Credit where it is due, all branches of government have responded with admirable swiftness to the storm damage in The Gap and other parts of south east Queensland that have been affected by the storms on Sunday.
We were lucky, with no ill effects apart from a fair bit of rain(click to enlarge)
Mr Rudd, who had his flight from the USA diverted so he could tour storm-damaged areas of Brisbane, this morning toured streets at The Gap, the suburb worst hit by the wild weather.
“The Commonwealth through Centrelink will be making available further payments … in circumstances of significant damage,” Mr Rudd said.
He also pledged the assistance of more Australian Army Troops, who were yesterday deployed to distribute emergency drinking water at The Gap after it was discovered yesterday the roof of the The Gap Reservoir had collapsed, contaminating supplies.
“This is just the beginning of what is going to be a very long term clean-up,” he said.
Mr Rudd, Premier Anna Bligh and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman this morning visited Weemala Street, Warralong Street and Woongarra Street at The Gap.
“I’ve just visited the home of the Wallaces, and you begin to see the effect this has on a person’s life, when all those collectables all those things that they put together in the course of their life (have) been exposed to the elements and damaged.
“You begin to get a sense of how this affects people’s state of mind.”
Ms Bligh dismissed suggestions State Emergency Services (SES) were slow to respond to calls for help from residents. She praised the efforts of emergency services and residents during the massive clean-up.
The biggest storm in two decades left one man dead and the city a natural disaster area after torrential rain and hail hit Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Redcliffe on Sunday, damaging about 4000 homes and leaving 30 unliveable.
The one thing that I will say however, is that every time we have a storm and so many people end up literally powerless, as overhead lines are brought down, makes me more certain that our power infrastructure should be underground. Sure it would be expensive but the amount of repair costs that would be saved over time and the number of people who would never suffer repeated loss of supply must make it worth while in the long run. Oh yeah, and we would not need the endless ads about the danger of fallen power lines either.
Cheers Comrades
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Iain Hall's SANDPIT 
The one thing that I will say however, is that every time we have a storm and so many people end up literally powerless, as overhead lines are brought down, makes me more certain that our power infrastructure should be underground.
What about flagpoles Iain? Do you think illegally placed are potentially dangerous? Surely a power pole is more secure than a flagpole?
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That’s not an answer, Iain.
More importantly, though, let’s hope the clean-up goes well.
You have a thing about flag poles don’t you?
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Me? You’re the one who posted about our mate in Logan, Iain. I am just continuing to support the rule of law, along with all sensible conservatives.
Ah but a real conservative would oppose any attempt by the socialists to restrict a chaps right to display his patriotism by flying the flag even if his flagpole is counter to some arbitrary planning ordinance…
Iain is on the right track. Up to 20% of the power that we generate (and by definition of the unwanted CO2 that may produce) is totally wasted through losses in overhead powerlines just to get it to the consumer. The future is superconductor-based underground supplies for our cities with massively reduced losses. New materials developments are bringing this within reach. Add the savings in reduced storm damage and not so many hard things to run into right beside the road and you have a winning idea. Run that one up the flagpole!
Welcome to my Blog Beevo
and another thing to consider is the number of trees that will not be cut down to make those power poles and the number of lives that will be saved by motorists wrapping their cars around the power poles as well
No Iain. A true conservative would support the rule of law. A neoconservative who was using the flag as an arbitrary symbol in a retarded culture war would try to kick up a fuss, because they’re desperate for any piece of news that they can bash straw-man leftists with.
Look around you Iain. Look at your own posts above these comments. Like I said earlier, there are good reasons for having these planning laws in storm-prone SE Qld.
Thanks Iain. I have enjoyed that which I have had time to read on your blog but will make a regular stop here. You are right on those points too. Many years ago I heard a road-safety expert stating that the government could save quite a number lives every year just by moving power poles 1 metre further from the road. This at less than the cost (at the time) of the national road safety ad campaign. Made me think and I have never forgotten it.
cheers.
Jason… I must back-track these posts (rather than poles!) you refer to and see what your point is. Flags hold a very important place in history and all cultures. There are many protocols surrounding their use and handling which reflect respect for what and who they may represent. I feel a post coming on! (hmmm, maybe I should re-phrase that)
Hi Iain
Could not agree more about the power poles
The wiring should all be underground to protect them from damage ,and to protect cars from damage ,but most of all because they are butt ugly .Made worse by the foxtell wires hanging halfway up the poles
It’s starting to look like a third world country in some suburbs
(Jason
I didn’t hear of any flagploes falling to the ground or endangering life as was the case with the powerlines )
Peter
“It’s starting to look like a third world country in some suburbs
Because every family in Somalia has cable connected, don’t they.
What a stupid thing to say.
Iain, I would presume that the reason traditional cabling is not placed underground is due to access issues.. I’ll check though. I happen to be working on a deal where there’s a power station involved. They’ll be able to tell me.
Overhead wiring ,check
Country wiring installed .India , check
Wiring looks like it was routed during a cyclone ,check
http://www.photopumpkin.com/photo-blog/perfect-wiring-up-india/
You are a nasty cow keri ,can you find no good thing to say.
The pictures linked to above are what came to mind when i wrote the comment ,the question of whether there was cable tv wires in the photos is not important or relevant to my obviously exagerated point.
Your sarcastic comment does you no service ,it reveals your intolerence of any contrary opinion ,ignorance and your inability to play nice
I guess i get to use some sarcasm of my own now
You must be a delight to be with in an office enviroment
Peter
Peter,
I see no reason to insult cows. They have done you no harm.
The wires are not put underground due to the increased initial cost.(of course with the huge drop in the price of copper and aluminum the price is now much lower) The newer subdivisions around here are all underground. I will bet the unions preffer the aboveground since it requires more maintenance. In Germany everything is underground.
Actually, Peter, it’s you who’ve shown themselves incapable of listening to a contrary opinion. The second someone disagrees with you, you get personal. Nice.
And considering I’ve been “playing nice” on this blog for quite some time – to the point where the owner of the blog links to mine even though we rarely agree on anything the other says, suggests you’ve got – surprise, surprise – no idea what you’re talking about.
As for being a nasty cow, I’m neither bovine nor nasty -unless pushed. If you think calling an opinion poorly expressed and completely facile in construction stupid is nasty, you need to harden the fuck up.
Why do Iain and Peter sound so alike?
Jim although you have not started off too well by implying that Peter is my sock puppet* I welcome you to my blog
* he isn’t 😉