortunately back-to-back tennis tournaments hogged the television screen so insomnia wasn't a problem.

When recently stirred awake by baseline grunting -- I think that's what it was -- the disappointments of last season including Quade Cooper's implosion, the uneven Super rugby comp, a pedestrian Rugby Championship and the Wallabies' maddening inability to score tries, should have been mere memories but, no, there was a terrible hangover.

Scotch will do that to you - yet more troubling was the lingering impact of rugby's wrongs in 2012. Only a stellar 2013 can wipe the slate clean and fortunately, a brand new day and potentially brilliant year is upon us.

Gazing north this weekend to some of the great European capitals, fans will get a good look at many of the meaty fellas who will play a part in the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia later this year as the famous Six Nations tournament opens up.

The impressive English side takes on battling Scotland in London, Wales and Ireland promise to have Millennium Stadium in Cardiff rocking and in continental action Italy will attempt to fend off heavily favoured France in Rome.

Far less meaningful, but nevertheless enticing for those hoping to glimpse the potential of the Australian game this season are the first preseason hit-outs for Oz Super rugby sides.

In the Paris of the far, far south, Hobart, Melbourne's Rebels will get the ball rolling against the perennially underachieving Waratahs while in Darwin – there is simply no Euro equivalent – the Western Force and Brumbies will mix it up on Friday night.

The Reds' quest to retain their deserved mantle as Australia's leading province will get underway in Toowoomba on Saturday with a run around against the rebuilding Blues of Auckland.

Even though it's the silly season, there will be a few clues gleaned from the trials about what's ahead this year, but before evaluating the upcoming matches, let's quickly consider what might constitute a positive 12 months for the wonderful game in Australia – now under the administration of a new look governing body and chief executive -- allowing us to be cleansed of a woebegone 2012.

• Super Rugby

- At least three of Australia's five sides must remain playoff contenders until the end of the regular season and the others will have to show fight and enterprise to reward their fans.

- The depth of talent at every province must improve. Some fringe players and newcomers must step up to enhance the squads' competitiveness over what will be a long season.

- The Waratahs, regardless of whether you hate the infuriating mongrels, need to fulfill their potential. There are many parallels between the recent (disappointing) performances of the New South Wales side and the national squad. And the Tut-Tahs play their rugby in arguably one of the most competitive and unforgiving sporting cities on the globe which happens to be the biggest metropolis in the country, the key to commercial success.

• The Wallabies

- They must remain competitive, as they have despite a terrible run of injuries, but break the shackles of conservatism and service the great Australian tradition of having a crack rather than scratching around, playing with the goal of not being beaten.

- Against the Lions: Win or lose, Australia needs to play positive rugby. There will not be a weakness in this touring party which will also, for a change, be out to play a running, 15-man game. This will give the Wallabies a chance. The series should be – must be a cracker.

- The Rugby Championship. Bloody All Blacks. Enough already. Argentina's inclusion was a bright point last season, but the New Zealanders' dominance made the tournament predictable and dreary. A full strength Australian side can match the Kiwis and the Aussies need at least one victory in their first two games against the ABs to ensure they disturb the word champions' sense of superiority.

So is this an achievable wish list?

Well Scoop, sort of.

At a national level much will depend on the game plan coach Robbie Deans decides to focus on while the provincial picture won't become clear until many of the Wallabies turn out for their squads in a few weeks, although there is evidence that the player pool will run far deeper this year.

Certainly with scores of injured players returning to the fold and several promising newcomers appearing, there is much to be excited about, initially at least. In the Hobart game, James O'Connor and Cooper Vuna will put injury wrecked seasons behind them to fire the Rebels against a Waratahs squad without its countless national squad members. The Rebels are already talking a good game: they have some exciting runners but let's hope they've learned to tackle since last season.

It will be intriguing to see O'Connor march the Rebels around as their No. 10. He's got the game to be the pivot, although at the national level, his quick feet might be more useful in the centres if Deans (fingers crossed) drops his preference for a crash ball dummy to play inside centre.

Hopefully they'll remember to hide the Aussie Rules sticks at North Hobart Oval as it's going to be confusing enough for rugby union newcomer Israel Folau debuting at fullback for the Waratahs (then again, he never got close enough to the posts in an AFL game to know what they look like).

Despite his conspicuous failure as an AFL pro, Folau is a fine catch. He may be scarred from not being able to tackle properly for a couple of years, but he was a lovely style of rugby league player and he won't have lost that ability in open play. As in the AFL, correctly positioning himself and reading the play will be challenges though I hope the experiment to try him at 15 works – he's potentially devastating.

In Toowoomba, Reds boss Ewen McKenzie will start the process of sorting through an abundance of riches to establish who belongs in his backline. The Queenslanders have six national team-quality wingers to pick from and a mob of Wallabies in the midfield.

The biggest challenge for McKenzie will be developing cohesion between his tight forwards who may struggle to hold their own against the powerful South Africans and New Zealanders. Hopefully, the soon-to-return James Horwill will stay injury free for more than 30 minutes this season. The big second rower is desperately needed by both the Reds and the Wallabies, especially with Nathan Sharpe retiring from national duty.

