13 March 2025
With floodwaters receding, Southern Downs Regional Council has activated a region-wide recovery response alongside key agencies to mobilise resources to restore essential services, assess infrastructure damage and support residents and businesses impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
To lead the recovery process, Council has established dedicated committees focused on:
• Economic recovery
• Environmental restoration
• Building and structural assessment
• Roads and infrastructure repairs
• Human and social support
Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton said Council is working with all three levels of government and the relevant stakeholders to coordinate efforts and assist the impacted community.
“Our region has experienced significant rainfall with minor flooding, and Council is committed to supporting the community on its recovery journey while restoring infrastructure as quickly as possible,” Mayor Hamilton said.
Chair of the Recovery Committees and Southern Downs Deputy Mayor Sheryl Windle acknowledged the challenges facing the region following the flooding, and said crews have been working to repair and restore essential services and infrastructure to get the region up and running again.
“We recognise the challenges our residents and businesses are facing, and our crews are working tirelessly to ensure roads and essential services are repaired and restored,” Deputy Mayor Windle said.
“From the onset of this weather event, Council staff have been on the ground, worked around the clock to safeguard residents, closing roads where necessary and reopening them as soon as conditions allowed. Ongoing assessments of damage to roads and other Council infrastructure are underway.
“Our staff have consistently gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of our community, and I commend them for their dedication."
Mayor Hamilton also praised emergency and essential workers for their critical role in the response.
“I would like to thank all of our emergency and essential workers for their efforts over the last week, and for keeping all of our residents safe and well informed,” she added.
“I also want to acknowledge the generosity of the Anglican Churches in Warwick and Stanthorpe who opened their doors to offer refuge to anyone sleeping rough and to our local showgrounds who provided shelter to displaced travellers—a true testament to the spirit of our region.”
Council will continue collaborating with State and Federal agencies to facilitate infrastructure repairs, support affected residents, and ensure a swift and coordinated recovery.
For more information on disaster assistance, visit Council’s Disaster Dashboard at
http://disaster.sdrc.qld.gov.au/ and click on Help after A Disaster.
Council reminds the community that during a flood event:
• Always follow
http://disaster.sdrc.qld.gov.au/ for updated weather alerts and road closures.
• Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters.
• Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
• If it is flooded, forget it!
• Download the My SDRC App at
https://bit.ly/MySDRCAppInfo to report damaged road.
• For the latest updates on weather warnings across Queensland visit
http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/.
• Call the SES on 132 500 for emergency assistance.
• Call Triple Zero (000) for life threatening emergencies.
Last edited date 13 Mar 2025