Impact of disaster hits companies hard

A soldier works up a sweat as he tackles the huge task of clearing sludge and mud from a major intersection in West End, Brisbane. Photo / Supplied

As southeast Queensland begins a huge cleanup, some of the country's businesses are calculating the cost of floods and heavy rain on their profits.

"The flood impacts across the length and breadth of Queensland as they are unfolding are colossal," said Lance Hockridge, managing director of recently floated rail operator QR National. Several coal and freight lines will be affected for several weeks.

Rio Tinto says the flood crisis is preventing some deliveries of aluminium from its Boyne smelter.

On the retailing front, the Reject Shop said more than half of its 27 Queensland stores have been closed in the past week because of floods.

The distribution centre is likely to be closed for at least eight weeks.

Inventory lost should be covered by insurance, The Reject Shop said.

BrisConnections said work on the Brisbane Airport Link toll road had not been damaged thanks to the construction of levees.

- AAP