The trials will also provide an indication as to how much the Reds will miss powerful flanker Scott Higgenbotham, now with the Rebels. I suspect his shoes will be hard to fill as he has been the most impactful running forward in Queensland for years.

David Pocock's departure to the Brumbies from the Force is the worse loss for a team this year.

For the Force, it will be interesting to watch how the often-injured, though vastly talented Hugh McMeniman goes on his return to Australia after chasing the Yen during what should have been his peak playing years, but sans Pocock and any easily identifiable match winners, the West Australians really have the potential to stink up the joint if they lose a couple of their 1st XV early in the season.

The Force's Darwin opponents, the Brumbies, probably over achieved last season under the fine leadership of captain Ben Mowen and coach Jake White. This year they return with Pocock in the pack and Christian Lealiifano adding spark to the inside backs, meaning they will be a genuine threat to other teams from the outset.

It's way too early to speculate about how Wallaby coach Deans will approach the challenge of the Lions, but with more players to pick from this year, you've got to hope he plans to be more expansive.

Regardless, the weakness in the Australian game will likely remain the lack of penetration in attack, especially in tight, and the stability of the scrum. Deans will be scouring the Super sides for fresh talent to make a difference in these areas.

The dearth of quality second rowers and genuine No 8s has been a bugbear for years and Sharpe's retirement makes matters much worse. Sitaleki Timani showed at times last season he could be part of the answer and there are a few quality locks coming through, but the stocks of monster blokes in Australia are thin.

In addition to casting an eye over potential Wallabies this weekend, Deans will be glued to the telly watching the Six Nations. The closest game should be the Wales-Ireland face off. The Welsh have lost seven straight Tests, but they have the capacity to beat anyone, especially at home. Their problem is finding a playmaker: Dan Biggar at 10 doesn't exactly inspire confidence, though he gets the nod this weekend.

He'll have his hands full with Jonathan Sexton who the Irish have finally, mercifully handed the reins to permanently after years of Rohan O'Gara mediocrity. The Irishmen's form has been patchy of late, but they boast arguably the best fullback, centre, No 8 and prop in Europe.

England should ease past Scotland at Twickenham. The Poms upset the All Blacks in their last outing and coach Stuart Lancaster's squad has world beating potential.

For the Calcutta Cup match, the English will be without Manu Tuilagi who will almost certainly play a huge role for the Lions later this year, but they have plenty of firepower all over the park and the capacity to play a breathless style of rugby.

The Scots will live off scraps but it would be great to see Tim Visser, Scotland's Dutch-born winger, get a little ball to push his case for Lions inclusion. There is no more damaging flyer in Europe.

In Rome at the Stadio Olimpico, the French can build on their recent good form, including the dismantling of the Wallabies, by clobbering the Italians.

However, the Azzurri have shown uncommon spirit in recent appearances and under coach Jacques Brunel delighted their growing fan base by actually passing the ball and attempting to play some running rugby between scrums. They still lack overall quality, but with their 70,000 fans howling for French blood, an ambush isn't out of the question.

Readers question the veracity of our federal politicians - Courier Mail

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard during an address to the National Press Club, in Canberra on Tuesday. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: The Courier-Mail

OUR readers discuss the motivations of political leaders, the cost of future-proofing, a chainsaw-wielding Kevin Rudd, election overload and much more.

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On long trail to credibility

WEARING a disguise didn't help: When the red-haired woman in spectacles said she wasn't announcing the longest election campaign in history immediately after announcing the longest campaign in history, I recognised her as the same person who said she wouldn't introduce a carbon tax.

The Prime Minister will need more than visual aids to find her lost credibility.

Peter Raftery

Indooroopilly

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WITH boxing the flavour of the day, maybe we can get Tony Abbott to do a few rounds with Julia Gillard and save ourselves 71/2 months of campaigning.

Or would Tony face up against Kevin Rudd? I'm confused. Maybe they have a rotation policy.

M. Teale

Riverhills

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COULD someone please tell Julia Gillard how to pronounce Australia correctly?

We do not live in Orstralia.

Carmel Seipel

Mt Gravatt

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SO THE Prime Minister calls the election early so that the Opposition has plenty of time to reveal and discuss its fully funded promises.

When has an Opposition revealed its hand well before the election date?

Labor is lost for ideas and wants to see what the Opposition has up its sleeves. Wake up, PM.

Darby Ashton

Kallangur

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AT HER National Press Club address, Julia Gillard avoided setting out a strategy to grow the economy, refused to commit to getting the Budget into surplus, foreshadowed further tax increases on Australian families and retirees, and announced an election date.

We still have a minority, unstable Government that has broken promise after promise. The Labor-Greens alliance has no plan, no hope and little opportunity to offer Australians.

Kerry Latter

Mackay

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TONY Abbott will be a dead-set loser on trust and should stick to what he's so renowned for - smearing and negativity.

Keith Remington

Travancore

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THE Government is being a tad precious, expecting the Opposition to come up with costings this far out from the election on September 14, given it would have no idea what the deficit is going to be, and what action the Government is going to take in the May Budget.

