Brisbane City Council Clean Up Advice

Brisbane City Council Helpful Clean Up Advice

As the task of cleaning up following floodwater inundation begins in coming days, Council advises residents and business owners to follow these safety tips:

• If your home has been affected by floodwaters, contact a licensed electrician to do a safety check of wiring and switchboards before turning on the power. All electrical equipment that may have come into contact with floodwaters should also be checked by an electrician before using.
• Protect yourself from possible contaminants and bacteria in or left by floodwaters by always wearing rubber gloves and water resistant clothing, including gumboots. You should also wear goggles or a face mask to protect your eyes from any splashing water and cover any open wounds before you start cleaning.
• Make sure all gas and electricity is turned off while you clean up.
• Allow for adequate ventilation by opening windows and doors.
• Be aware that floors will be slippery, even after water has receded.
• Throw out any food that may have come into contact with floodwaters or perishables that would have spoiled due to power.
• Take photos of damaged furniture, draperies, appliances, dishes etc and then remove from your house. Brisbane City Council will have industrial bins available and a kerbside collection for flood damaged goods in affected areas once floodwaters recede. Detailed information of industrial bin locations, kerbside collection areas and times will be advised as soon as possible.
• Watch out for snakes that may have entered your house to escape floodwaters.

Residents in impacted areas can use as much water as necessary to clean flood affected areas but are encouraged to be wise about water use by using high pressure hoses or hose nozzles. Residents in areas not affected by the floods are encouraged to be wise about their water use due to the huge demand on water supplies as the clean up gets underway.

Those residents who have not been affected by the flooding are encouraged to assist neighbours, friends and their local communities in clean up operations.

Waste

All Council transfer stations are accepting general and green waste free of charge.

There will be no general waste, recycling or green waste bin collections or SITA bulk bin collections until 17 January 2010. Please do not place bins out for collection.

Priority will be given to waste bins during the flood crisis with recycle and green waste bins being a second priority.

Financial relief

Brisbane City Council advises that due to the recent flood event, Brisbane ratepayers will be provided with the following financial relief:

• Flood victims will receive an extra 30 days to pay rates bills
• All Brisbane ratepayers in flood affected homes will receive a $100 rebate on their water bill so that they can use the water needed to clean up after the flood.
• Council will not operate parking meters nor enforce timed parking zones and parking bays for 30 days in flood affected areas.

Council advises affected residents to contact their service providers to arrange extensions on any other bills.