QLD: Four weeks after Larry hard slog continues - Beattie

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2006
QLD: Four weeks after Larry hard slog continues - Beattie

By Chris Herde

BRISBANE, April 17 AAP - The "hard slog" of rebuilding homes has begun, four weeks
after Cyclone Larry tore through north Queensland, Premier Peter Beattie says.

The category five cyclone crossed the coast in the Innisfail area early on March 20
before moving westward through the Atherton Tablelands.

Early estimates put the damage bill at $1.5 billion.

Thousands of homes and properties were damaged along with infrastructure and crops.

Mr Beattie described the immediate relief effort over the past four weeks as a "brilliant
job" of restoring power, water, sewage and other essential services.

"Clearly there is still a lot more work to be done," the premier said.

"Now comes the really hard slog of rebuilding people's homes."

Mr Beattie said the rebuilding process would take time and victims would feel "depressed
and unhappy".

"The reality is that doesn't happen overnight," he said.

More than $70 million in federal and state assistance has been distributed among victims
of the cyclone.

The Cyclone Larry Appeal has climbed to more than $15.8 million.

Brisbane Markets Ltd and fresh fruit and vegetable wholesaler J E Tipper Pty Ltd today
donated $102,580 to the appeal, while the Australian Workers' Union donated $25,000.

The appeal has received 52,528 individual donations, including 39,189 through the Commonwealth
Bank and another 13,339 through the appeal hotline.

AAP ch/rj/nf

KEYWORD: LARRY

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