A.J.B. Wylie

Eagleby

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I"THERE will be no carbon tax under my Government"; "The Budget will return to surplus 2012-13"; "I will call on the Governor-General on August 12 to dissolve Parliament" - the reaction to this latest statement should be tempered because an excuse can always be found.

Patrick McNevin

Macgregor

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Mind the Gap in future-proofing

ONCE again the Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap in southeast Queensland has suffered considerable damage during the recent wet weather and high winds.

Perhaps to avoid this problem, the Government should look at European modelling.

Autostrada in similar topographical regions in Italy are built on elevated roads with large concrete pylons with appropriate infrastructure.

Surely modern computer projections showing all relevant aspects could be used to facilitate the construction of a gradient-friendly four-lane highway that would circumvent the problems now being experienced with Cunninghams Gap.

The cost outlay would be considerable, but if the benefits outweigh this in the long term, then I suggest it warrants consideration.

A. Lakin

Roadvale

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ARE we all sick of global-warming-related "natural disasters" yet?

Well, in keeping with the best economic rationalist thinking of the user-pays principle, I strongly suggest that we all vote for the political party that will immediately impose an annually renewable and adjustable trillion-dollar natural disasters compensation levy on the magnates of the coal mining industry.

After all, why should the rest of us - the 99 per cent - continue to pay for the coalmining-derived riches of the 1 per cent?

B. Allen

Warner

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Kev cuts a mean lookalike of hard labour

"CHAINSAW Kev" or "Kevvie the Lumberjack" can't be for real (C-M, Jan 31): What about health and safety regulations? Where was Kevin Rudd's hard hat and steel-capped boots? And the little chainsaw looks best suited to trimming hedges.

Roseanne Schneider

Yeronga

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WHAT a phony, Kevin Rudd, immaculate in his designer clothes, not a hair out of place!

Watch out Julia - an angry man with a chainsaw!

N. Mackintosh

Chapel Hill

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I HAVEN'T seen any other bloke dressed as well as Rudd while working out with a chainsaw.

He needs better protective gear than that!

Anne Lindsay

Stanthorpe

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SEEING Kevin Rudd busy at work with his chainsaw, but lacking a safety jacket, made me want to call Workplace Health and Safety.

It is an election year, and Julia Gillard would not want to have him backed over by a truck.

Milton Battaglini

Carindale

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HOW lovely to see Kevin Rudd out and about for his photo shoot with his toy chainsaw, after all the hard work has been done.

No hard hat, goggles or steelcaps to be seen - not so much as an industrial-strength glove in sight.

I doubt if he would pass muster as a State Emergency Service worker. He doesn't look fit enough.

Dawn Rogers

Hervey Bay

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Election overload is bad news

THE thought of electioneering for the next 71/2 months is almost too much to bear. Radio, TV and newspapers will be keeping us up to date with all the (mainly) false statements by both Labor and LNP, promising a quick fix of all major problems.

Even the evening news will be in election mode. If just one TV station promised to broadcast election material for only a half-hour daily, what a tremendous viewing public they would gain.

Frances Bensted

Rochedale South

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IT'S hard to believe that P. Dyer (C-M, Jan 31) has been watching the Channel 7 news "for years" as the new format will simply be an extension of what Nine and Seven have been offering in their news bulletins for those same years - lots of non-news items that should belong only in a current affairs format. The ABC and SBS offer real news!

Ken Johnston

Rochedale South

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WHILE minding a granddaughter for the past two days because her school was closed due to a power outage, I couldn't help wondering what happened to a blackboard and a simple piece of chalk!

Jean Aldred

The Gap

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ALL those Aussie flag-wavers must be in seventh heaven now that the two major supermarkets have Australian flags in the bargain bins.

J. Fraser

Taigum

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I THOUGHT for a minute Shane Warne was going to say that we should replace Michael Clarke as captain of the Australian cricket team with himself. Nothing would surprise me with Warnie.

J. Mansfield

Redbank

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WHILE watching the latest effort at playing cricket by Shane Warne, I was reminded of the remarks of some fictitious cameraman - "Can't bat, can't bowl, can't field".

Trevor Sheppard

Sandstone Point

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I DON'T normally follow boxing, but was pleased to see Daniel Geale beat Anthony Mundine after the disrespect he showed Geale by blowing bubblegum in his face. As usual, Mundine was ungracious in defeat. There's more to being a sportsman than winning.

C. Barron

Bannockburn

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IT'S a great pity Anthony Mundine isn't more like his father, Tony Mundine.

Tony was a great boxer who was a humble winner and a gracious loser.

He would have to be embarrassed by some of the antics of his son, who in the end may not be remembered as a great boxer, but simply as a mouth who cannot take responsibility for losing.

Des Deighton

Sippy Downs

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Back-up plan could save vital resources

I SPENT last weekend with friends on a rainforest acreage in the Gold Coast hinterland in the rain.

I tried to escape on Monday morning, but was confronted with several large fallen trees blocking the driveway.

They said this had happened many times - they had no chainsaw.

