Earlier this week, Crisafulli blamed the federal BoM’s flood gauge system and radar coverage for failing to provide sufficient information during flooding disasters.
Crisafulli has repeatedly criticised the bureau’s radar range and communication tools throughout the wet season, initially labelling the service as flawed when south-east Queensland residents were caught off guard by severe storms in October.
Inland floodwaters in north Queensland, where flash flooding has triggered a number of swift-water rescues.Credit: Cloncurry Shire Council
On Tuesday, he said outdated rain gauges and stretched radar coverage in remote regions meant residents were sitting ducks during disasters.
“In many cases, you’ve got areas where you’ve got two radars so far apart that you’ve got areas that aren’t covered,” Crisafulli said.
“It hasn’t had the investment in facilities, and you wouldn’t cop it if it was in a capital city.
“There is no world that says if there was a couple of streets in Sydney or Melbourne where they weren’t given information that could put them in harm’s way, that that wouldn’t be fixed by lunchtime – that’s the truth.”
Crisafulli said the blame did not lie with the bureau but with a lack of investment in resources for Far North Queensland dating back multiple federal governments.
“Information is the difference between life and death, and communities are flying blind because there hasn’t been the investment in things like rain gauges and, in many places, radar to warn of the impending danger,” he said.
The new federal funding will also go towards the primary producers support package, extraordinary disaster recovery assistance grants, the mental health recovery program, and immediate recovery needs for Isaac Regional Council.
Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the impacts of the recent flooding were not yet fully known, but the federal government would help with additional assistance if required.
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