NZ rescue team battles on in floods

Residents motor down a flooded street in Rockhampton. Photo / Morning Bulletin

New Zealand Civil Defence workers helping to evacuate Queensland flood victims for the second time in a week are working in "wet, hot and humid" conditions but remain in good spirits.

The team of 15 emergency personnel left New Zealand last weekend to rehabilitate flood victims in Condamine where 42 of the town's 60 homes were inundated. Its entire 150-strong population was evacuated on December 30 as the Condamine River rose to a record 14.25 metres.

On Monday night with their mission nearly complete, the New Zealand rescue team were forced to evacuate the town and head 30km north to Miles to avoid being trapped by the water themselves.

However, they returned to Condamine yesterday morning after warnings it would flood to the same level again. The team is now helping the residents to evacuate for the second time in a week.

Ian Wilson, Civil Defence liaison officer to the Emergency Management in Queensland, said the team was battling harsh humid conditions.

"It's very wet, hot and humid; very trying conditions. The workers out in Condamine have said that apparently one of the dangers there is dehydration, so everyone's trying to drink a lot of fluid. Also the ground is soggy and wet, so it's pretty hard going ...

"They're now helping to evacuate people they only just repatriated. The weather's been undoing all their good work."

He said the team has been in good spirits about the gruelling work of cleaning out the town and helping people move heavy furniture.

The locals had been getting to the end of their tether with the weather and were desperately waiting for it to get back to normal, he said. "They're getting pretty frustrated. Some of them have been out of their houses since the 30th of December."

Meanwhile the New Zealand Red Cross will send a three-person management team to join their Australian Red Cross counterparts.

The team will be briefed in Wellington and is expected to fly to Australia within the next two days.

New Zealand Red Cross International Operations Manager Andrew McKie said the team would be sent to help after the dramatic worsening of the floods.

"The team will perform management functions to support Australian Red Cross emergency co-ordination," he said.

New Zealand Red Cross' team is expected to spend 10 days at the Australian Red Cross co-ordination centre in Brisbane, with possible rotation of fresh staff.

The NZ Government is following the situation closely. Prime Minister John Key yesterday asked officials for further advice and recommendations on what additional assistance beyond what has already been provided, can be offered in this situation.

"This is obviously a terrible situation for the State of Queensland and the thoughts of the New Zealand Government go out to the families of the victims."