A neighbour came to the rescue and it took three of us several hours to cut a track through the debris.

They had been without power since Sunday afternoon and, because they were on tank water and a septic system, neither was able to service the house.

Their cordless home phone relies on electricity, and by mid-morning Monday, both their mobile phones were flat.

Their barbecue bottle was empty after Sunday dinner and they had no power generator.

Before I left I asked them what their back-up plan was for such a situation. They had none.

I just wonder how many other acreage dwellers ended up in the same predicament?

I think too many people rely on the Government and SES for help, when having a simple plan and equipment could save resources for people who really need it.

Ben Kelly

Ipswich

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I FEEL for everyone in the Brisbane area and on the coast with the floods.

But, while attention is being focused on these areas, there are the forgotten ones out in the country areas.

Places such as Biloela, Moura, Chinchilla, Tara and Dalby are also suffering with a lack of food, stock losses and property damage.

D. Hood

Banora Point

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IPSWICH Mayor Paul Pisasale must join the Premier in accepting that councils are to blame for a great deal of the flood crisis.

Councils have not learnt from past mistakes and continue to allow development of flood-prone land and allow developers to create inappropriate estates.

Of course we will not be able to prevent all flooding, and episodes that devastate entire regions such as Bundaberg, and Toowoomba in 2011, will continue to happen as a result of extreme weather events, but the continual flooding of regions of Gympie and Ipswich, and coastal storm-surge damage must be acted upon, or the loss of life and property will become everyday headlines as sea levels rise and weather extremes become the norm.

Joe Jurisevic

Tewantin

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Responsibility for election comment is taken by Michael Crutcher, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld, 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND. (ACN 009 661 778). A full list of our editors and journalists, with contact details, is available at couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/ourstaff .

Man stabbed to death at Logan - The Daily Telegraph

Police were called to an address on Darren Drive, Slacks Creek, after reports of a stabbing. Picture: Kris Crane Source: The Courier-Mail

A SLACK'S Creek home is now a crime scene following the discovery of a man's body.

Police were called to Darren Dr around 3pm and found the man with multiple stab wounds. He died a short time later at the scene.

A man, believed to live with the deceased, is assisting police with their inquiries.

Neighbour Russell Bennett said he heard yelling shortly before police and ambulance crews arrived at the home.

He said a number of people live in the dwelling, believed to be a halfway house, which is divided into several flats.

"Two young guys, an old lady and a young woman live in the house...I think the older lady called the police," he said.

"They're really nice quiet people. They keep to themselves."

Forensic police remain at the scene.

In Toowoomba. a man has died after being stabbed in the leg at the weekend. The investigation into his death is now being treated as a homicide investigation.

The 32-year-old man is believed to have been stabbed during a fight on Sunday, January 27.

He took himself to Toowoomba Hospital with a serious leg injury about 9pm but was pronounced dead just after noon today.

Anyone who may have information that can assist police with their inquiries is urged to contact Toowoomba Police or Crime Stoppers.

Blues rookies face experienced Reds - Sydney Morning Herald

Luke Braid will skipper the Blues. Photo: Getty Images

Sir John Kirwan has given the Blues' newcomers a prime chance to test themselves against a powerful Queensland outfit in his Super Rugby coaching debut in Saturday night's trial in Toowoomba.

While the rebuilding Auckland-based outfit will take a 27-man squad featuring 18 uncapped players, they'll come up against a Reds side boasting 11 Wallabies from 2012.

Their starting 15 features nine players who have yet to pull on a Blues jersey, including the entire backline.

All Blacks great Kirwan, who has replaced Pat Lam as Blues coach, says it will be a great challenge for his young team and he's looking forward to seeing them express themselves.

"They're all ready to go, they've been training really hard and now it's time to play," he said.

"We've left some of the more experienced guys at home, we know what they can do so it's a chance for the young boys to have a go."

Luke Braid will captain the side in the absence of Ali Williams, who will stay at home alongside fellow All Blacks Piri Weepu and Charlie Faumuina.

Anthony Boric, Rene Ranger, Charles Piutau, Culum Retallick and George Moala have also been rested.

Auckland: Tom McCartney, James Parsons, Angus Ta'avo, Liaki Moli, Ronald Raaymakers, Kane Barrett, Luke Braid (captain), Peter Saili, Bryn Hall, Baden Kerr, Frank Halai, Jackson Willison, Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo, Marty McKenzie. Reserves: Albert Nikoro, Lolagi Visinia, Pita Ahki, Francis Saili, Jamison Gibson-Park, Joe Edwards, Sean Polwart, Brendon O'Connor, Steven Luatua, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tim Perry, Quentin MacDonald.

AAP

Passion for education drives new director - Catholic Leader

Published: 3 February 2013

By: Robin Williams

Pam Betts: "Young people aren't our future we've had our future, but they make their own future"

ALL Pam Betts ever wanted to be was a teacher.

Although she obtained an Environmental Science degree straight out of school, her first job would suggest a higher authority might have agreed with that aim.

