Council continues to deliver essential supplies to cut-off rural residents

Goondiwindi Regional Council is continuing to assist with getting essential supplies to rural residents cut off by floodwaters. With many roads closed across the region due to flooding or damage, the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) has advised that some residents may be cut off for weeks.

Council has scheduled helicopter deliveries of essential supplies for affected residents on Tuesdays and Fridays.  Residents who are isolated by floodwaters and in need of essential supplies (such as medications or groceries) should contact Council on 07 4671 7400, as early as possible.  Residents also need to make sure they know their property’s GPS location.

Deliveries will only be on Tuesdays and Fridays and weekend deliveries are not possible.  It is important that you don’t wait until you’ve run out of essentials before you make contact for resupply.

Residents should schedule a delivery with Council well before their supplies run out, as goods (including pharmacy scripts) will need to be ordered and paid for by the resident in advance, with a copy of the order provided to Council. Residents are advised that most local suppliers recommend a minimum 24-hour lead time between an order being received and picked up for delivery.

Chair of the LDMG, Cr Rick Kearney said the LDMG will cover the cost of delivery for essential supplies, meaning affected residents won’t incur any transport costs.

“I’m very proud that Council and the LDMG are able to offer this support to isolated residents,” Cr Kearney said. “Many of our rural residents have already suffered crop losses or infrastructure damage and now face being cut off until Christmas - hopefully these deliveries will mean one thing less that they have to worry about.”

This service will be available only to residents isolated by road closures who are unable to access other service centres. Each application will be assessed to determine genuine need, and guidelines apply about what goods are permitted to be carried. Dangerous items (such as aerosol cans and flammable liquids) cannot be flown.

As space in each helicopter/ transport vehicle is limited, the maximum weight of supplies per property, per delivery, will be 40 kg. Once supplies are ordered, the local supplier must pack the goods in cooler bags clearly marked with ‘RESUPPLY’ and the weight on the outside of each bag.      

The LDMG is also encouraging all rural residents across the region to ensure they have at least 7 days’ worth of supplies at home, throughout the predicted wet summer ahead.

“The Goondiwindi Region is quite clearly at saturation point already, so it won’t take much to impact roads - as we saw as a result of the downpour last week,” Cr Kearney said. “If you know you’re likely to be cut off by road closures, please - plan ahead and be ready.

“Let’s look out for one another. Check in on your neighbours if you can, particularly now as the holidays approach.

“But importantly, remember – if it’s flooded, forget it.”