BDAQ Executive

A MESSAGE FROM BDAQ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Welcome to 2011. What a start to the year it has been for Queensland.

With most areas out of danger and flood waters receding at varying rates, we are now in the clean-up and rebuild mode from what has been described as possibly the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history.

This will be a long and sometimes difficult process. Politicians are not willing to put a dollar figure on the damage but all agree that it will be a lot of money.

President Greg Pershouse sent a message to members last week and offered support to any who have suffered. I want to reiterate that if you need any assistance whatsoever as a result of the flooding, please contact Greg or the office.

I also want to thank those who were concerned about the office when Strathpine made it to the news reports last week.

Although low parts of Strathpine, Petrie and Lawnton suffered some inundation and roads in and out were cut, the office is high enough and out of danger. Although most staff could not get to work on Wednesday and Kerrianne had water halfway up her driveway, all our homes and families are safe.

Members have enquired about how BDAQ can assist in the clean-up and repair program. We will be monitoring the situation and will be available to help where possible.

Our experience from past events including Cyclone Larry and the Victorian bushfires, is that our offers of organised and managed building design services even when offered as a free service have not been required.

Following Cyclone Larry and the Mackay and Townsville floods, we found that most of the work was repair or rebuild of existing and plans were not required. These events resulted in little work for local building designers as insurance companies managed most of what was required.
This current crisis, of course is much more widespread and we will be monitoring the situation but state vice-president, Arthur Martin, lives and works in Dalby and designs for most of western Queensland. He is in touch with some of the worst affected areas and advises:

"As far as work goes, the military forces have moved in on the Darling Downs and surrounding areas and have set up assessment camps. They have a fleet of Engineers and Technical people on the ground to sort things out. Everything, I mean everything is being directed through them. There may be something we can do later, but right now it would be wasting our time."

In the meantime, if any member is struggling with flooding, has flood related workflow, staff or equipment issues or has been impacted in any way, please contact us. BDAQ as a community is ready to assist in any way we can.

There are ample building and flood clean-up inspection and advice agencies already operating and BDAQ is not inclined add to the list but if branches and/or members want to get involved on a local level they should contact the relevant local authority to offer assistance.

Russell