"After three years I thought it was important to get some experience within the workforce and started work in 1980 as the planning assistant for Brisbane Catholic Education," she said.

After two years helping to plan future schools, the passionate desire to teach was still there and Pam went back to university and completed her Diploma of Education majoring in Mathematics and Geography.

The dream had finally become reality and 30 years on the Brisbane southside girl, a proud and passionate old girl of St Elizabeth's Primary School, Ekibin and Our Lady's College, Annerley, where she was school captain in 1976, has just taken over the reins of the top job at Brisbane Catholic Education.

Talking to Pam in late January, the executive director role at Brisbane Catholic Education seems a good fit for the woman who has racked up an impressive work and volunteer record over those 30 years.

It's a work history that kept bringing her back to BCE in some form or another.

After spending her first teaching year at St Mary's College, Ipswich, a position came up with her alma mater, Our Lady's College, Annerley where she taught for the next two years.

It might have been longer as Pam loves her history with the College and maintains a host of friendships from her school days, but an opportunity came up to travel overseas.

She proudly confesses the Betts' are a "rugby'" family and she spent her time with her brother Anthony who had a contract to play for an Irish club.

"Growing up I'd class us as a rugby family, my dad (Neil) played Rugby for Australia. He was a front row forward," she said.

Pride and love shine through when Pam talks about her family particularly her father and his achievements.

"He received an OAM (Order of Australia Medal) for contribution to rugby union, he played with Fabian McCarthy who was Fr Michael McCarthy's father," she said.

Pam said both her parents were generous in terms of the voluntary hours they contributed to a club her father helped form on Brisbane's south side and passed on that example of giving back to their children.

Returning from overseas Pam settled back into teaching, first at St Peter Claver College, Riverview for four years then on to All Hallows', Fortitude Valley, where she stayed until 1993 when she returned to BCE.

"I keep coming back to Brisbane Catholic Education, it keeps calling me," Pam said.

That position was assistant to the director that required both tertiary qualifications and teaching experience.

Pam spent the next six and a half years in the job, the last year working with David Hutton whom she pays tribute to for "his wonderful leadership and his great support of this organisation".

A 12-month contract with Queensland Catholic Education Commission to help implement the GST in Catholic schools would turn into four years before Pam was "called" to move on again.

"I loved it, it was fascinating, I had to learn about GST because everyone else around Australia was an accountant and I was a Maths teacher," she said.

"I said to them 'if I can do calculus I think I can do GST' so I put my head to learning as much as I could about GST."

She left QCEC to take up a position with the Christian Brothers.

"That was a fantastic experience as I loved working with the brothers and I loved working with their schools," she said.

"The brothers were wonderful to work with and I was very grateful for all of the opportunities that they gave me and I remain grateful to them to this day."

In July 2010 Pam returned to BCE.

"I keep getting drawn back here and I love Brisbane Catholic Education. I love working here," she said.

"I took up the position of director administrative services and little did I know and never did I ever dream that I would be in the position of executive director because I just immerse myself in what I'm doing at the time and something then comes along and taps me on the shoulder."

Pam said she had been "truly blessed" by the opportunities she'd been given.

"I applied for the executive directors job and I was very humbled to be chosen to lead this great organisation, it's a great privilege," she said.

Pam is a woman of deep faith that has developed over the years.

"I genuinely believe that I've been graced during my journey particularly with the many opportunities that I've been given and I look at them as a blessing and a privilege not as a right," she said.

"At times I'll say (to God) what exactly are you trying to tell me here. "

God may be telling her that she's on the right track with her passion for Catholic education and working with young people - one of the things that drive her.

"I think that in education there is so much that we can do to help young people in their journey, to give them hope for the future and that notion of hope is really important to young people in this day and age," she said.

"I think that in Catholic education, because we can talk about the story of Jesus, because we can help young people to develop a relationship with God we can actually work with them to give them some hope for their future.

"Young people aren't our future, we've had our future, but they make their own future.

"To give them hope we need to give them the best possible Catholic education we can and that's it in a nutshell for me."

Pam was keen to point out that Catholic education always went hand-in-hand with students' families.

"Parents are the first educators of their children but we can do so much to support parents," she said.

This drive goes back to Pam's own upbringing and an acknowledgment that it was "one of great blessings".

"Mum and dad are both still alive and they placed particular importance on our education, but allowed us to be who we wanted to be as well, so that's been a real blessing," she said.

She said that wasn't always so for today's youth.

"The support of family is absolutely invaluable and I know there are many young people who don't necessarily have that blessing of the support of family, so if school can give them some sort of safety and security during their formative years I think that's really important," she said.

Over the years, Pam has forged close relationships with many religious institute schools and the charisms of the orders that run them have impacted and deepened her faith.

She believes it's a way of giving back.

"Until Thursday (January 31) I'm chair of the All Hallows school board and have been for the last three years and I've been on that board for five years," she said.

"I've been on the St Rita's (Clayfield) board, the Padua College Board, the Villanova (College) board, the St Ursula's, Toowoomba board and I'll probably leave some out here, but have also been on Marist Schools Australia and until the end of last year I was a member of Lourdes Hill and I was also a member of Good Samaritan Education."

Some of those charisms have resonated with Pam.

"I've got the rule of St Benedict over there on my desk, the Benedictine tradition that spoke to me was 'listen with the ear of the heart'. I loved that," she said.

Role models such as Catherine McAuley and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop also inspired her.

"I think those women are great role models for an impact on my own spirituality," She said.

The Edmund Rice story however was perhaps the biggest impact on Pam's spirituality.

"That spirituality of Edmund Rice Education around Presence, Compassion and Liberation I was actually able to embrace that in the work that I did with their schools and it gives you a great touchstone, or lens if you like, through which you can see the Gospel," she said.

Pam's new leadership role at BCE began on February 1.

Strangers in a foreign land washed away by fatal flood - Brisbane Times

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Flood victim 'took the wrong road'

Friends of a man found dead in floodwaters near Gatton say "I wish he hadn't gone to work" that day after he "took the wrong road" in treacherous conditions.

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They were two men who came to Australia for an adventure in a foreign land and found work on the same farm in rural Queensland.

But the pair - one from Taiwan and the other from Malaysia - were seemingly unaware of the dangers of flooding in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley, where creeks and rivers can turn to raging torrents in a matter of minutes.

Two years ago, flash flooding claimed 19 lives in the Lockyer Valley, when a wall of water tore through the region.

Police and emergency services at the scene where two bodies were discovered at Sandy Creek. Photo: Bev Lacey

Jerry Yukun, 25, from Taiwan and Andrew Leong, 34, from Malaysia set out for work from Gatton early Sunday morning.

By all accounts the men did not know each other well, but both took the same lonely country road at the same time.

Police say it’s not yet clear whether one was travelling close behind the other.

Police search for flood victims in the Lockyer Valley. Photo: Bev Lacey/ Toowoomba Chronicle

Their work colleagues raised the alarm after neither arrived at the farm.On Tuesday afternoon, a white Mitsubishi Magna belonging to Mr Yukun was found submierged in swollen Sandy Creek - 19 kilometres south of Gatton - at the half way point on his journey to the Mulgowie Farming Company.

Police mounted a search and rescue operation on Tuesday evening, but found no sign of Mr Yukun.

When the search resumed on Wednesday morning, police divers stumbled upon a second vehicle submerged in the creek, just a few metres from where Mr Yukun’s car was located.

The body of Andrew Leong was found inside.

More than 50 State Emergency Service volunteers from Toowoomba and Brisbane spent Wednesday afternoon searching the creek for Mr Yukun.

His body was found in the creek, 300 metres from where his car was located, about 2.30pm.

Both cars were found in the water less than 20 metres from the causeway.

Toowoomba Police District Inspector Richard Kroon said a report into both deaths would be prepared for the State Coroner.

The farmhands’ deaths took the death toll of Queensland’s floods to six on Wednesday.

Three-year-old Angus Burke died in Brisbane on Monday, after a falling gum tree crushed him and his pregnant mother, Dr Zara Wedon.Dr Wedon remains in a critical condition in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Yachtie Wolfgang Kaden, 81, died on Sunday after falling from his boat in the flooded Burnett River in Bundaberg.

The body of 27-year-old Jacob Shearer was found at Widgee Creek after his parents car was swept away, and the body of a 60-year-old motorcyclist was found at Oxley Creek near Ipswich.

It is understood a man helping rural firefighters clean out a flood-affected church at Laidley died from a heart attack late Tuesday afternoon.

Floods delay boarding school start - ABC Online

By Kate Stephens

Posted January 31, 2013 09:30:54

Some western Queensland students have been unable to attend their first days of boarding school due to the floods.

Morven mother Marie Williams says they are waiting until at least Friday to begin the seven-hour drive to Toowoomba Grammar School.

She says her son will miss orientation and the first few days of schooling.

"We're getting constant emails from the school just to keep in contact with us," she said.

"They're telling us not to be too concerned, staff at the school are structuring classes accordingly.

"We can only try to get there when we can and they're very understanding, I think, the staff at the school."

Toowoomba Grammar School headmaster Peter Hauser says as of yesterday, one-third of their boarding students had not arrived.

He says Toowoomba has many boarding schools in the area all in a similar situations.

"Toowoomba is a major hub for boarding schools - we've got 11 in the Darling Downs and Toowoomba district and we're getting boys and girls from all over Australia," he said.

"So look, everybody's facing the same, there will be delays.

"I know one of the schools ... delayed the commencement of the school year by a day, so no everybody's experiencing the same."

Topics: regional, youth, floods, access-to-education, schools, toowoomba-4350, longreach-4730, mount-isa-4825

Rod Davies in a five-way crush for Queensland Reds starting spot - Herald Sun

Reds flyer Rod Davies vies for the ball with the Chiefs' Aaron Cruden. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

ROD Davies' flying feet were in a Test backline 18 months ago but the winger is now eager to force his way out of a five-way crush to claim a Queensland starting spot.

Such is the depth on the wing for the Reds that Digby Ioane, Dom Shipperley, Luke Morahan and Davies are all Wallabies while Samoan-bred powerhouse Chris F'Sautia is a teenager waiting to build on his three Super Rugby appearances last year.

Davies is on the bench behind Ioane and Morahan for Saturday night's Super Rugby trial against the Auckland Blues in Toowoomba.

"This is my fifth season at the Reds and it's the most competitive I've seen for wing spots," Davies said.

"Chris is as good a young kid as I've seen talent-wise so it's not just the more experienced guys going for the spots.

"I'm the fittest I've been for a while so I'm keen to get on in Toowoomba, rediscover some form and hopefully impress.

"You've got to be 'on' at every training session. That's the environment at the Reds.

"The competition is fierce but I'm still confident in my ability."

Davies hit the heights against the Blues in the 2011 Super Rugby semi-final with a breathtaking hat-trick of tries which showcased his pace, his timing and confidence.

He earned a Test jersey against Samoa with that display but 2012 was a tame follow-up that was cut short by visits to the surgeon for a shoulder reconstruction and a knee operation.

The popular Davies is looking well-conditioned and is showing the benefits of a full pre-season, two factors that will hopefully feed into "Rocket" making a successful relaunch against the Blues.

Senior Blues Ali Williams, Piri Weepu and Rene Ranger will not make the trip for the trial but it will be an energised Blues touring party eager to impress new coach John Kirwan.

Young lock Blake Enever, 21, gets a starting chance to show his improvement while Albert Anae's growth as a prop will also be measured against a top opponent.

Livewire halfback Nick Frisby will make his return from a shoulder reconstruction off the bench.

Ben Lucas and Frisby have to find a dynamic and resourceful 80 minutes to fill as much of the void as possible while Wallaby Will Genia spends the opening month of the season on the sidelines building more strength into his knee.

Shocked residents count costs - NEWS.com.au

Sherrylyn Booth inspects her flooded home. Pictures: Paul Beutel Source: The Daily Telegraph

MANY had done it before - but most never expected to do it again so soon.

As muddy waters receded, it was time for many flood-affected Queenslanders to again push back their waterlogged front doors, count the cost and slowly begin the arduous task of starting again.

Some liked what they saw, having been spared the worst of the brown surge, escaping with minimal damage.

But most still can't believe how nature can be so cruel, with the floods coming only two years after southeast Queensland was ravaged by a record-breaking flood surge.

No matter what the extent of damage to their homes and businesses, they are still the lucky ones - they have escaped with their lives.

The death toll from the floodwaters stands at six, with the bodies of two farm workers found in flooded creeks yesterday. The pair were travelling in convoy to work from Gatton to Mulgowie on Sunday.

The body of a 34-year-old Malaysian man was found in a car submerged in a creek at Glen Cairn, with his 25-year-old Taiwanese workmate found 300m downstream.

But it is not only lives and homes that have been lost. It is also livelihoods.

When Jeffrey Hood arrived with a bobcat to clean up his flood-damaged restaurant on the main street of Laidley, he felt downright dejected.

Pungent mud was piled high on the floorboards of Emily's Steak and Seafood, and a dozen freezers worth $30,000 were destroyed. His damage bill from the 1.2m floodwaters that arrived with ex-tropical cyclone Oswald on the Australia Day long weekend is estimated at $200,000.

But Mr Hood's spirits changed when a "mud army" of 25 turned up - volunteers from Toowoomba and as far away as the Gold Coast - and pitched in to clean up.

"I was fragile but I've bounced back now," he said.

While Bundaberg has been centre of the extensive rescue and aid operation, there are towns who were forgotten.

Monto, Mundubbera and Gayndah were among the worst hit towns but had gone unnoticed until yesterday when authorities finally toured the towns, only to discover half their homes had been buried by a wall of water.

Body of sixth victim found as Queensland's flood recovery begins - NEWS.com.au

A man comforts his daughter on their roof as they inspect damage to their neighbourhood in Bundaberg. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

A SECOND body has been discovered in the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane, bringing the death toll from the Queensland floods to six.

The Toowoomba Chronicle is reporting that the body, presumed to be missing Taiwanese man Jerry Yukun, was found 300m from where cars were found submerged in the flooded Sandy Creek at Glen Cairn.

Police media could not confirm the reports.

Mr Yukun, 25, went missing at the same time as a Malaysian farm worker, 34, whose body was found this morning.

The men, who were in separate cars, had been travelling from Gatton to Mulgowie to start work at a farm at 5am (AEST) and are believed to have been swept off the road by floodwaters.

A white 1997 Mitsubishi Magna, which police believe was being driven by the 25-year-old Taiwanese man, was found in the area yesterday afternoon.

"We're not too sure if they were known to each other,'' a police spokesman told AAP.

Vowing to rebuild Queensland, Premier Campbell Newman announced a Flood Appeal Committee, headed by former Bligh government treasurer Terry Mackenroth.

With the magnitude of the disaster becoming apparent, Mr Newman said the destruction to Queensland had been "absolutely massive''.

He called on the support of all Queenslanders to help rebuild.

"We can do this,'' he told reporters in Brisbane today.

Those confirmed dead are a three-year-old boy who had a tree fall on him in Brisbane and three men who died in floodwaters: one south of Brisbane, one at Burnett Heads near Bundaberg, and the other near Gympie.

In worst-hit Bundaberg, which was devastated as the Burnett River peaked at a record 9.6m, authorities moved into recovery mode today after the floods inundated about 2000 homes and 200 businesses.

Mr Newman said soldiers were en route to the sugar-farming town where more than 7500 residents have been forced to seek refuge in evacuation shelters or with family and friends.

"This morning we have 120 soldiers from the Enoggera army barracks in 44 vehicles heading north to Bundaberg,'' Newman told the ABC.

More army resources were on standby to help in Bundaberg and other surrounding flood-hit communities, he added.

An ABC reporter in the town said petrol stations had run out of fuel while a helicopter and boats were resupplying some of the smaller settlements around the area that remain cut off.

Meanwhile police said three people, including two teenage girls and a 25-year-old man, had been charged with looting in the Queensland town of Gympie during flooding there.

While Brisbane escaped the worst of the floodwaters, the deluge damaged water treatment plants and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said there were concerns parts of the city of two million could run out of water.

"There is still a very real concern that water could run out,'' he told reporters, although Newman said provisions were in place to supply bottled water to any areas affected.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce urged the nation to dig deep and donate to Queensland's flood disaster victims, during an emotional visit to Bundaberg Hospital evacuees in Brisbane.

Ms Bryce said the people of Bundaberg are facing an extreme situation and urged Australians to give all the support they can.

"Come on Australians, remember who we are, what we stand for, our generosity, our volunteerism, our care for others,'' she told reporters outside the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

In Brisbane, the key challenge in the coming days will be to maintain water supplies after the flooding forced the shutdown of two processing plants.

Stocks of bottled water have been positioned around Brisbane amid fears taps could run dry in some suburbs today.

Flooding in the Brisbane River catchment has caused major problems at water treatment plants at Mt Crosby.

Repair crews are making some progress and have them partially running again, Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says.

But there are fears they could break down again due to the extremely high amount of mud being carried by water feeding into the plants.

The suburbs at risk of losing mains water supply include Tarragindi, Camp Hill, Carina, Mount Gravatt, Tingalpa, Rocklea, and Oxley.

Premier Campbell Newman said supplies of bottled water have been positioned on the southside in case supplies run out.

''If any reservoir runs dry, we'll be immediately providing that for distribution to local areas,'' he told ABC television.

''This is very serious.''

He said residents across Brisbane and Ipswich must limit water use to the necessities of drinking, bathing and cleaning until the treatment plant was back on line.

Queensland Urban Utilities says production at the Mount Crosby plant has increased, but consumption is also going up - despite the call for people to conserve water.

He said water in Brisbane was currently being drawn from three sources - the Mount Crosby plant, North Pine dam and from a southern connector pipe drawing water from areas south of the city.

Laidley locals dejected after floods - Ninemsn

When Jeffrey Hood arrived with a bobcat to clean up his flood-damaged restaurant on the main street of Laidley, he felt downright dejected.

Pungent mud was piled high on the floorboards of Emily's Steak and Seafood, and a dozen freezers worth $30,000 were destroyed after torrents of water inundated the town west of Brisbane.

His damage bill from the 1.2m floodwaters that arrived with ex-tropical cyclone Oswald on the Australia Day long weekend is estimated at $200,000.

But Mr Hood's spirits changed when a "mud army" of 25 turned up - volunteers from Toowoomba and as far away as the Gold Coast - and pitched in to hose down plates and cart out mud-soaked items.

"I was fragile this morning, but I've bounced back now with all these arms and legs. It really lifts you," he told AAP.

"I got here at 8 o'clock myself with a bobcat, and I felt very dejected."

Mud-soaked chairs and tables are piled up on the footpath of the Laidley-Plainland Road business, which was flooded for the second time in two years.

Food including squid and all cuts of beef are being thrown out.

Mr Hood recalls the fight with insurance companies in 2011 as an ordeal that went "disastrously".

Across the road, Gary McNeish's computer repair shop, Ramnet Information Technology Services, which doubles as a music shop, is also flood-damaged for a second time.

The flood destroyed some customers' laptops that were in for repair and guitars, leaving an estimated damage bill of $50,000.

"We just keep going, I suppose," he said.

"It's rough again. You start thinking maybe it's time to call it a day, but no, we're going to continue on," the 13-year business owner said.

On nearby William Street, Graeme Gregory, 50, has seen his backyard destroyed for the second time.

His mud-soaked Holden VT Commodore is a write-off.

Still, after spending 18 months cleaning up after the last floods, Mr Gregory is thankful for the goodwill of volunteer helpers in Laidley.

"You wake up in the morning, you look outside and you think, it's not a dream, it's not a nightmare," the eight-year resident said.

"All you can do is just move on, there's a lot of people worse than us."

One block away, the Queensland National Hotel looks remarkably spruce despite the floods, thanks to last-minute sandbagging and frantic cleaning.

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